Lightning Talk
Lightning Talk Title:
Building Blocks of Referencing: Using LEGO® and Play-Based Learning to Engage First-Year Students
Presenters:
Emma Peters, Jo Whitcombe
Workshop Date:
Tuesday 12 May | 11:00am – 11:30am
Lightning Talk Description:
Academic referencing is a foundational skill for university students, yet it is often perceived as tedious, confusing, or intimidating, especially by first-year students navigating the transition to higher education. This presentation explores an innovative, play-based approach to teaching referencing using LEGO® in active learning workshops designed for first-year cohorts. By integrating principles of active learning and play, these workshops foster engagement, reduce anxiety, and encourage peer-to-peer dialogue around academic integrity and referencing practices.
The Referencing with LEGO® workshop was developed in response to student feedback indicating that traditional referencing instruction, failed to resonate with learners or address their individual concerns. The LEGO® based sessions invite students to construct representations of how they think and feel about referencing using LEGO® bricks, encouraging conceptual thinking and the sharing of common fears and anxieties.
This tactile and visual approach supports diverse learning styles and creates a low-stakes environment where students can express confusion, ask questions, and share experiences around referencing. The workshops are facilitated by academic librarians and students are encouraged to articulate their thoughts and feelings about referencing through their LEGO® creations, which are then used as springboards for deeper conversations about academic integrity, plagiarism, and referencing formats.
Preliminary feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Students report feeling more confident in their ability to reference correctly and appreciate the opportunity to engage with the topic in a creative and supportive setting. The workshop also promotes community-building among first-year students, helping them feel more connected to their peers and to library staff.
Workshops have been held with students across disciplines including Education, Engineering, Social Work and Human Services, Paramedicine, Nursing, Allied Health and Surveying. While face to face sessions were more successful but the session has been adapted for synchronous and asynchronous online learning using a flipped classroom approach.
This presentation will outline the pedagogical framework underpinning the LEGO® Referencing Workshop, including its alignment with the principles of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.
The session will share real outcomes including photos from the sessions, practical insights into workshop design and facilitation strategies. Attendees will gain ideas for implementing similar approaches in their own institutions and will be invited to reflect on how play and creativity can transform library instruction. These skills and strategies are applicable to library instructors across the sector.
Emma Peters
Engineering, Sciences and IT Librarian, University of Southern Queensland
Presenter Bio
Emma is an information specialist with experience across both public and academic libraries. In her current role as a Liaison Librarian at the University of Southern Queensland, she supports students and staff in the Engineering, Science, and IT disciplines, focusing on the development of information and digital literacy skills. She is passionate about creating engaging learning resources and workshops and embraces innovative approaches to meet the diverse needs of learners.
Jo Whitcombe
University of Southern Queensland