The Tinkering Studio connects to the themes in our course in many different ways. One being design thinking because this course is based around the idea of design thinking and tinkering follows the process of design thinking through its activities. “People think differently when they’re in the act of actively making something.” When a person is actively using their hands, they are processing information differently than when they are reading a textbook and this is what is so powerful about being creative.

The Tinkering Studio is a really interactive environment, where students are able to try out all different types of making processes. When tinkering, the person if forced to ask questions, find different solutions, try out different materials, make changes in order to improve and share ideas, directly connecting to the activities in our course. In the Tinkering Studio, they try to combine science, art and technology. The Tinkering Studio is focused on creating projects which can be solved in many different ways and a lot of our projects are based on this idea. They use four main big ideas including engagement, initiative and intentionality, social scaffolding, and development of understanding. In our class, we do a lot of different and unique projects that keep us engaged as students.

We also have to take initiative with our making and be purposeful with our choices in making, and if we keep trying, we get a deeper understanding. Often, when we are working in class, we are set up in breakout groups, so that if someone isn’t understanding something, we can just ask a classmate for help or a better understanding. We also work through our problems in order to develop our understanding of different projects. I thought it was really interesting that people from different groups who entered the museum began working together collaboratively. Collaborative learning is so unique because it allows students to connect with each other, learn from each other, and help with each other’s understanding.

I also love the idea of choice-based learning and having people be able to come into The Tinkering Studio and be able to choose what they want to work on makes them that much more interested in trying new things. In our class, I think it’s great that we have guidelines, but we are usually allowed to choose a large aspect of each project. We aren’t forced to make things in any certain way, we are just given directions and then we get to try it out. When students are able to learn in this manner, it creates a large variety of outcomes. Even though what we make is different from traditional art, the work we are creating is still considered art. The reality is, anything can be art and there is no cookie cutter way of creating. If someone creates something unique, it is art. Whether it be a painting, gif, or an LED light display using watch batteries.

 “Which Tinkering Studio activities would you like to try yourself?  (Pick 3 and explain your choices!)”