Tinkering is increasingly becoming part of the life of museums and science centres. From professional development and team building to school teaching and family learning in museums, all indicate its potential for (science) learning. But what does this mean for the professionals who facilitate tinkering activities with visitors? Is their work on the floor different from when they adopt other learning approaches? What kind of innovation can tinkering bring to museum practice and to training? 

The session examines lessons learnt on the training of facilitators in tinkering as part of the EU project "Tinkering: Contemporary Education for Innovators of Tomorrow". The project designed training via an exchange scheme. Partner museums were both trainers (receiving staff from other institutions) and trainees (facilitators travel to other institutions to participate in training). 

The session's objective is to reflect on the potential of tinkering as a learning methodology, and on the innovation it can bring to facilitators’ professional development.