Tinkering Staff Member: Karen Wilkinson

As director of the Tinkering Studio, I see my role at the Exploratorium as an advocate for making as a way of knowing. I believe deeply in studio pedagogy, and the ability we all have to think with our hands. As an undergrad working in environmental design, I came to see museums as places that recognize this approach. Now, years later, I am even more committed to the idea that constructionism is an incredibly powerful way of learning, and that aesthetics matter a great deal. These two ideas are often overlooked in more formal education settings, outside of kindergarten or graduate school. Informal learning spaces for making and tinkering offer people a chance to connect to their own learning in a deeply personal way, which is why I’m thrilled to be able to work with such a delightfully quirky group of people in the Tinkering Studio.