UNLOCKING STUDENT CREATIVITY WITH LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY: A CASE STUDY FROM THE GRADUATE MARKETING CLASSROOM

Abstract

ABSTRACT The importance of play is well established in early childhood development; however the importance of play appears to diminish in more advanced levels of education. Despite this, the demand for experiential, engaging learning experiences that seek to differentiate graduate-level programs in a fiercely competitive market continues to increase. This research sought to explore the phenomenon of bringing play and playfulness to the graduate-level classroom as a means through which to enhance creativity, student engagement, and teamwork. The LEGO® Serious Play (LSP) activity was originally created to be used as a facilitation strategy for business executives seeking to enhance innovation and business performance. This research sought to develop a protocol to adapt the LSP activity for masters’ students completing a mandatory marketing course. The primary aim of the research considered whether LSP would provide a valuable learning activity for future graduate-level marketing classes. As such, feedback was collected on the activity from students following engagement with LSP. The results of the study provide guidelines for marketing educators to seamlessly incorporate novel activities, such as LSP, into their teaching practice.