USD 299, Building Bricks for Cooperative Learning and STEM Development

USD 299, Building Bricks for Cooperative Learning and STEM Development

USD 299, Building Bricks for Cooperative Learning and STEM Development
Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $2,704, Awarded 10/23/2019

Project Summary: To purchase building bricks (aka “Legos”) to promote cooperative learning in group settings, both education and therapeutic.

Use of Funds: Purchase of Lego Robotics and Lego building blocks

Impact & Results: The Legos were purchased and utilized during 8th Grade Character Education classes. Groups were assigned a task like “design an island” along with a problem to overcome. Each member of the group had a “job” and could only complete that job. One was an engineer (designer), one was a supplier (the only student allowed at the Lego pile), and a builder (built the design with direction from the engineer). The students seemed to enjoy a different approach to cooperative learning. The Lego Robotics were used during the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) exploration class. We were not able to build a competitive robot or watch a competition due to the pandemic and consequent closure of the school buildings. SLUJH looks forward to implementing this in the future