Image by freepik
image_pdf

FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) is an international educational program designed to inspire and engage young minds, fostering a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) among children aged 4 to 16. With over 250,000 participants from 90 countries, FLL empowers the next generation of problem solvers by encouraging them to tackle real-world issues.

Each year, FLL introduces an exciting new challenge, stimulating participants’ creativity while promoting hands-on, practical learning. For instance, this year in Spain, the challenge is “SUBMERGED,” with the national finals taking place on March 29th in Ferrol (Galicia) where the best teams will compete for a place at the international finals.

FLL teams begin their journey by designing and building a LEGO® robot capable of solving various challenges related to the season’s theme. In addition to building robots, teams are tasked with conducting research and creating an innovative project that provides a solution to a real-world problem. Teams document their progress, share their findings, and present their solutions to a panel of judges during the event.

The competition is built around three main pillars:

  • Innovation Project: teams must develop an innovative project based on the annual theme and considering the scientific evidence. This project is presented to a panel of judges on the day of the event.
  • Robot Game: teams build and program a LEGO robot capable of completing as many missions as possible on the challenge mat for the season.
  • Core Values: throughout the experience, participants enhance their social and teamwork skills while embracing FLL’s Core Values, which include discovery, teamwork, inclusion, impact, fun, innovation, and gracious professionalism.

These categories inspire the development of critical thinking, experimentation, and creative design skills. Participants learn not only about technology and engineering but also about collaboration, ethical conduct, and problem-solving.

FLL’s structure caters to different age groups, each focusing on unique aspects of STEAM learning:

  • Discover (Ages 4-6): this introductory STEM program sparks young students’ natural curiosity and develops their learning habits through hands-on classroom and home activities using LEGO® DUPLO® bricks.
  • Explore (Ages 6-10): in Explore, teams of children aged 6 to 10 dive into the basics of engineering while tackling real-world problems. They learn how to design, code, and create solutions using LEGO bricks and LEGO® Education SPIKE Essential.
  • Challenge (Ages 9-16, varying by country): the core of the competition involves friendly rivalry, where students between 9 and 16 years old engage in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering. They build and program a LEGO robot that navigates through a robot game, applying STEM principles in a competitive yet educational environment.

Through FIRST® LEGO® League, participants not only gain knowledge of STEM but also develop essential life skills, such as collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation, all while having fun. The program stands as a testament to how learning can be both enjoyable and impactful, shaping young minds to become the innovators of tomorrow.

Assistant Lecturer at the University of the Basque Country

By Garazi Álvarez Guerrero

Assistant Lecturer at the University of the Basque Country