Why Tinker?
Many great inventors like Thomas Edison, Stephen Jobs and Art Fry, the inventor of the post-it note, as well as educators such John Dewey and have noted the great value of open-ended exploration. Tinkering, focused activity with the right materials in the right environment, can lead to great new inventions, but more importantly builds self-confidence, critical thinking skills, and crucial attitudes that scaffold people’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. It teaches students and families that they too can create new inventions, that they can dream new things, then actually build them, can ask bold questions and answer them through focused exploration.
Exhibition Space
With over 20 exhibits arranged flexibly over 3,000 ft2, Tinkering blends together a collection of experiences that best supports open-ended exploration, social learning, and whimsical play. Building on the extensive research done by the Exploratorium on via efforts such as Playful Invention and Exploration (PIE) and Active Prolonged Engagement (APE), Tinkering creates an environment where children and adults can engage at their own pace, together, in experiences that relate to their sense of play and curiosity. Visitors can freeze their shadows, paint masterpieces with light, test out new paper airplane designs, or construct a sonic pinball course. The key – their ideas, their explorations, their learning.
Tinkering Studio: A Place to Try Your Ideas
At the core of Tinkering lies a 1,000-ft2 space called the Tinkering Studio dedicated to sparking curiosity, encouraging in-depth play and exploration, and a platform to engage the rich array of makers, inventors, hackers, and tinkerers around your community.