Tinkering Fundamentals: Motion and Mechanisms from Coursera

The Tinkering Fundamentals course will offer educators and enthusiasts an opportunity to develop a practice of tinkering and making. We see tinkering as a serious endeavor—one that is generalizable across content and especially good at interweaving disciplines in a way that leads to complex projects and individualized learning opportunities. Tinkering has recently been introduced into the educational field as a potential driver of creativity, excitement, and innovation in science learning. It is seen by many as an effective means to engage in exploring STEM concepts, practices and phenomena. Tinkering typically blends the high and low tech tools of science along with a strong aesthetic dimension that supports children’s (and adults’) self expression.

NB: This is a hands-on course, so you will need several tools and materials to do weekly activities. You are welcome to purchase only what you don't already have—or even better try to scrounge them from surplus stores! We have put together a list of recommended materials, which you can find here: http://bit.ly/motion-materials

For over a decade, the Exploratorium has been developing science-rich tinkering activities for both children and adults. We see tinkering as a fun yet serious endeavor—spanning many disciplines and content areas and fostering connections between art, science, and technology. Learners follow their own path to understanding by investigating tools and materials and exploring questions that interest them. This opens up a wide range of possible answers rather than any specific “right” one, particularly for teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects in the classroom. This course centers on activities related to Motion and Mechanisms, which offer a wealth of opportunities for thinking through making.

In this course, we won’t just show you how we develop tinkering activities; we’ll also delve into why. We’ll focus on three important aspects: activity design around specific materials, facilitation strategies, and environmental organization. We’ll also share some guiding principles and learning indicators we’ve developed that can help you integrate tinkering into your elementary and middle-school science program. Whether you’re new to making or a seasoned tinkerer, we hope this course will help you take the next step!

OUR APPROACH TO TEACHING

This is a hands-on workshop, not a lecture-based class. Participation is essential! We want everyone to be making and tinkering together: trying things out, asking questions, sharing ideas, and reflecting together as a community. This is a wonderful chance to tinker and learn alongside people from all over the world and from all walks of life, so don’t be shy!

PLEASE NOTE: We have put a great deal of effort towards creating a supportive space that encourages exploration. We’ll give you a few ways to get started; prompt you to share your own observations and experience as learners, designers, and facilitators; and hopefully spark interesting conversations and discoveries along the way. While it’s not a requirement, we encourage you to take this class with a friend or colleague, or meet with other people in your area: having support or doing activities with others will enhance your experience and help you stay engaged.

This project was funded by generous support from Overdeck Family Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Tinkering

What is tinkering? What does it mean to you? Is it different from engineering or other forms of making? We'll explore these questions in the readings and forums while getting a sneak preview of the activities we'll be sharing over the following modules.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Centers on topics that are highly relevant to teaching STEM subjects in an elementary and middle school context

Emphasizes hands-on making and tinkering as both a method of teaching and learning

Features instructors who are recognized for developing science-rich tinkering activities

Course is divided into modules, which makes it easy for learners to pace themselves

Provides opportunity to collaborate with other people from around the world and from all walks of life

Requires students to purchase their own tools and materials for hands-on activities

Reviews summary

Hands-on tinkering with mechanisms

According to learners, this course offers a highly engaging and practical introduction to tinkering, focusing on motion and mechanisms through hands-on projects like Marble Machines, Automata, and Chain Reactions. Many appreciated the clear explanations and the focus on process and exploration over specific right answers, finding it inspirational, particularly for integrating tinkering into educational settings. The community aspect and sharing ideas were frequently highlighted as valuable. Some noted the requirement to source materials, which can add a layer of planning, but overall, the course is seen as a fantastic foundation for developing a tinkering practice.

Value in interacting and sharing with other learners.

"Sharing my creations and seeing what others made in the forums was a highlight. The community aspect was great."

"Engaging with learners from diverse backgrounds and seeing their unique approaches to the projects was really enriching."

"The course structure encouraged sharing and feedback, making the learning experience collaborative."

"I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other tinkering enthusiasts around the world."

Motivates learners to explore tinkering further.

