The Vision
Tinkering School Chicago provides an environment where children experience hands-on exploration of open-ended problems as catalysts for patient problem solving, adventure and self-directed learning. Using real tools and real materials to solve real problems children experience a unique atmosphere of trust and responsibility. A failure-positive atmosphere puts focus on the process over the end product and encourages children to try new ideas, find inspiration in setbacks and play in the face of adversity. Sliding-scale tuition ensures that the program is available to everyone.
Who We Are
Tinkering School Chicago is led by Dustin Thacker. Dustin began his career in alternative education over ten years ago as a recreation leader at Brehm Preparatory School. Since then he has created and led numerous summer camps and after-school programs. Currently he is an educator at Chicago Children’s Museum. Dustin creates authentic and empowering hand-on experiences for children and does so with passion and an unyielding curiosity.
Gever Tulley founded Tinkering School in 2005 in order to learn how children become competent and to explore the notion that kids can build anything, and through building, learn anything. A self-taught computer scientist with no formal education who holds multiple technology patents, Gever’s expertise is really in… thinking. Gever has taught workshops and made presentations to both kids and adults, around the world. He has spoken at TED, twice, written articles for MAKE:, and authored the book Fifty Dangerous Things (you should let your children do).
We are seeking collaborators. Email Dustin with what you can do to help.
Stay In Touch
Our Mailing List
The best way to stay up to-date on Tinkering School Chicago is by subscribing to our mailing list for monthly updates. We will send out notifications about accepting applications, pre-summer tinkering events, awesome chicago tinkering opportunities and more.
Contact
Questions? Concerns? Looking to Collaborate? Let me know.
