“Tinkering EU: Building Science Capital for ALL” is the second project focusing on Tinkering funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU and coordinated by the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci. It addresses science education especially for schools in situations of disadvantage and intends to explore the use of Tinkering for the development of young people’s Science Capital.

Tinkering is an innovative pedagogy pioneered by the Exploratorium of San Francisco. It supports the construction of knowledge within the context of building personally meaningful artifacts and designs opportunities for people to “think with their hands” in order to construct meaning and understanding and develop skills useful for a lifetime.

Science Capital draws from the work of Pierre Bourdieu and encapsulates the various influences that a young person’s life experiences can have on their science identity and participation in science-related activities. It offers a different way to look at science education and engagement and is a powerful tool to develop active citizenship, employability and social inclusion.

Tinkering EU addresses students of 8 to 14 years old (primary and junior high schools), their teachers as well as museum professionals through the following activities and resources:

• Tinkering activities in museums followed up by work in class
• A series of training workshops for teachers and museum professionals
• An online publication analysing the relationship between Tinkering and Science Capital
• A self-reflection tool for teachers to use to examine the impact of the work on their practice
• Several dissemination actions at local, national and European level
• A Europe-wide community of practice working on Tinkering and Science Capital.

The project is considered the continuation of the first Erasmus+ funded project ‘Tinkering: Contemporary Education for the Innovators of Tomorrow’ that implemented the innovative pedagogy of Tinkering at European level through activities and resources adult learners and educators in formal and informal education institutions.

Partners

• National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci – Italy - coordinator
• University of Cambridge - UK
• NEMO Science Museum - The Netherlands
• Science Gallery Dublin - Ireland
• CosmoCaixa - Spain
• Science Centre Network - Austria
• NOESIS – Greece

The Tinkering Studio of the Exploratorium of San Francisco participates to the project in the role of advisor.

Contact

Maria Xanthoudaki, Director of Education &CREI

National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci, Italy

xanthoudaki@museoscienza.it