The main goal of the course is to provide an overview and a first-hand experience concerning an alternative approach to technology use that is based on the notion of tinkering. Specifically, the objectives of the course are:
- to get acquainted with the notions of tinkering with technology as alternative approach to technology use in education;
- to explore the broader significance of tinkering with technology in our contemporary society;
- to identify, articulate and then share the main practical implications of a more bottom-up approach to technology based on tinkering for education;
- to gain first-hand experience as to the nature and practical relevance of tinkering in one's learning activities and workplace.
About the course
Content
The course is divided into three parts.
The first part will offer a general introduction to an alternative approach to technology use based on the notion of tinkering. This part of the course will provide the conceptual backbone for the rest of the course. This part will be organised around 4 thematic blocks:
- Block 1: What is tinkering? In this block we start getting familiar with what tinkering refers to;
- Block 2: Bring Your Own Examples (or “The tinkering challenge”). In this block I invite the course participants to share their own examples of tinkering with technology;
- Block 3: The educational significance of tinkering. In this block we try to grapple with the meaning that tinkering can have in and for learning and teaching;
- Block 4: Taking stock.
In the second part of the course students will be engaged in conducting an ethnographic inquiry whose main aim will be to allow them to apply ethnographic "tools" to gain first-hand knowledge into the practical meaning that tinkering have or may have in more educational practices. This part will be the chance for students to explore practically the notions described in the first part.
The third part of the course will be devoted to presenting and sharing the insights gained during the ethnographic inquiry. Students will be asked to create a video in which they will present the results of the inquiry.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student:
(1) will be acquainted with the notions of tinkering with technology as an alternative approach to technology in education;
(2) will be able to make sense of the broader significance of tinkering with technology in our contemporary society;
(3) will be able to identify, articulate and then share the main practical implications of a more bottom-up approach to technology based on tinkering for education;
(4) has first-hand experience as to the nature and practical relevance of tinkering in one's everyday life and workplace;
(5) has first-hand experience with an alternative approach to technology in education based on tinkering.
Teaching format
Webinars, online discussions (30%) combined with self-learning (70%): in the first part there will be 5 webinars. A kick-off meeting plus one webinar per each of the 4 blocks.
Independent work in groups: Online discussions will be organized in Block 1,2,3,4. In each discussion students will be asked to join a debate a particular issue or case related to the topic discussed during the lectures. The discussions will take place in the course blog.
Each online discussion will be opened in the course blog right after the end of the lecture, and it will remain open until the end of the block it concerns.
Independent individual work: During the second part of the course students will be asked to conduct an ethnographic inquiry, which will give them the chance to put into practice the theoretical background introduce in the first part of the course. Students will be given all details concerning how to conduct such inquiry. Students will be asked to select an issue and investigate it using ethnographic methods (i.e., participant observation, auto-ethnography, interviews, etc.).
E-learning environment: UTARTU Moodle
Assessment
Non-differentiated (pass, fail, not present)
A list of requirements will be provided at the beginning of the course. The course is considered passed when all requirements are fulfilled by the student.
Lecturers
Emanuele Bardone
Course dates
This course takes place in the first semester of the academic year 2025-2026. It starts in September. Info on course schedule will be available as of May 2, 2025. To check info after May 2, please see HERE, choose the version 2025/2026 and click on the tab “Events”. One can consider that webinars will take place in the afternoons, starting around 15.30 CET.
How to register?
No specific entry requirements. Students from all ENLIGHT partner universities and from all disciplines are eligible to participate.
For application, please use this link (to be added). Apply by August 18, 2025.
The University of Tartu will select the permitted number of students and inform the admitted students as soon as possible.
Before registration: Please check with your home faculty / programme if the course can be integrated in your curriculum in order to ensure recognition of the credits obtained!
Link to UTartu course description: https://ois2.ut.ee/#/courses/SVHI.06.030/details
Contact
Emanuele Bardone: