Lego helps to build innovative learning

The Ministry of Education is stepping up efforts to improve the innovative ability of Chinese teachers and students by cooperating with Denmark's Lego Education Group.

The two parties reached an agreement in Beijing recently to continue bilateral cooperation and promote a second Innovative Talent Development Program in China.

Under the agreement, Lego Education will provide products manufactured by Lego Group, such as the popular toy building blocks and robotics equipment, to schools selected by the ministry, from 2015 to 2019, to enable Chinese students to "learn by playing".

Meanwhile, Lego Education will provide training for Chinese teachers, to help them play a better role in guiding and inspiring students to innovate.

Jacob Kragh, president of Lego Education, said it has been providing tailored products to address the curriculum needs of the Chinese education system.

"We focus exactly on those parts of the science curriculum that are critical to the Chinese education system," he said, adding that his group has cooperated with Chinese educators to adapt or enhance products to make sure that educational activities address the needs of the science curriculum.

The ministry and the Danish education group first cooperated in 2010, when they agreed to implement the first Innovative Talent Development Program in China from 2010 to 2014.

So far, Lego Education has set up more than 400 Lego labs in primary and secondary schools in 26 provinces and regions of China, and more than 20,000 Chinese teachers have received training under the program.

Liu Changya, deputy director of the Basic Education Department of the ministry, said the program has made positive impacts on both Chinese teachers and students.

"The program has enhanced the hands-on ability and all-around development of students, and has promoted educational design reform," Liu said. "It has also improved teachers' skills and research abilities."

Zhang Jian, who teaches robotics at Beijing Qiyi Primary School, is one of the teachers who received training from Lego's first program with the ministry.

He said the program broadened his horizons as he learned how teachers in other countries organize a robotics lesson and guide students to think and innovate.

Zhang's school set up a robotics association with about 20 members in 2008. In 2011, the school received products and equipment from Lego, which enabled the school to expand its robotics courses to hundreds of students.

"With support from the program, more students at our school have the opportunity to get to know robotics and experience the joy of hands-on activities," Zhang said.

Kragh said Lego will continue cooperating with the ministry in the next five years, and extend the projects from primary and secondary schools to preschools in China, including the training of preschool teachers.

"We will go beyond the 20,000 teachers and engage up to 100,000 teachers," Kragh said.