Live from Bett UK 2026, host Philippa Wraithmell speaks with Andrew Sliwinski, Head of Product Experience at LEGO Education. Together, they explore how LEGO is approaching artificial intelligence in classrooms with a strong focus on safety, ethics, and playful learning.
The conversation unpacks LEGO Education’s new Computer Science and AI programme, designed to help students understand how AI works—not treat it as magic—while giving teachers confidence to teach emerging technologies responsibly.
Key Themes in This Episode
Teaching AI fundamentals, not chatbot shortcuts
Privacy-first, classroom-only AI design
Building teacher confidence with new technologies
Child-safe ethics and non-anthropomorphic AI
Student voice in EdTech product design
Why Listen to This Episode?
This episode offers a rare, grounded perspective on AI in education—one that moves beyond hype and fear. Andrew shares why LEGO Education refuses to anthropomorphise AI, keeps all student data inside the classroom, and designs tools that pass the “substitute teacher test.”
It’s an essential listen for educators and leaders seeking practical, ethical, and age-appropriate approaches to AI literacy that empower both teachers and learners.
Who This Episode Is For?
Teachers exploring AI safely in classrooms
School leaders shaping EdTech strategy
EdTech innovators focused on ethics and inclusion
Anyone interested in AI literacy for children
Full Episode Description
Recorded live on Day 2 at Bett UK 2026, this episode captures a vital conversation about how artificial intelligence can be introduced into classrooms responsibly, creatively, and safely. Philippa Wraithmell is joined by Andrew Sliwinski, Head of Product Experience at LEGO Education, to explore how AI is moving from abstract concept to hands-on learning experience.
Andrew explains LEGO Education’s philosophy behind its new Computer Science and AI programme, which focuses on teaching core AI principles such as probability, bias, and machine representation. Rather than positioning AI as a “black box” or magical tool, LEGO encourages students to take it apart, question it, and build with it—developing true understanding and agency.
The discussion highlights the importance of teacher confidence. Andrew introduces the “substitute teacher test,” a benchmark ensuring lessons are simple, reliable, and usable even without specialist knowledge. This approach helps close the confidence gap that often prevents emerging technologies from reaching classrooms.
Ethics play a central role. LEGO Education has clear “red lines”: no student data leaves the classroom, AI is never given human traits, and safety is prioritised over speed. Andrew also shares insights from LEGO’s student-voice research, showing that children are not only curious about AI, but eager to understand how it shapes their world.
The episode concludes with a powerful reminder: technology should never lead learning. Instead, it should serve creativity, curiosity, and human connection—values that remain at the heart of LEGO’s approach to education.
Ready to experience the innovation firsthand? Make sure to check out what is happening at Bett UK. This episode is proudly sponsored by Edmentum.
Philippa Wraithmell is an education and digital-learning strategist based in the UAE. As the founder of EdRuption and Digital Bridge, she leads work on digital wellbeing, innovation, and evidence-informed practice. As host of The EdTech Podcast, Philippa explores how technology can elevate teaching, learning, and equitable education across the globe.
Andrew leads product development and innovation at LEGO Education, focusing on the intersection of creativity, play, learning, and technology. He previously co-directed Scratch at MIT and co-founded DIY.org. Andrew also serves on the board of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, shaping global approaches to computing education.
#308
LEGO at Bett UK: Safe AI for Classrooms
Subscribe on : iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music
Episode Overview
Live from Bett UK 2026, host Philippa Wraithmell speaks with Andrew Sliwinski, Head of Product Experience at LEGO Education. Together, they explore how LEGO is approaching artificial intelligence in classrooms with a strong focus on safety, ethics, and playful learning.
The conversation unpacks LEGO Education’s new Computer Science and AI programme, designed to help students understand how AI works—not treat it as magic—while giving teachers confidence to teach emerging technologies responsibly.
Key Themes in This Episode
Why Listen to This Episode?
This episode offers a rare, grounded perspective on AI in education—one that moves beyond hype and fear. Andrew shares why LEGO Education refuses to anthropomorphise AI, keeps all student data inside the classroom, and designs tools that pass the “substitute teacher test.”
It’s an essential listen for educators and leaders seeking practical, ethical, and age-appropriate approaches to AI literacy that empower both teachers and learners.
Who This Episode Is For?
Full Episode Description
Recorded live on Day 2 at Bett UK 2026, this episode captures a vital conversation about how artificial intelligence can be introduced into classrooms responsibly, creatively, and safely. Philippa Wraithmell is joined by Andrew Sliwinski, Head of Product Experience at LEGO Education, to explore how AI is moving from abstract concept to hands-on learning experience.
Andrew explains LEGO Education’s philosophy behind its new Computer Science and AI programme, which focuses on teaching core AI principles such as probability, bias, and machine representation. Rather than positioning AI as a “black box” or magical tool, LEGO encourages students to take it apart, question it, and build with it—developing true understanding and agency.
The discussion highlights the importance of teacher confidence. Andrew introduces the “substitute teacher test,” a benchmark ensuring lessons are simple, reliable, and usable even without specialist knowledge. This approach helps close the confidence gap that often prevents emerging technologies from reaching classrooms.
Ethics play a central role. LEGO Education has clear “red lines”: no student data leaves the classroom, AI is never given human traits, and safety is prioritised over speed. Andrew also shares insights from LEGO’s student-voice research, showing that children are not only curious about AI, but eager to understand how it shapes their world.
The episode concludes with a powerful reminder: technology should never lead learning. Instead, it should serve creativity, curiosity, and human connection—values that remain at the heart of LEGO’s approach to education.
Ready to experience the innovation firsthand? Make sure to check out what is happening at Bett UK. This episode is proudly sponsored by Edmentum.
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Subscribe on : iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music
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