The LEGO Foundation Hosts IDEA Conference April 8-10, 2014: Re-Defining Play and Re-Imagining Learning

Leaders in Play, Learning and Creativity, including Harvard University, MIT MediaLab, Cambridge University, Sesame Workshop, KaBOOM, UNICEF, Convene to Address Critical Role of Play in Learning

Co-moderated by Joi Ito, Director of MIT's Media Lab, the two-day event will highlight an agenda where play and learning are central themes. Tony Wagner, Innovation Education Fellow, Technology & Entrepreneurship at Harvard University, will discuss how parents, educators and communities can turn play into purpose;  David Whitebread, University Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge in Psychology of Education, will host a workshop about cultural views on play and concrete skills needed for development; Jack Shonkoff, Director, Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, will offer ways to translate the science of play into business; Peter Gray, Research Professor at Boston College and author of "Free to Learn", will provide insights into the evolution of play and human instincts; and Deborah Leong, Director & Co-Founder of "Tools of the Mind", will explore the links between play and self-regulation, amongst many others.

Guests are invited to develop actionable models for play-based learning, debate and share new knowledge and research about the future of learning, and become part of a global collective aimed at elevating the critical role of play in everyday lives.

The 2014 LEGO Foundation IDEA Conference program kicks off April 9^th at 9:00am CET/3:00am EDT and can be joined live via stream at theideaconference.com/#/live-stream. Follow the discussion on Twitter at @LEGOFoundation#IdeaConf14 and on LinkedIn. A full list of speakers and agenda can be found here.

About the LEGO Foundation

The LEGO Foundation shares the mission of the LEGO Group: to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. The Foundation is dedicated to build a future where learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners. Its work is about re-defining play and re-imagining learning. In collaboration with thought leaders, influencers, educators and parents, the LEGO Foundation aims to equip, inspire and activate champions for play. www.LEGOFoundation.com