"This course was incredibly inspiring and has motivated me to incorporate more hands-on learning into my life and work."

"It sparked so many ideas for future projects and ways to engage others in making and tinkering."

"Very inspirational course that encourages a new way of looking at building, learning, and problem-solving."

"Left me feeling excited and equipped to start my own tinkering projects."

Emphasizes exploration and creativity, not just right answers.

"I appreciated that the course wasn't about finding the 'right' way, but exploring materials and letting creativity flow."

"It really shifted my perspective on learning – it's about the process of building and experimenting, troubleshooting as you go."

"The emphasis on self-expression through the projects made it feel less like a rigid class and more like a creative workshop."

"Learning about the 'why' behind tinkering activities, focusing on inquiry and exploration, was very impactful."

Highly relevant for educators wanting to use tinkering.

"As an educator, this course gave me concrete activities and pedagogical insight into bringing tinkering into my classroom."

"The strategies for facilitation and thinking about the learning environment were particularly valuable for me as a teacher."

"I feel much more confident incorporating STEM concepts through hands-on tinkering activities after taking this course."

"This course is invaluable for anyone looking to use tinkering as an educational tool, providing both theory and practical activities."

Course centers around practical, engaging build activities.

"The hands-on aspect is fantastic. Actually building the Marble Machine and Automata solidified the concepts much better than just reading."

"I loved the emphasis on making things. The projects like the Chain Reaction challenge you to think creatively and problem-solve."

"The materials needed were easy to find and the build instructions for each project were clear enough to follow, allowing room for my own creativity."

"Working through the different mechanisms – Marble Machines, Cardboard Automata, and Chain Reaction – was incredibly fun and educational."

Students need to gather their own project materials.

"Remember you need to purchase materials yourself or find them, so plan ahead!"

"Gathering the materials was a slight hurdle, but the list provided was helpful and encouraged scavenging."

"The need to source specific items for the projects required some effort, but it was part of the 'tinkering' mindset."

"Be prepared to acquire materials; it's a hands-on course, which means you need the physical stuff."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Tinkering Fundamentals: Motion and Mechanisms with these activities:

Practice Using Tinkercad for 3D Design

Show steps

Enhance your 3D design skills by practicing with Tinkercad, a user-friendly software that allows you to create and manipulate virtual objects, which can be useful for prototyping or designing components for your tinkering projects.

Browse courses on 3D Design

Show steps

Create a Tinkercad account and watch tutorials to learn the basics.
Experiment with different shapes and tools to create simple designs.
Join online communities or forums to connect with other Tinkercad users and share your designs.
Design and print a small object using Tinkercad and a 3D printer.

Review previous project work

Show steps

Reviewing your past work will help you strengthen your knowledge of motion and mechanisms.

Browse courses on Motion

Show steps

Gather your old projects.
Review each project and identify the key concepts that were involved.

Review of Basic Physics Concepts

Show steps

Strengthen your foundation in basic physics concepts, such as motion, forces, and energy, to enhance your understanding of the principles underlying the tinkering activities in this course.

Browse courses on Motion

Show steps

Review your notes or textbooks from previous physics courses.
Watch online videos or documentaries that explain physics concepts in an engaging manner.
Solve practice problems to test your understanding and identify areas where you need more support.
Attend a physics workshop or tutorial to reinforce your knowledge.

Two other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all five activities

Building Marble Run Structures

Show steps

Practice building simple machines and explore concepts of motion from the Marble Machines activity.

Show steps

Gather materials such as cardboard, tape, straws, and marbles.
Experiment with different designs and observe how they affect the movement of the marble.
Record observations and make adjustments to improve the marble's trajectory.

Explore Chain Reaction Machines

Show steps

Delve deeper into cause-and-effect relationships and problem-solving through the Chain Reaction activity.

Show steps

Watch videos or read articles about chain reaction machines.
Design and build a simple chain reaction machine using household items.
Test and troubleshoot the machine to identify areas for improvement.

