by Gil Regev, BC 112, 36790 — last modified 2009-07-17 13:50
Subject: The art and science of building knowledge with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™
Presenter: Eli De Friend and Joyce Miller
Participants: 31
The SKMF roundtables typically address various aspects of how existing knowledge is managed. The March 4th meeting explored how knowledge is created. The suggestion was that to be effective, managing knowledge creation or development is part science, part art.
At a meta-level, the session followed the usual format, starting with an initial presentation of the theoretical and scientific underpinnings of experiential learning, followed by a few related questions discussed at the not-so-round tables.
There was, however, one noticeable difference. In contrast with previous roundtables, pen and paper were replaced by LEGO bricks (lots of LEGO bricks).
Research shows that “experiential learning†is the most effective way for adults to learn. From flip-charts in a factory, to bricks in a board room, there are many ways to design a learning experience. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™ was the methodology used to demonstrate the power of a facilitated learning experience.
Although the timeframe was very short for such an exercise, the round table generated results at the following 4 levels:
Individual Knowledge Building: At an individual level, participants new to Knowledge Management discovered it through the use of LEGO bricks.
Individual Knowledge Sharing: Those with more experience in knowledge management were able to share their understandings and world views on how individuals and organizations develop knowledge by creating and explaining their LEGO constructions.
Collective Knowledge Building: As a group, participants applied the knowledge gained in their discussions about their individual world views and applied them to create a collective world view of the key aspects of a Learning Organization.
Collective Knowledge Sharing: This was then taken to another level of collectivity, by sharing the stories of each table’s ideas about Learning Organizations with participants from other tables in the room.
Participants and organizers had a lot of fun. See the pictures below for some of the models they created.
Pavel Kraus, SKMF president, kicked off the evening with a brief introduction to SKMF’s activities throughout Switzerland, including a teaser for the March 10th Basel roundtable
