Missouri State University’s College of Business is bringing creativity into the classroom with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP).   

LSP is a facilitated workshop method that uses LEGO bricks to encourage creative thinking, problem-solving and team collaboration. Participants use LEGO bricks to build models that represent their ideas, insights and solutions. These models then serve as discussion points to explore different perspectives and problem-solving approaches. 

Over winter break, faculty members Kristen Thornton and Kristin Hamm, instructors in the School of Accountancy, took part in LEGO Professional Play training. They received the LEGO Professional Play certification.  

The four-day training, held on campus from Dec. 16-19, equipped the duo with knowledge and tools to make learning more dynamic and impactful. At the training, educators learned how to use the LSP methodology, how to help develop teaching strategies using it and how to incorporate critical thinking from students. 

Learning with LEGO 

This hands-on methodology uses LEGO bricks to help students visualize concepts, think critically and engage actively in their learning.  

Already, accounting students have benefitted from this program. 

“This semester, we built models to help students understand team dynamics and how each student fit into our team projects. We also plan to use LEGO to teach concepts through active learning, such as job-order costing,” Hamm said.  

“In the future, we plan to incorporate more building to make classes more dynamic and engaging, as well as improve student understanding of complex topics.” 

Learn more about the School of Accountancy