Tinkering Journal #1

My first week on “Tinkering Fundamentals: A Constructionist Approach to STEM Learning”. I’m going to post reflections and ‘journal’ entries here.

As you begin this course, what are your goals and expectations? What role does making and tinkering currently play in your life or in your thinking? Do you have questions or concerns? What are you intrigued by, and what are you hoping to develop along the way? My goal is to have enough background knowledge about tinkering to be able to create an outstanding makerspace in my school next year. I will need to present my ideas to the senior leadership team, so am hoping that this course will provide me with a mix of research and practical ideas that will enable me to write a substantial proposal for the makerspace, and then set up (if approved). I am intrigued by what specialist materials might be needed (if any) as we are a school in Africa! I am hoping to develop my skills as a makerspace facilitator – knowing when to step in and guide students, and knowing when to let them just grapple with the difficulties they face. I am also hoping to rekindle the maker in me!

Activity Sharing: What’s your favorite tool? Here is my favourite tool… I’ve cheated a bit as I have really incorporated two tools. I love using colouring pens. I have done since a very young age and can’t go past a stationery store without going in (and I never leave empty handed!). I also love incorporating technology into the things that I create… so here I used an app on my phone to filter the picture I took of the pens.

Reflection Question: What does tinkering look like to you? Tinkering is playing. Playing with materials. Playing with techniques. Playing with circuits. Playing with tools. Exploring what the materials and tools can do and making something with them. Tinkering is trial and error – experiencing a lot of ‘failure’ before finding the pathway to success.

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