Bricks of Transformation: A Future-Oriented Pedagogical Approach to Systems Thinking with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

Resumé

Addressing contemporary wicked problems demands to equip higher education students with robust systems thinking and an understanding of transition processes in socio-technical systems. However, teaching such complex dynamics often creates cognitive overload within traditional linear pedagogical models. This article introduces an innovative educational workshop designed to bridge this gap by teaching Geels’s Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) by using the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) method. The MLP frames systemic change as the interplay between macro-level landscape developments, the meso-level regime, and micro-level niche innovations. By utilizing the tactile and metaphorical affordances of LSP, the workshop allows interdisciplinary students to physically model these abstract interactions. The intervention focuses on the transformation of the higher education system, enabling learners to visualize tensions, path dependencies, and windows of opportunity in a tangible format. Qualitative feedback by students indicates that materializing theoretical concepts significantly enhances conceptual grasp and engagement, fostering critical reflection and collaborative meaning-making. We conclude by providing a detailed activity flow and pedagogical guidelines, demonstrating how embodied learning can effectively prepare students to navigate the ambiguity of modern societal challenges.