I-Corps L: Tinkering Labs - Invent it Here

危机往往创造机会。持续的美国教育危机催生了一个快速增长的校外学生“充实”计划行业。所有经济阶层的父母都希望投资于他们的孩子。 虽然传统的辅导课程受到家长的高度重视，但学生很少认为它们有趣和吸引人。这个I-Corps团队建议评估推出一个全国连锁零售“修补实验室”地点的可行性，在那里女孩和男孩受到挑战，发明令人兴奋的科学和？制造者？项目（如飞机、机器人、弹射器、自动宠物喂食器、音乐合成器等）同时学习使用21世纪的制造工具，如3D打印机和激光切割机，并结合电子和伺服执行器。在Tinkering Labs，年轻人将通过实践、发明和挑战来学习。他们将学习由好奇心驱使的STEM概念，同时享受乐趣。它通过培养21世纪的技能，如设计思维，真实的问题解决，创造力，协作和沟通，加强了STEM学习的新范式。修补经验，由熟练的导师指导，促进STEM学习，并产生追求STEM职业的兴趣。 该项目将测试Tinkering Labs概念的商业潜力，作为8至18岁儿童和青少年的课后和周末目的地。Tinkering Labs有可能增加对STEM职业充满热情的学生数量，提高他们对STEM概念的理解，并为传统STEM教育过程的转变做出贡献。在接下来的十年里，Tinkering Labs有可能接触到数十万儿童，并为他们提供一种更具吸引力的方式来探索STEM，同时培养批判性思维技能。

Crisis often creates opportunity. The ongoing US educational crisis has spawned a rapidly growing industry for out-of-school student "enrichment" programs. Parents across all economic strata want to invest in their children. While traditional tutoring programs are highly valued by parents, they are rarely considered fun and engaging by the students. This I-Corps team proposes to evaluate the feasibility of launching a national chain of retail 'Tinkering Lab" locations where girls and boys are challenged to invent exciting science and ?Maker? projects (e.g. planes, robots, catapults, automatic pet feeders, musical synthesizers, etc.) while learning to use 21st century fabrication tools such as 3D printers, and laser cutters, and incorporating electronics and servo actuators. At Tinkering Labs, young people will learn by doing, inventing, and being challenged. They will learn STEM concepts compelled by curiosity while having fun. It reinforces a new paradigm of STEM learning by fostering 21st century skills such as design thinking, authentic problem solving, creativity, collaboration, and communication. The Tinkering experience, guided by skilled mentors, fosters STEM learning, and generates interest in pursuing STEM careers. The project will test the commercial potential of the Tinkering Labs concept, as an after-school and weekend destination for children and teens, ages 8 to 18. Tinkering Labs has the potential to increase the number of students enthusiastic about STEM careers, improve their understanding of STEM concepts and contribute to the transformation of the traditional STEM education process. Over the next decade Tinkering Labs has the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of children and to provide a much more engaging way for them to explore STEM while they develop critical thinking skills.