Children Activities - STEM/STEAM workshops - (Carlos Izsak of Makercart)

[ChrisFollows]

The lead/team names

Tink Tank: Carlos Izsak (Makercart), Jason & Rita (Maths Explorers), Kiki Betancourt Atias (Oh Art!), Michelle Borda, Jenny Gratton, Melanie Terrade

Number of others involved in the delivery (students, staff, industry, community groups or other Tate Exchange associates etc)

Home Schoolers (children and carers)

Title

Tinkering Carrousel (tbc)

Short paragraph for context (what you will do) or if you are offering to be a part of the collective & join other projects, what you can offer etc.

The Tink Tank Collective consists of a group of Arts, Maths, Technology, Creativity and Design educators who share a common passion for learning. We believe that children learn best when allowed to tinker, make, break apart, take risks, fail and using hands-on, practical and open-ended activities. We wish to enhance Collaborative work, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Communication skills amongst educators, parents and learners.

We propose a Tink Carrousel of activities where each individual of the collective will offer an interactive ‘Tinkering’ activity with the aim of creating the possibility of open, unexpected outcomes while exploring Arts and Maths subjects using Technology and Creativity to explore shapes, forms, colours, patterns, etc. We will create an Arts/Maths installation with all work created while recording participants’ experiences with notes, photos and videos.

These activities aim to inspire the audience by inviting them to openly tinker, make and co-create using arts, maths and technology.

How will the public get involved (invited participants, targeted audiences i.e schools, groups)

Our main target are home-schooled children and their parents and carers. While remaining open to schools, teachers and members of the public.

Type of event it is (workshop, intervention, gathering, performance etc)

The event will consist of a mix of drop-in activities in round carrousel where participants can freely circulate around activities offered by each member of the Tink Tank, each activity will be design so it can interact and be enhanced by the other activities.

The activities in the Tinkering Carousel will include: Drawing Machines (Michelle - Kiki). Pop-up light up houses (Carlos) Interactive sculptures (Maths Explorers) E-textile puppets (Melanie - Tinkamel) Shapes Play (Kiki* - connecting with Drawing Machines) And others (tbc)

So the combined activities might result in a collaborative sculptural, lit up drawing house! An installation in the middle of the carrousel will be assembled with all the work being produced during the day, and it will be photographed and filmed. Participant’s interviews about the experience and still images of the installation will be edited, remixed, etc to produce and document the exploration of tinkering as a way of learning, creating and interacting in the context of Arts and Maths.

Key words to help identify themes

Tinkering, arts, science, technology, creativity, homeschooling Equipment list (key kit you may need, large TV etc not guaranteed) Large TV (for draw and race software) Tables (4 or 5) Power points.

Methods of how you propose to develop your session which includes the wider Collective involvement & contributions, meet-ups

We propose to hold 3 Tinkering meet-ups ( Nov, Dec, Jan) in the build up to the event, open to maker collective members, students, artists and educators.

An image (not essential) that represents you project (with credit info) no need to send high res we will requests one if needed.

Dates you are committing to, can be all: below dates or any you wish at this stage (12pm to 6pm):

Feb 8th, 22nd March 8th, 22nd (At least 2)  NOTE: Please ensure your proposal responds/relates to most of the below Tate Exchange Principles : How is art making a difference to people’s lives and society?

1. Inspire diverse audiences locally, nationally and internationally with new ways of engaging with Tate’s collection and art more broadly
2. Invite and enable the audience to become collaborators in helping shape the programme, activities and outcomes.
3. Embody the values of openness, generosity, risk and trust.
4. Make a connection to the annual Tate Exchange theme: Exchange
5. Explore new ways of thinking about art, society, the museum and its changing relation to the public.

[ChrisFollows]

Thank you.

Looks great but we'd need to make this work with the evolving themes being explored by the UAL Digital Maker Collective, so its less about 'Makercart' and more about the Digital Maker Collective, so we will need to work together and adapt the proposal as things progress.

Ideally we'd align what you do (as an external group) with a staff/student UAL/Digital Maker Collective project or a specific group of students, so it becomes more led by staff/student from UAL which the 'Makercart' is in collaboration with.

Hope this makes sense?

[Carlitos71]

Hi Chris

Yes, it makes sense!

Thanks for reply and feedback, we filled the Expression of Interest based on what we know and do but we are very open to meet other members of the collective to collaborate and develop the activities. They are just a starting point for discussion. We are very interested in finding out more about what others do and are planning for the Tate Exchange. It would be great to organise a meeting to share ideas soon!