tinkering with the Maker Movement

active learners are better learners

The maker movement has been gaining a foothold in K12, which makes sense. Kids like to experiment and figure things out. If you're new to the Maker Movement, here's a great primer article from ASCD's Educational Leadership called Tinkering is Serious Play. Here's an excerpt from the article with an interesting set of definitions as to what it looks like from the framework of the Tinkering Studio at the Exploratorium, a museum in San Francisco. 

What learning in Tinkering looks like
During tinkering activities, learners show

Engagement

• spend time in activities
• display motivation or investment in activities

Initiative and Intentionality

• set their own goals
• seek and respond to feedback
• persist to achieve goals
• take intellectual risks or show intellectual courage

Social Scaffolding

• request or offer help to solve problems
• inspire or are inspired by new ideas or approaches
• make physical connections to the work of others

Development of Understanding

• express a realization through affect or utterance
• offer explanation(s) for a strategy, tool, or outcome
• apply knowledge
• strive to understand

so what?

I am a huge proponent of active learning. I work hard to create activities that will help students grasp the concepts and apply them so there is transference. Problem-centered learning, group work and scenario-based learning are two ways to accomplish this in online learning, but that is largely about thinking. It applies the same skills. How can we leverage more of the maker movement in our online classes in higher ed and in our corporate training? 

I'd love your thoughts.