NOTE: the Fall 2016 edition of this FSEM is being run in CANVAS. Please check there for an up-to-date syllabus and listing of assignments.
Course Description
LEGO are more than a beloved toy. From advertising to the classroom, engineering, art, and everything in between, the interlocking bricks are ubiquitous. This FSEM will delve into the uses and meaning of LEGO, from their creation to today. Particular attention will be paid to the tension between creativity and order emphasized in the bricks’ uses. The importance of visual and tactile learning will also be a major topic of discussion, as will be the widening scope of the bricks. By approaching learning through this toy, students will be immersed in the ideals of the liberal arts: understanding different perspectives, using varied sources, synthesizing information, applying learning, and teaching their peers.
Course Goals
This course satisfies the general education curriculum’s First Year Seminar requirement. This course strives to fulfill the FSEM pedagogical goals of participatory and exploratory learning through group and individual investigation of LEGO. Readings expose students to academic, science-based, creative, and other perspectives on the wide-ranging use and applications of LEGO. As with other FSEM courses, this course is intended to sharpen students’ skills in the following areas:
• Read critically and evaluate both primary sources and modern authorities;
• Synthesize material from multiple sources to develop their own views on the topic;
• Utilize a variety of research techniques to retrieve information efficiently, evaluate
retrieved information, and synthesize information effectively to support their
messages or arguments;
• Effectively demonstrate development and organization of written arguments;
• Demonstrate the ability to edit and revise in the writing process;
• Apply the basic theories and principles of oral communication;
• Communicate effectively in a variety of settings, including public speaking and
group discussion.
Assignments/Grading
| Graded Course Requirements | Due Date | Weight |
| Class Participation | All Semester | 20% |
| In-Class Builds | All Semester | 5% |
| FSEM Modules | Nov 6 | 5% |
| Set Critique (presentation) | Sep 26 | 10% |
| Set Critique (paper) | Oct 3 | 10% |
| Project Proposal (presentation) | Oct 24 | 5% |
| Project Proposal (paper) | Oct 31 | 5% |
| Project Build | Dec 7 | 10% |
| Project Presentation | Dec 7 & 9 | 10% |
| Project Paper | Dec 14 | 20% |
Disability Information, Grading Scale & Instructor Policies
Resources
This FSEM will use a variety of primary and secondary sources ranging from popular culture to academia, in a plethora of media (written, audio, video, visual, and tactile.) LEGO sets will be provided for students while they are enrolled in the course. Readings and web sources beyond newspaper articles and web pages are listed below.
Robertson, D. & Breen, B. (2013) Brick by Brick: How LEGO Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry. New York: Crown Publishing.
Schultz, M & Hatch, M.J. (2003) The Cycles of Corporate Branding: The Case of the LEGO Company. California Management Review 46(1) 6-26.
Turner, Christopher. Ed. (2013) LEGO Architecture Studio: create your own architecture.
Williams, K. et al. (2012) Enriching K-12 Science and Mathematics Education Using LEGOs. Advances in Engineering Education. 3(2)
Course Schedule
08/29 MON Course Introduction
08/31 WED Student Introductions/Taking Notes
09/02 FRI Build Following Directions
09/05 MON LABOR DAY – NO CLASS
09/07 WED LEGO Movie
09/09 FRI LEGO Movie
09/12 MON Chaos v. Order – Readings: Ringen 2015
09/14 WED Library Session
09/16 FRI Free Build
09/19 MON Advising Session
09/21 WED Work Session/How to Present
09/23 FRI LEGO History – Readings: Basulto 2014, Schmidt 2014
09/26 MON PRESENTATION: SET CRITIQUE (I)
09/28 WED PRESENTATION: SET CRITIQUE (II)
09/30 FRI LEGO and Education – Readings: Williams 2012
10/03 MON LEGO and Architecture – CRITIQUE PAPER DUE – Readings: LEGO Architecture Studio (excerpts), dezeen 2015
10/05 WED Individual Feedback & Advising
10/07 FRI Individual Feedback & Advising
10/10 MON Proposal Writing
10/12 WED LEGO & Engineering – Readings: Robertson, Chapter 7
10/14 FRI In-Class Build
10/17 MON FALL BREAK
10/19 WED LEGO and Advertising – Readings: Schultz & Hatch 2003
10/21 FRI LEGO and Gender/Identity – Readings: Dell’Antonia 2012, Ohlheiser 2014
10/24 MON PRESENTATION: PROJECT PROPOSAL (I)
10/26 WED PRESENTATION: PROJECT PROPOSAL (II)
10/28 FRI In-Class Build
10/31 MON Board & Video Games – PROPOSAL DUE – Readings: Robertson, Chapter 9; Liszewski 2015
11/02 WED LEGO Alternatives
11/04 FRI Work Session
11/07 MON LEGO and Art – Readings: LEGO my Van Gogh
11/09 WED LEGO Hacking
11/11 FRI Work Session
11/14 MON New developments in LEGO – Readings: Breyer 2015
11/16 WED DRAFT & BUILD FEEDBACK (I)
11/18 FRI DRAFT & BUILD FEEDBACK (II)
11/21 MON Work Session
11/23 WED THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
11/25 FRI THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
11/28 MON Critique
11/30 WED LEGO in a larger context – Readings: BRICKSET 2015
12/02 FRI Work Session
12/05 MON Advising Followup & Course Conclusion
12/07 WED PROJECT PRESENTATIONS (I)
12/09 FRI PROJECT PRESENTATIONS (II)
12/14 WED FINAL PAPERS DUE (noon)
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