1916: LEGO wooden toys1947: first LEGO plastic toys1954: LEGO System of Play; LEGO Trademark1958: First Brick (2x6; six blocks = 915 million possible combinations)1968: First LEGOLAND (Billund, Denmark)1969: LEGO DUPLO1973: LEGO logo1974: First LEGO people1977: LEGO Technique1978: First modern minifigure; LEGO Castle (first theme); LEGO Space (best theme… ever)1980: LEGO Educational Products Department1981: First LEGO World Show1984: First international LEGO building competition1986: LEGO Technique Computer1988: LEGO Maniac1995: First LEGO television program1998: LEGO MindStorms1992: LEGO Imagination Center (Mall of America)1996: LEGOLAND goes global (starting in UK)1999: LEGO Star Wars; first LEGO Shop and LEGO.com; First US LEGOLAND2000: Disney partnership2001: BIONICLE; LEGO Harry Potter; LEGO Serious Play2008: LEGO Architecture

LEGO Group Vision

The LEGO Group's vision is to invent the future of play and LEGO Education's interpretation of that is to bring the most innovative solutions to classrooms in order to transform the way that learning takes place.

By providing the best digital and physical resources for hands-on and creative learning experiences, LEGO Education believes that teachers and students will experience a new way to learn that is more effective, engaging and motivating.

LEGO Group Mission

The LEGO Group's Mission is to Inspire and Develop the Builders of Tomorrow' and LEGO Education's interpretation of this is to bring solutions to educators that will enable their students to succeed. We know that teachers are expected to deliver specific learning outcomes and measurable results and LEGO Education strives to create solutions that answer to those needs.

LEGO is used by professional educators, trainers and engineers

LEGO Serious Play and similar programs offer LEGO-based programs

LEGO Educational Products Department: make learning Engaging, Relevant, Hands-On, Creative

LEGO loves software and web developers and software and web developers love LEGO

My favorite exercise:

1. Get a bunch of noobs from different disciplines in a room (ideally one or more PMs, UXers, designers, RAs/BAs, and testers, plus any leadership/stakeholders)

2. Stick them in a room with a bunch of paper, pens, and LEGO

3. Force them to switch roles (all of them, no one gets to play safe)

4. Give them an assignment and a time limit then put them to work

5. Be sure to leave ample time for a debrief/hot wash after the exercise

With enough people, you can do multiple teams and present models and related artifacts after the exercise.