BC TEAL is proud to present our 2025 Annual Conference: Disruptive Educational Practices: Strategies for Transformation.
Educators shine in times of change to face unexpected challenges. This is when creativity flourishes by combining proven practices with fresh and innovative ideas. These times call for transformation which can be rooted in tradition or experience, or it can arise through unexplored approaches. The synthesis of old and new ideas drives meaningful progress. Join other insightful and creative educators as we flourish within the power of our community.
This workshop addresses the current challenges of teaching English across diverse contexts such as LINC, general English, or English for Academic Purposes. Drawing on the principles of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP)—a creative, hands-on method rooted in constructionism—participants will discover how tactile activities promote deeper engagement, collaboration, and language development. Research indicates that playful, tangible activities can deepen conceptual understanding and support learner well-being (Nerantzi & James, 2019). Additionally, the LEGO Education State of Classroom Engagement Report (2024) underscores the importance of bringing joy and curiosity into the classroom, highlighting improved academic outcomes, enhanced well-being, and lower teacher attrition. During this interactive session, participants will build and share LEGO® models representing common challenges in learning English, ranging from vocabulary acquisition to effective communication in multicultural environments. By translating abstract ideas into physical models, learners gain a clearer grasp of complex concepts, shifting from passive recipients of information to active problem-solvers. The workshop also presents findings from a survey conducted with non-native English learners at a Canadian institution, highlighting how LSP positively impacted students’ creativity, collaboration, engagement, and language outcomes. Attendees will explore practical strategies for designing LEGO® activities that foster creativity, collaboration, and deeper levels of engagement. They will learn how to adapt these tasks to fit different teaching contexts and learner needs. Emphasis will be placed on guiding students to reflect on the building process—encouraging metacognition and more meaningful application of language skills. By the end of the session, participants will have hands-on experience with LSP techniques, an understanding of the theoretical foundations behind this approach, and a toolkit of adaptable lesson ideas. Ultimately, this workshop aims to demonstrate how playful pedagogies can transform language instruction, motivating learners to experiment, inquire, and collaborate as they develop essential communication skills in various English-teaching contexts. References Nerantzi, C., & James, A. (2019). LEGO® for University Learning: Inspiring academic practice in higher education.https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2813448 The LEGO Group. (2024). State of classroom engagement report: How global insights from 6,000-plus administrators, teachers, parents, and students reveal strategies to build more engaged classrooms. The LEGO Group.
Olga Gonokhova is an enthusiastic EAL/EAP instructor who cultivates a creative and engaging classroom environment through LEGO® Serious Play®, inspiring curiosity, collaboration, and meaningful outcomes.
International Business Management Instructor, Program Director, Acsenda School of Management
Fuat Ramazanov is a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Certified Facilitator who designs engaging learning experiences, showcasing the importance of LEGO® in higher education.Fuat is a strong advocate for teaching practices that cultivate students' creativity and promote innovative approaches... Read More →
