Tinkering is a core focus at the company that has created the Tinkering Democracy as its business model. Sabrina Konzok and her team embody tinkering and implement it for children and youth through Maker Spaces, Tinkering Labs, and Tinkering Boxes in schools, as well as outside of them. This type of learning follows the principles of Maker Education, which emphasizes hands-on, collaborative learning where mistakes are allowed - even encouraged.
Sabrina Konzok states that children and youth learn to "deal with the fact that there are no solutions that are right or wrong, but rather that different solutions are found together." After finding solutions, it is encouraged to discuss the pros and cons of the possible solutions. Researching exciting solutions - often across subjects - is a priority, which, according to Konzok, is often lacking in many schools. Therefore, Junge Tüftler offers digital learning paths for teachers. These support the implementation and development of their own concepts and teach interdisciplinary learning. The team also develops digital and analog learning materials and makes them available to schools.
For participants, this means that teachers provide them with time and space to experiment. Learners have access to digital and analog tools, express their creativity, and learn at their own pace. The collective impact is significant. Through collaborative work and learning, a community is formed that strengthens social skills. Additionally, playful acquisition of teaching material promotes self-directed learning. This creates learning environments based on respect and trust.
Thanks to the three own Maker Spaces in Munich, Hamburg, and Neuss, which the non-profit GmbH has established, school classes can come for workshops in the mornings and benefit from the open workshop in the afternoons. But not only learners benefit from the workshops. Teachers can also align their didactics according to Maker Education through workshops. After initial skepticism, both the over 16,000 teachers and nearly 700,000 learners appreciate the tinkering approach.
