Blending Experiential Learning with Technology for Effective Virtual Collaboration
The Future of Digitally-Assisted Facilitation
The shift toward remote teams, online meetings, and hybrid sessions has transformed how businesses, educators, and facilitators collaborate. As more organizations adopt digitally-assisted facilitation methods, integrating the LEGO® Serious Play® Method with digital tools has become a strategic way to maintain engagement, creative thinking, and business performance in remote settings.
Originally developed as a teaching tool for experiential learning, the LEGO® Serious Play® Method has proven invaluable in team-building activities, graduate-level business classrooms, and corporate strategy development. However, the challenge now lies in maintaining the human touch and interactive elements of in-person sessions in virtual environments.
This guide explores how facilitators, educators, and business leaders can seamlessly adapt the LEGO® Serious Play® Method to online sessions, while preserving the learning process, facilitation techniques, and co-creation experience that make this method so impactful.
The Science Behind the LEGO® Serious Play® Method in Virtual Environments
To understand how LEGO® Serious Play® Method can be adapted for remote facilitation, it’s essential to explore its theoretical foundations:
1. Experiential Learning Theory (Kolb, 1984)
- David Kolb introduced the concept of experiential learning, where knowledge is gained through active engagement and reflection.
- The LEGO® Serious Play® Method embodies this principle by allowing participants to externalize their thoughts through model-building and storytelling.
- In digitally-assisted facilitation, this process can be recreated using screen-sharing, virtual whiteboards, and 3D LEGO® modeling software.
📌 Related Read: 10 Core LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitation Techniques
2. Social Constructivism (Vygotsky, 1978)
– Lev Vygotsky emphasized that learning is most effective when it happens collaboratively.
– In hybrid meetings or remote settings, facilitators can leverage Facilitation Lab techniques, digital co-creation spaces, and breakout Zoom meetings to preserve this shared learning process.
📌 Related Read: A Strategy for Success: LEGO® Serious Play®
Best Digital Tools for Running Remote LEGO® Serious Play® Method Sessions
To enhance LEGO® Serious Play® Method workshops in online settings, facilitators can integrate various digital tools that support co-creation experiences, creative thinking, and critical thinking skills.
1. Video Conferencing & Hybrid Meeting Platforms
• Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet
– Enable screen-sharing, recording, and security settings for complex meetings.
– Allow breakout rooms for facilitated small-group discussions.
📌 Related Link: Register for a LEGO® Serious Play® Method Training
2. Digital Whiteboards & Facilitation Tools
• Miro, MURAL, Jamboard
– Enable real-time collaboration for remote teams.
– Allow participants to create full-size images of LEGO® models and annotate insights.
📌 Related Link: Learn More About Virtual Facilitation Training
3. Virtual LEGO® Modeling Software
• LEGO Digital Designer (LDD), Bricklink Studio, Mecabricks
– Provide a 3D modeling alternative when physical bricks aren’t available.
– Ensure that students and remote workers can still engage in tangible, visual learning.
📌 Related Link: Explore Advanced LEGO® Serious Play® Method Training
Step-by-Step Guide: Running a LEGO® Serious Play® Method Workshop in a Virtual Environment
Facilitators can run highly effective LEGO® Serious Play® Method online sessions by following these structured steps:
• Step 1: Prepare the Session & Select the Right Tools
– Decide whether the session will be a one-off meeting, a hybrid session, or a long-term facilitation process.
– Ensure that remote teams have physical LEGO® sets or access to digital modeling tools.
– Send a meeting in advance notice with guidelines on screen-sharing, security settings, and facilitation practices.
• Step 2: Facilitation Techniques for Engagement
– Use icebreakers such as quick builds to get participants comfortable.
– Implement Facilitation Lab strategies for critical thinking skills development.
– Encourage participants to co-create models using LEGO® or digital tools.
📌 Related Read: How to Run Effective LEGO® Serious Play® Method Workshops
• Step 3: Model Building & Storytelling in Remote Settings
– Assign a problem-solving challenge (e.g., “Build a model that represents your ideal team culture”).
– Use screen-sharing to showcase LEGO® models and full-size images.
– Facilitate discussions where meeting leaders encourage participants to reflect on their models.
• Step 4: Reflection & Action Planning
– Use MURAL or Miro to document group insights.
– Enable participants to share a wide variety of perspectives on their models.
– Summarize takeaways in a Facilitation Newsletter or digital report.
📌 Related Read: How to Use MURAL for Virtual Collaboration
Challenges & Solutions in Remote LEGO® Serious Play® Method Facilitation
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Lack of Hands-On Interaction | Encourage live model sharing via webcam |
| Distractions in Virtual Environments | Use interactive polls and engagement tools |
| Difficulties in Digital LEGO® Modeling | Train participants on 3D modeling software in advance |
The Future of Hybrid LEGO® Serious Play® Method Facilitation
As digitally-assisted facilitation becomes the norm, the future of LEGO® Serious Play® Method workshops will be shaped by a variety of features, including:
- AI-Powered Facilitation Practices
- AI-driven insights can help facilitators analyze group dynamics and model themes.
- Virtual Reality (VR) LEGO® Sessions
- SPARTAN TECH GROUP is already developing VR platforms for immersive LEGO® Serious Play® experiences.
- Graduate-Level Business Classroom Integration
- Universities are incorporating LEGO® Serious Play® into graduate-level classrooms to develop critical thinking skills.
📌 Related Read: How VR is Changing Facilitation Services
Final Thoughts: Ready to Elevate Your Virtual LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitation?
The integration of LEGO® Serious Play® with digital tools opens new possibilities for businesses, educators, and facilitators. Whether you’re leading a graduate-level business classroom, a hybrid meeting, or a complex meeting for strategic planning, the right facilitation techniques will ensure that remote settings remain interactive, immersive, and impactful.
