RESOURCES & EVENTS

The project will develop workshops and resources for adults that support them in their self-confidence, stimulate lifelong learning, contribute to development of 21st Century skills, and encourage exchange of expertise and practice across the community development and informal learning sectors.

The following recourses will be produced and be available on this page as the project progresses:

Theoretical Framework of adult participation

This document will set out the current landscape of adult participation in STEM in Europe in relation to underserved and disadvantaged adults, and will outline the theoretical rationale for understanding the relationship between:

  1. Tinkering as a pedagogical approach
  2. Equity and inclusion in STEM
  3. Creating more inclusive STEM adult education and learning opportunities for underserved adult audiences
By exploring the relationship between these three areas, this document outlines the potential of Tinkering for supporting more equitable lifelong learning in STEM.

Current understanding of adult participation in the various countries is the first intellectual output and a foundation of the project.

Tinkering Activities for Adults

Tinkering resources that can be used by community development and informal learning practitioners working with adult groups. Some of the activities are newly developed while others are adjusted from already existing and tested activities. Special focus will be given to activities suitable for adults from different backgrounds, taking into account different needs, interests and motivations.


Guidelines for Focus Groups

This document is aimed primarily at Informal Learning (IFL) educators working with adult learners from disadvantaged and underserved communities, who wish to:
  1. Exploit the inclusive nature of Tinkering to create engaging and relevant STEM learning experiences for adult learners and their families
  2. Better understand how and why collaboration and co-design with community organisations can help develop more inclusive programming in STEM learning for adults.
It can also serve as a useful reference for community leaders and adult educators wishing to collaborate with the IFL sector to explore the use of Tinkering with the adult groups that they serve.


Guide for Science Engagement Organisations

This guide will comprise a quick-start toolkit for science centres, museums and other places of science education who want to:
  1. Connect to and engage with adults using a Tinkering approach;
  2. Improve their approach to STEM lifelong learning with a focus on equity and inclusion.
  3. Develop and deliver programmes for adults which can help develop21st century skills.
It will be available on this page in winter 2021

DISSIMINATION EVENTS

In order to present the project results and to disseminate the intellectual output, each partner institution will host multiplier events. The target group for these events are: museum educators, community leaders and adults. The aim is to establish a network of institutions in the country, committed to intercultural dialogue and interested in working with tinkering on a long-term basis.
More information about the national events will follow at a later date. For country-based information please contact the particular partner.

FURTHER RESOURCES

‘Tinkering EU’ draws on the work done by the two former Erasmus+ projects:

  • The Practitioner Guide for Developing and Implementing Tinkering Activities
    This document was created to provide an overview of Tinkering (its key features, benefits and applications) along with guidance for science education professionals who want to explore Tinkering in their practice.
    DOWNLOAD (.pdf | 12 MB)

  • The Professional Development Guidelines
    Tinkering EU focused on facilitation; that is, the attitude and strategies to employ while working in Tinkering activities with learners. This guide aspires to contribute to the professional development of facilitators aiming to ensure integrity and quality in the implementation of Tinkering in museums. DOWNLOAD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES (.pdf | 1,3 MB)
    DOWNLOAD REFLECTION TOOL (.pdf | 665 kB)

  • The Theoretical and Methodological Framework of Tinkering and Science Capital
    This provides a theoretical rationale for understanding the relationship between Tinkering as a pedagogical approach, students’ individual science capital and inclusive STEM teaching approaches.
    DOWNLOAD TINKERING AND SCIENCE CAPITAL: IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES (.pdf | LOW RESOLUTION | 5,5 MB)
    DOWNLOAD TINKERING AND SCIENCE CAPITAL: IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES (.pdf | HIGH RESOLUTION | 29,6 MB)

  • Tinkering Activities for schools
    This resource contains activities used by the project group with schools from disadvantaged communities aiming to promote more inclusive science teaching and learning. The chosen activities are selected from the first European Tinkering project along with the activities designed by the Tinkering Studio at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. In addition, the resource also analyses the activities in the context of Science Capital.
    DOWNLOAD TINKERING ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS (.pdf | LOW RESOLUTION | 2,8 mB)
    DOWNLOAD TINKERING ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS (.pdf | HIGH RESOLUTION | 11,7 mB)

Below you find translations of the initial more theoretical part of the resource in the partner languages.