LEGO School Opening In Denmark This Summer
A LEGO school will open its doors to students in Denmark this August, combining a standard education with the creativity and play associated with the famous building blocks.
The school is the idea of Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, the billionaire owner of the LEGO empire, and yes: It’s a real school. The International School of Billund will offer the international baccalaureate (IB) with the Danish school system and, of course, lots of LEGO.
Classes will focus on “inquiry-based learning,” based on the theory that motivation is greater when kids get to generate their own questions. As one prospective parent told The Guardian: “In the UK you’re taught how to pass exams. In Scandinavia you’re taught how to think.”
By combining the international baccalaureate, LEGO’s own research into child development, and this more open-minded approach, the backers of the school hope kids will have the tools to both “think” and “do” in their future careers.
A headteacher is already in place, with seasoned head and British physicist Richard Matthews appointed. He says:
“Allowing time for creativity, play and getting into a state of flow is at the centre of Lego’s philosophy and we’ll be experimenting with this and other ideas in the timetabling. But we also have a responsibility – the children’s education comes first and sometimes the old methods will be the best.”
The fee-paying institution will open in the small town of rural Jutland, a place referred to as “Hicksville” by Danes. And, with the school financially secure thanks to LEGO’s own endorsement, failure seems unlikely.
While the idea is unconventional, it’s worth remembering that Scandinavian countries excel in education. In recent years, children in the region have displayed world-beating levels of reading, math, and science literacy, while Finland has what many regard as the finest school system in the world. So hey, perhaps a LEGO school isn’t so batty. It’s certainly awesome.
What do you make of Denmark’s LEGO school?
[Image via Shutterstock.com]
