1016 - Thinking with your hands: Using LEGO® to build logic models

Abstract Information: How can evaluators make creating and operationalizing logic models fun, inclusive, interactive, and equitable? In this workshop, participants will learn a new, participatory way to develop logic models, and techniques learned can be applied across the entire evaluation cycle. They will be encouraged to think creatively to ensure that organizations build logic models to mitigate power dynamics, that all voices are heard, and that final products are used. Using the Lego®Serious Play®(LSP) method, participants will build outcomes and activities using Lego® bricks and connect them in an "if, then" framework that results in a three-dimensional relational diagram. Participants will learn new techniques to engage stakeholders in meaningful dialogue, stimulate creativity and innovation, foster reflection and sensemaking, build consensus, and enhance the validity and reliability of evaluation data. By incorporating LSP into their toolkit, evaluators can unlock new possibilities for conducting participatory, inclusive, and impactful evaluations.

Relevance Statement: Evaluators are constantly searching for innovative methodologies to improve processes, meaningfully engage stakeholders, and improve outcomes. Lego Serious Play (LSP), a research-informed methodology developed by the Lego Group, has gained popularity in business settings and various educational and developmental contexts for strategic and scenario planning and organizational development. Traditional evaluation methods rely heavily on surveys, interviews, and observations, which can limit the depth of participant engagement and expression. Logic model design is often facilitated using 2-D tools and traditional facilitation methods that cater to analytical thinkers and quick processors. LSP offers a novel approach, lending itself to a variety of learning modalities. It uses the power of play and construction to unlock creativity and encourage participants to express complex ideas in tangible forms (Proyer, et al., 2019). The process consists of customized questions that participants answer by building their responses. Participants first answer alone to avoid groupthink and unlock their authentic knowledge before sharing the meaning of their model to ensure each participant's voice is heard. This allows individuals to articulate their perspectives and insights in a non-threatening environment. Facilitators guide participants into deeper processes to design a group decision with participation and commitment from all folks. Participants engage with this method differently because of tenants in neuroscience and constructionism and how play makes our brains more flexible. By engaging participants in hands-on activities that involve building models and metaphors, LSP encourages individuals to explore multiple perspectives and generate unconventional solutions to complex problems (Roos and Victor, 2018). This approach can be beneficial in evaluative processes where conventional methods may fail to capture the nuanced dynamics of a program or intervention. LSP can serve as a tool for fostering reflection and sense-making in evaluation practice. By constructing physical representations of their thoughts and experiences, participants are prompted to reflect deeply on their assumptions, beliefs, and values, enhancing self-awareness and critical thinking skills (Gauntlett, 2007). In evaluation contexts, this reflective aspect of LSP can help evaluators and stakeholders uncover hidden biases, challenge prevailing narratives, and arrive at more nuanced interpretations of evaluation findings. Proyer, R. T., Tandler, N., & Brauer, K. (2019). Chapter 2 – Playfulness and Creativity: A Selective Review. In S. R. Luria, J. Baer, & J. C. Kaufman (Eds.), Creativity and Humor (pp. 43–60). Academic Press. Roos, J. and Victor, B. (2018), "How It All Began: The Origins Of LEGO® Serious Play®", International Journal of Management and Applied Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 326-343. Gauntlett, D. (2007). Creative Explorations: New Approaches to Identities and Audiences. Routledge.