As the coronavirus pandemic exposes educational inequality throughout the United States, LEGO is looking to revamp the way digitally disadvantaged elementary and middle school students learn via a new 'purposeful play' program funded by leaders in tech and education.
Esben Staerk, LEGO Education president, explained that the toy company division has joined the 'Creating Learning Connections' initiative meant to ensure every student has "access to quality devices and quality internet connection."
In partnership with CDW-G, GE, Intel, and First Book, the initiative poured $7 million into the fund to develop tools and products that guide teachers and entice students to engage with their learning materials.
"The pandemic has exacerbated the divide. A recent study by First Book actually indicates that around 40 percent of students lack access to quality devices and almost 40 percent lack access to quality internet connections," Staerk said.
The physical aspect of LEGO Education's learning tools, according to Staerk, makes learning fun and is a better source for information retention.
"All the LEGO Education solutions are based around hands-on learning, and they're based around a playful learning or learning to play approach," he explained.
As parents and teachers express having difficulties with children learning from home, Staerk said the purposeful play program isn't just meant to level the educational playing field but also to "make sure that these communities and these students are engaged in their learning."
For Staerk, the choice to join an equal education initiative was easy since the importance of access to quality education is essential for the ability to be "life-long learners," he noted.
"It's important that we spark student creativity, their problem solving, their critical thinking, but not least, also build their confidence in learning and their resilience," Staerk added.
Kevin Yu, Founder and CEO of Sidechef, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how it's building a platform to make recipe shopping easy, and how its features help you discover new recipes with the same ingredients to fight the massive problem of food waste.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Sidechef CEO breaks down how it's building a platform to make recipe shopping easy; Luum CEO explains the process of having a robot put on eyelash extensions; A look at Curiosity Stream's new original series, 'Evolve.'
Big Apple workers who deliver for food apps like Doordash and Grubhub will now receive a number of legal protections provided through a package of new regulations that have started going into effect. These updated rules include more control over their deliveries, pay and tip transparency, a higher minimum pay rate, and access to restaurant bathrooms during the workday. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander joined Cheddar to elaborate on the regulations and how the platform holders reacted. "I have to say it's a mixed bag," he said. "Grubhub actually welcomed the legislation and said they recognize they need to do better by their deliveristas, but DoorDash, unfortunately, has actually been pushing back against the legislation."
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Tire manufacturer Michelin is partnering with the popular video game "The Sims FreePlay" in order to meet teens where they are to promote driving safety. Michelin North America Chairman and President Alexis Garcin joined Cheddar News to discuss how the #GoldenGauge program integrates with the game. "If you're a gamer yourself or your kids, then while you're driving and moving on the application, you will find a Michelin billboard, and if you engage with that billboard, then you will get some advice about how tires are critical for your safety on the road," Garcin explained. *Updated with the full title of 'The Sims FreePlay' and a typo fix in the name of Alexis Garcin.*
