Tinkering

Tinkering

by Curt Gabrielson
Released September 2013
Publisher(s): Make: Community
ISBN: 9781449361013

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Book description

After-school and out-of-school programs—as well as home schooling—have been growing steadily for nearly a decade, but instructors are still searching for high-interest content that ties into science standards without the rigidity of current classroom canon. The author draws on more than 20 years of experience doing hands-on science to facilitate tinkering: learning science while fooling around with real things.

Table of contents

  1. Dedication
  2. Foreword
  3. Preface
    1. How to Use This Book
    2. Conventions Used in This Book
    3. Safari® Books Online
    4. How to Contact Us
    5. Acknowledgments
  4. 1. Sound
    1. Drum Set
      1. Gather Stuff
      2. Gather Tools
      3. Tinker
      4. Check It Out
    2. Torsion Drum
      1. Gather More Stuff
      2. Tinker
      3. Check It Out
    3. What’s Going On?
    4. Keep On
    5. Internet Connections
    6. Standards Topic Links
    7. More Tinkering with Music
  5. 2. The Value of Tinkering in the Learning Process
    1. Why Tinkering Is Essential
    2. Tinkering Throughout History
    3. Not for Everyone?
  6. 3. Magnetism
    1. Magnet Toys
      1. Gather Stuff
      2. Gather Tools
      3. Tinker
        1. Floating Stack
        2. Rolling Edges
        3. Hanging Up
        4. Compass
        5. Strange Pendulum
        6. Bouncing Jaws
        7. Levitator
        8. Magnetic wand (for use with all the above)
      4. Check It Out
    2. Electromagnetic Dancer
      1. Gather More Stuff
      2. Tinker
      3. Check It Out
      4. What’s Going On?
    3. Keep On
    4. Internet Connections
    5. Standards Topic Links
    6. More Tinkering with Magnetism
  7. 4. A Good Tinkering Session
    1. Tinkering Schemes
      1. Free-Form Tinkering
      2. Class Group Tinkering
    2. Frameworks for Tinkering
      1. Studio
      2. Competition
      3. Cooperation
      4. Individual Exposé
    3. Characteristics of a Good Tinkering Session
    4. Students
  8. 5. Mechanics
    1. Basketball Hoop
      1. Gather Stuff
      2. Gather Tools
      3. Tinker
      4. Check It Out
    2. Carnival Ball Game
      1. Gather More Stuff
      2. Gather More Tools
      3. Tinker
      4. Check It Out
    3. What’s Going On?
    4. Keep On
    5. Internet Connections
    6. Standards Topic Links
    7. More Tinkering with Mechanics
  9. 6. Tinkering Logistics
    1. Tinkering Space
    2. Stocking Your Space
    3. Materials and Tools
    4. Tinkering Projects
    5. Facilitating Projects
    6. A Few More Tinkering Considerations
  10. 7. Electric Circuits
    1. Flashlight and Magic Wand
      1. Gather Stuff
      2. Gather Tools
      3. Tinker
      4. Check It Out
    2. Steadiness Circuit
      1. Gather More Stuff
      2. Gather More Tools
      3. Tinker
      4. Check It Out
      5. What’s Going On?
    3. Keep On
    4. Internet Connections
    5. Standards Topic Links
    6. More Tinkering with Circuits
  11. 8. The Learning Community & Differentiated Learning
    1. The Learning Community
    2. Differentiated Learning
  12. 9. Chemistry
    1. Floating and Sinking with Colors
      1. Gather Stuff
      2. Gather Tools
      3. Tinker
      4. Check It Out
    2. Chemical Reactions
      1. Gather More Stuff
      2. Tinker
      3. Check It Out
    3. What’s Going On?
    4. Keep On
    5. Internet Connections
    6. Standards Topic Links
    7. More Tinkering with Chemistry
  13. 10. Dealing with Questions and Dishing Out Answers
    1. Questions
    2. Answers
  14. 11. Biology
    1. Arm Model
      1. Gather Stuff
      2. Gather Tools
      3. Tinker
      4. Check It Out
    2. Foot and Ankle Model
      1. Gather More Stuff
      2. Tinker
      3. Check It Out
    3. What’s Going On?
    4. Keep On
    5. Internet Connections
    6. Standards Topic Links
      1. More Tinkering with Biology
  15. 12. Standards and Assessment in the Tinkering Environment
    1. Standards
    2. Assessment
  16. 13. Engineering and Motors
    1. Hovercraft
      1. Gather Stuff
      2. Gather Tools
      3. Tinker
      4. Check It Out
    2. Motorized Art Spinner
      1. Gather More Stuff
      2. Tinker
      3. Check It Out
    3. What’s Going On?
    4. Keep On
    5. Internet Connections
    6. Standards Topic Links
    7. More Tinkering with Motor Engineering
  17. 14. Final Notes
  18. A. Academic Research On How Learning Works
  19. B. Evaluation Questionnaire for Students
  20. Index
  21. About the Author
  22. Colophon
  23. Copyright

Product information

  • Title: Tinkering
  • Author(s): Curt Gabrielson
  • Release date: September 2013
  • Publisher(s): Make: Community
  • ISBN: 9781449361013