Ian Holden, Chairman of We Support Hands-On Learning, speaks with Modern Teaching Aids’ STEM & Robotics Program Manager and LEGO Certified Product and Training Specialist, Joanne Knight, to unpack what teachers are facing in classrooms today. From declining student engagement to increasing behaviour challenges, Joanne shares what she’s seeing firsthand in schools and how hands-on learning is helping to shift this. She highlights how, once students are actively engaged through hands-on experiences, their motivation lifts, their curiosity grows, and their willingness to learn increases. 

Joanne explores how hands-on resources can be used with clear learning intentions to create purposeful learning experiences, where students feel like they are playing while building deep understanding. She points to real classroom examples, from simple builds linked to storytelling through to robotics and coding, showing how learning can be differentiated across year levels.  

Importantly, she challenges the idea that hands-on learning is difficult to implement, sharing practical approaches such as using picture storybooks to unlock cross-curricular STEM learning. The conversation reinforces how simple, purposeful strategies can improve engagement, strengthen retention, and create more meaningful learning experiences.