Career center

Learners who complete Tinkering Fundamentals: Motion and Mechanisms will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Robotics Engineer

A Robotics Engineer is responsible for designing and building robots and other robotic systems. Robotics Engineers typically specialize in a particular area of robotics engineering, such as mobile robotics, industrial robotics, or medical robotics. This course may be helpful to aspiring Robotics Engineers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to the design and construction of robots and other robotic systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

A Mechanical Engineer is responsible for designing and building machines and other mechanical systems. Mechanical Engineers typically specialize in a particular area of mechanical engineering, such as automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, or robotics engineering. This course may be helpful to aspiring Mechanical Engineers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to the design and construction of machines and other mechanical systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Automotive Engineer

An Automotive Engineer is responsible for designing and developing automobiles and other vehicles. Automotive Engineers typically specialize in a particular area of automotive engineering, such as engine design, transmission design, or suspension design. This course may be helpful to aspiring Automotive Engineers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to the design and development of automobiles and other vehicles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automotive Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

An Aerospace Engineer is responsible for designing and developing aircraft and other aerospace systems. Aerospace Engineers typically specialize in a particular area of aerospace engineering, such as aerodynamics, propulsion, or structural engineering. This course may be helpful to aspiring Aerospace Engineers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to the design and development of aircraft and other aerospace systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerospace Engineer

Engineer

An Engineer designs, builds, and maintains machines, structures, and systems. Engineers typically specialize in a particular area of engineering, such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or civil engineering. This course may be helpful to aspiring Engineers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to all areas of engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineer

Science Writer

A Science Writer is responsible for writing about science and technology for a general audience. Science Writers typically specialize in a particular area of science or technology, such as physics, biology, or medicine. This course may be helpful to aspiring Science Writers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are relevant to writing about a wide range of science and technology topics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Product Designer

A Product Designer is responsible for designing and developing consumer products. Product Designers typically specialize in a particular area of design, such as furniture design, industrial design, or toy design. This course may be helpful to aspiring Product Designers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are relevant to the design and development of consumer products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Architect

An Architect is responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of buildings and other structures. Architects typically specialize in a particular area of architecture, such as residential architecture, commercial architecture, or landscape architecture. This course may be helpful to aspiring Architects who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to the design and construction of buildings and other structures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architect

Industrial Designer

An Industrial Designer is responsible for designing and developing the appearance and functionality of products. Industrial Designers typically specialize in a particular area of design, such as automotive design, furniture design, or appliance design. This course may be helpful to aspiring Industrial Designers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are relevant to the design and development of products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer

Materials Scientist

A Materials Scientist is responsible for studying and developing new materials. Materials Scientists typically specialize in a particular area of materials science, such as metals, polymers, or ceramics. This course may be helpful to aspiring Materials Scientists who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are relevant to the study and development of new materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Physicist

A Physicist is responsible for studying the laws of nature. Physicists typically specialize in a particular area of physics, such as particle physics, astrophysics, or condensed matter physics. This course may be helpful to aspiring Physicists who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to the study of the laws of nature.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physicist

Biomedical Engineer

A Biomedical Engineer is responsible for designing and developing medical devices and other biomedical systems. Biomedical Engineers typically specialize in a particular area of biomedical engineering, such as biomaterials, medical imaging, or tissue engineering. This course may be helpful to aspiring Biomedical Engineers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are relevant to the design and development of medical devices and other biomedical systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer

Civil Engineer

A Civil Engineer is responsible for designing and building bridges, roads, and other civil infrastructure. Civil Engineers typically specialize in a particular area of civil engineering, such as structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, or transportation engineering. This course may be helpful to aspiring Civil Engineers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to the design and construction of bridges, roads, and other civil infrastructure.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Science Teacher

A Science Teacher is responsible for educating students in the field of science. Science Teachers typically specialize in a particular area of science, such as biology, chemistry, or physics. This course may be helpful to aspiring Science Teachers who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are fundamental to many areas of science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Museum curator

A Museum Curator is responsible for selecting, acquiring, and caring for museum objects and artworks. Many Museum Curators specialize in a specific area, such as history, art, or natural history. This course may be useful to aspiring Museum Curators who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of motion and mechanics, which are relevant to the display and preservation of museum objects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator