Coursera: Fundamentals of Tinkering

While helping to sort materials in preparation for the RAFT grand re-opening, I had the opportunity to help set up the new Tinkering area...however, I was rather clueless about what Tinkering actually meant--was it engineering?  Was it being a Maker? Was it simply playing with electronics?  I was rather clueless!

Serendipitously, I stumbled across Coursera, a site offering free MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) including one about the Fundamentals of Tinkering offered by the Exploratorium.  You can also check out their book:  The Art of Tinkering by Karen Wilkinson Mike Petrich. 

So...what is "Tinkering"?  And, why should we engage in it?

My best definition of "Tinkering" is, it is a mix of exploring, engineering, art, science and design.  It is playing with tools and equipment, trying things out, testing, playing--but without one specific product goal or specific learning goal in mind.  It's where you get to test and try, to "fail" and try something new.  It's trying out and building familiarity with tools and equipment, while problem-solving and thinking about possibilities.  And it's FUN!!!  This is the experience I think we often loose in the classroom because we're always in an all-fired hurry to get things done, to learn something specific, apply it, test it and move on.  But Tinkering is where we connect, on a personal level, with our work.  We need more of it. Both in school an in our everyday lives.

 This course introduced me to a slew of new ideas for my classroom, and for sharing science, engineering, art and technology with my family and friends.

Some of the course highlights:
Highlight #1:  Soft circuits (similar to the work from our CU Teach Engineering PD experience):
  (1) Create circuits out of paper with conductive ink or copper tape.  For example, create an interactive greeting cards, pop-up books or, an interactive circuits notebook with LEDs that light up.

Paper Circuit Examples from Exploratorium's Fundamentals of Tinkering Course (Coursera)

 (2 ) Create sewn circuits out of wearable materials to which you add circuit components using conductive thread or other conductive materials.  For example, create a t-shirt or hat that has LEDs that light.

Sewn Circuit Examples from Exploratorium's Fundamentals of Tinkering Course (Coursera)

These projects can be simple, with just batteries, LEDs, snaps (as switches) and conductive thread, or, they could incorporate arduinos and microcontrollers to program specific activities.  One of the things I thought was coolest from this unit was programmable paper, used to create mobile origami and paper art.  The engineer, Jie Qi, who created these also developed "Circuit Stickers"...another set of materials that can be utilized to create interactive paper projects. 

Programmable Paper Projects by Jie Qi Examples from Exploratorium's Fundamentals of Tinkering Course (Coursera)

Highlight #2:  Circuit Blocks
Another really cool tool for teaching circuits is to build "circuit boards"--blocks of wood that each hold a single circuit component, with ends connected and soldered to nails, which can then be connected into circuits by clipping alligator clips to the nails.  These are awesome!  You can add in combinations of batteries and bulbs, fans, motors, and the motorized innards of toys/stuffies.  I think these are great not only for little people but also older ones.  I also think it would be awesome to have my physics students create sets of these to share with elementary schools.

Circuit Board Examples from Exploratorium's Fundamentals of Tinkering Course (Coursera)

  Highlight #3:  Scribbling Machines
Scribbling machines involve adding a motor to some kind of structure that can hold one or more writing utensils (pensils, markers, paint brushes, etc).  By weighting the motor in various ways, the machine will sketch patterns.  This is a very basic robot of sorts.  Similarly, small motors (eg, from phones, pagers, electric toothbrushes) can be added to other objects (eg, toothbrush head) to make the objects move.  Students can then decorate these little robots to add a bit of personality.

Scribbling Machine Example from Exploratorium's Fundamentals of Tinkering Course (Coursera)

In general, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I took away from this course.  Because I joined the course rather late, I did not pursue the certificate of completion.  I would highly recommend this course to anyone in STEM education, at any level--it was a wealth of information and ideas, especially having access to all the Tinkerers at the Exploratorium and the other creative individuals within the course community.