Brick by Brick
Brick by Brick
Faculty and staff from Purdue’s College of Science and LEGO® Education facilitators have teamed up to help teachers explore practical applications of artificial intelligence, coding and robotics through classroom-ready lessons designed to spark curiosity and innovation. Find the resources from experts collected here.
AI Competency in Education
Assistant teaching professor Andres Bejarano discusses the importance of AI competency in the classroom and its relevance for students’ future readiness.
AI, Robotics and Research
Assistant professor Rohan Paleja highlights the role of AI and robotics in society, connects these topics to his research, and discusses their relevance for the future of K-12 education and work.
Pathways Into Robotics
Assistant professor Zachary Kingston reflects on the importance of robotics in K-12 education and shares how early exposure shaped his journey into research.
When educators engage students in computer science and AI early, they help students see themselves as problem-solvers and creators.
Lucy Flesch
Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science
Inspiring the next generation of thinkers
Discover the details shared during “Brick by Brick: Bringing AI to the Classroom.” Indiana STEM educators serving grades 6-8 attended the professional development workshop at Purdue’s West Lafayette location on July 23, 2026.
Experts
Andres Bejarano, Assistant Teaching Professor of Computer Science, Purdue University
Dr. Andres Bejarano is an assistant teaching professor at Purdue whose work focuses on computer science, artificial intelligence and computational geometry.
Jessica Brewer, K–12 Outreach Administrator for Computer Science, Purdue University
Jessica Brewer serves as the K-12 outreach coordinator for Purdue’s Department of Computer Science, where she leads statewide efforts to support and expand computer science education.
Dr. Zachary Kingston, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Purdue University
Dr. Zachary Kingston’s research at Purdue University focuses on robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, with an emphasis on how robots plan and make decisions to safely interact with the world around them.
Dr. Rohan Paleja, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Purdue University
Dr. Rohan Paleja’s research at Purdue University focuses on robotics, artificial intelligence and human-robot collaboration, with an emphasis on helping autonomous systems learn, adapt and work effectively alongside people in real-world environments.
Dr. Leanna Prater, Sr. Professional Learning Services Manager US, LEGO Education
Dr. Leanna Prater helps provide thought leadership and strategic solutioning for professional learning to support educators in bringing hands-on, playful learning to their classrooms.
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