Purdue and LEGO Education bring AI, coding and robotics training to Indiana middle school teachers

Purdue University and LEGO Education’s professional development program combines classroom-ready activities with online videos exploring AI competency, robotics and students’ future readiness Indiana STEM educators took part in Purdue University and LEGO Education’s Brick by Brick professional development workshop on July 23, 2026 Purdue University and LEGO Education have teamed up to support Indiana middle school teachers with practical classroom activities focused on AI, coding and robotics. The partnership brought educators to Purdue’s West Lafayette campus on July 23 for “Brick by Brick: Bringing AI to the Classroom,” a professional development workshop led by faculty and staff from the university’s College of Science alongside LEGO Education facilitators. The session was aimed specifically at Indiana STEM educators working with grades 6-8. Rather than focusing only on AI concepts, the program centered on lessons teachers could take back into the classroom, combining artificial intelligence with coding and robotics activities. Lucy Flesch, Frederick L. Hovde Dean of Purdue’s College of Science, says early exposure can shape how students view their own role in computer science: “When educators engage students in computer science and AI early, they help students see themselves as problem-solvers and creators.” From AI competency to pathways into robotics Purdue has also made a series of videos from its experts available through the program website, extending the material beyond the July workshop. The videos focus on how AI and robotics connect with K-12 education, research and future work. In “AI Competency in Education,” Andres Bejarano, Assistant Teaching Professor of Computer Science at Purdue, discusses the importance of AI competency in the classroom and its relevance to students’ future readiness. Assistant Professor Zachary Kingston explores “Pathways Into Robotics,” reflecting on the role of robotics in K-12 education and how early exposure influenced his own route into research. Kingston’s work at Purdue focuses on robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, including how robots plan and make decisions. A third video, “AI, Robotics and Research,” features Assistant Professor Rohan Paleja discussing the role of AI and robotics in society, connecting the technologies to his research and their relevance to the future of K-12 education and work. His research focuses on robotics, artificial intelligence and human-robot collaboration. The online material sits alongside resources gathered from the experts involved in the initiative, as well as event photos and a video recap of Purdue and LEGO Education’s first event together. Purdue and LEGO Education combine academic and classroom expertise The wider collaboration draws on several areas of Purdue’s computer science work. Jessica Brewer, K-12 Outreach Administrator for Computer Science, leads statewide efforts to support and expand computer science education, while Bejarano’s work covers computer science, artificial intelligence and computational geometry. LEGO Education’s involvement includes Leanna Prater, Senior Professional Learning Services Manager US, whose work focuses on professional learning designed to support educators using hands-on learning in their classrooms. Nermeen Dashoush, Head of Educational Impact at LEGO Education, described the partnership on LinkedIn as an example of universities and industry working together to support teachers. “This is such a great example of what is possible when universities and industry work together to support educators and expand their impact,” she wrote.