Teacher Resources

This project has been a journey of learning for our teachers. We wanted to build teachers' confidence and competencies, enabling them to deliver playful, hand on STEAM learning experiences. School communities actively engaged in school based and personal CPD. Teachers learned about guiding pupils 21st century skills, increased knowledge of STEAM concepts and engaged effectively in hands-on learning. We moved away from traditional one-way, top-down, information-focused approaches to an array of integrated pedagogies that emphasis pupil centered STEAM learning.

To make this holistic approach to learning come alive in classrooms, we want to facilitate hands-on learning experiences. The effectiveness of this type of learning is well documented "When we think through our fingers, we release creative energies, modes of thought, and ways of seeing things that may otherwise never be tapped. The hands become the leading edge of the brain" Seymour Papert.

We choose resources that would engage children's interests. We wanted resources that would connect the children's past and present learning experiences, expose prior conceptions, and direct pupils' thinking towards desired learning outcomes. We feel that these resources engage pupils by igniting a topic-based discussion that's relevant to them, leading them to a clear challenge or problem to solve. Our pupils explore and work towards possible solutions to the given problem by experimenting with building, programming and testing creations. Pupils are given the chance to contemplate on what they have dicovered, explain their findings, and discuss the results with others. Pupils are challenged to elaborate on what they have learned by applying their knowledge to more advanced problems. Children give feedback on the progression to achieving learning objectives.

We would really recommend the Lego Education System. We liked the sequential approach. Our infant classes were introduced to Lego Education, our First/Second class progress to Lego Spike, Third/Fourth work with Lego Spike and Fifth/Sixth have developed skills and are ready for Lego Prime. It is an exciting and namds-on solution that uses playful learning experiences to engage children in STEM learning. Our project 'machines and mechanisms' has helped to put our children on the right path to become resilient and independent thinkers. The Lego education system has helped our children

• Explore the engineering design process, including defining a problem, brainstorming solutions, and testing and refining prototypes.

• Investigate the scientific concepts of energy, energy transfer, and collision.

• Strengthen oral communication skills as students discuss their experiences collaboratively.

• Engage in narrative-based problem-solving.

• Develop social-emotional language by helping a main story character solve a problem.

• Develop computational thinking skills, including creating and modifying sequences, testing, debugging, and using loops.

Teachers can avail of opportunities for continued professional development. Our teachers found the following very valuable:

• PDST in school whole staff training

• PDST website and support videos

• Local Education Centre (face-t0- face meetings and online webinars)

• Lego Education virtual training

• Minecraft Education virtual training

• Discussions and planning during Croke Park

• Opportunities to shadow another teacher in class

EGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential is part of the LEGO® Learning System. It’s an exciting hands-on solution that uses playful learning experiences to engage primary school students in STEAM learning, putting them on the path to becoming resilient, independent thinkers.

EGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential is part of the LEGO® Learning System. It’s an exciting hands-on solution that uses playful learning experiences to engage primary school students in STEAM learning, putting them on the path to becoming resilient, independen