Tinkering with Curiosity

Kids are naturally curious. They like to explore, test and play. It is through these types of activities that lots of learning takes place. Tinkerlabs are a great place for students to start exploring and inventing.  If you have never heard of a Tinkerlab, it is simply an idea where students learn by taking apart old technology to figure out how it works as well as how it can be re-purposed in other ways through exploring and testing new ideas. It is all about creating hands-on experiences where failure is acceptable and expected!

Tammy Anderson's and Cathy Christiansen's kindergartners at Butcher-Greene received old keyboards, laptops and other technology devices from IT to take apart in their Science center. Yes, students were given hammers, screwdrivers and wedges to explore these items.  A little lesson on how to use the screwdriver was all students needed and they were off tinkering! Students were very determined to tear into these devices and you could hear squeals of delight when they made discoveries of what was inside! 

Students will take the extra parts and see if they can build something with them as the next step. This is a great example of letting students explore and be creative with technology in a whole new way! Way to go, kindergartners!

Diane DeLaTorre

Reflecting with SAMR