A NEW partnership between Dublin City University and the official partners of LEGO in Ireland is aiming to use the famous coloured bricks to inspire Northsiders of all ages.
The workshops are being held in a new DCU LEGO Education Innovation Studio at the university’s St Patrick’s Campus, and they’re open to all ages from three to the over 55s.
The Learnit Academy workshops have been designed to inspire and develop Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills through a wide range of hands on, engaging activities.
They are expected to help people develop the critical skills needed to meet the challenges of a future in which innovation, originality and the ability to work with others will be vital.
There are workshops for different age groups ranging from Junior Engineers, which will help 6-8-year-olds develop simple mechanisms and machines, to Experienced Engineers for the over 55s, which will be focused on engineering and robotics.
Other workshops include Parents’ Playtime, for the adults, and Family Workshops where young LEGO experts can teach the mammies and daddies a thing or two.
The workshops are all facilitated by an experienced team of LEGO Education Academy trained instructors from Learnit.
A partner of DCU’s Institute of Education, Learnit’s founder, Ross Maguire, is also a part-time lecturer in the School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies on the use of LEGO in Education.
“Our goal is and always will be to inspire the creators of tomorrow,” he said.
“The importance of STEM Education cannot be underestimated.
“Our hands-on workshops develop problem solving, design, collaboration, coding skills and much more.”
Professor Deirdre Butler, who is responsible for the design and development of Digital Learning programmes at DCU’s Institute of Education, believes the workshops will be really beneficial to participants of all ages.
“We are delighted to be working with Learnit on the roll out of these innovative workshops, which we believe have the potential to transform how we, children and adults alike, learn and engage with the science and technology that surrounds us every day,” he said.
“We will have workshops available for children as young as three, for teenagers and for children with special needs.
“In keeping with DCU’s ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and enhancing the lives of older members of the community, we will also include programmes for experienced engineers (over 55s) and grandpals (for grandparents and grandchildren).”
Details on the full range of workshops for children, adults and families can be found online at www.learnit.ie.
