Cambridge University To Hire A LEGO Professor – Research On ‘Play In Education, Development and Learning’ Through Plastic Bricks?
Cambridge University will soon offer a professorship to an academician who has profound knowledge about the world of LEGO.
A learned man, who is well-versed with the skill of joining tiny colorful and inter-locking tiles into something amazing, will soon head the prestigious University’s ‘esearch Center on Play in Education, Development and Learning. The chosen candidate will get his own lab that’s probably filled with every imaginable type of Lego bricks.
Though Cambridge has yet to announce the candidate, or even formed a board of electors, whoever the University chooses will have to start as soon as October, as a Director of the research facility. Moreover, it certainly won’t be all fun-n-games. Though the exact list of expectations hasn’t been released, the University does expect the work done by the Director to fall “within the general field of the title of the office.”
Perhaps what the University is looking for is a person who possess the ability to creatively use Lego bricks to come up with interesting concepts on how to incorporate the much-needed element of fun, imagination, and unbridled creativity in the otherwise mundane and sometimes drab process of imparting and gaining knowledge. While children have the privilege of learning through fun elements and games, the process becomes increasingly serious, as one progress through the various stages of learning and levels of education.
Modern education institutes are reexamining the process of knowledge and skill transfer. Lego offers the unique opportunity to creatively express, despite confirming to the laws of construction. No wonder Lego bricks are considered the uncut diamonds of the modern world. The tiny bricks have been instrumental in unleashing the creativity and allowing a few miracles along the way. It’s an added benefit that Lego bricks are appealing to people of all age groups.
The LEGO foundation, which owns 25 percent of the Denmark-based toy company, has always expressed interest in investing in education and stressed that learning through play’ helps promote mental growth like no other teaching technique. The company wants “to make children’s lives better – and communities stronger – by making sure the fundamental value of play is understood, embraced and acted upon.”
The foundation has offered to put in almost $4 million to fund a “Lego Professorship of Play in Education, Development and Learning” at the school. However, the entire research center will be run on an exclusive $2.3 million grant.
[Image Credit | Ben A. Pruchnie / Getty Images]
