The Edtech Podcast

#308 LEGO at Bett UK: Safe AI for Classrooms

Jan 23, 2026
Andrew Slawinski, Lead of Product Development for LEGO Education and former LEGO research scientist at MIT. He discusses LEGO’s new Computer Science and AI tools. Conversation covers teaching AI fundamentals like bias and probability. They stress strict classroom privacy, avoiding anthropomorphism, and building teacher confidence with practical tests. Children are eager to explore and co-design with the tech.
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INSIGHT

Teach AI Fundamentals Not Hype

  • LEGO Education focuses on teaching AI fundamentals, not just presenting chatbots to students.
  • Andrew Slawinski argues children should learn probability, bias, and representation from kindergarten onward.
INSIGHT

Teacher Confidence Trumps Tool Access

  • Teacher confidence is often the biggest barrier to introducing AI and CS in class, not student interest or technology access.
  • Closing the confidence divide requires designing tools specifically for teachers' needs.
ADVICE

Make Lessons Substitute-Ready

  • Design classroom products so a substitute teacher can run them without specialist knowledge.
  • LEGO uses a "Substitute Teacher Test" to ensure teachers of varying confidence can deliver lessons reliably.
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