In this discussion Tulley discusses how children can accomplish extraordinary achievements by doing and working with their hands, or "tinkering." I believe his overall point is that children learn through actually experiencing the process rather than simply listening to a lecture or filling in a worksheet. If the goal is for students to retain what they are taught then as educators we must understand that students will often not remember what I said, but what THEY did. It was evident in this video that students are engaged in the process of learning and excited about having the freedom to tailor their work to their own creativity and personalities.
As an educator I strongly believe in giving students the opportunities for permanent learning. Allow students to participate in simulations, role playing, and similar activities and they will retain a great deal more than when they zoned out during a session of a lecture and note-taking. This is not to say that the learning process is all just fun and games so to speak. In fact, it is quite to the contrary. Each activity must connect and have purpose. It is important to use those activities/simulations to debrief with students after and make the connections to what they are trying to learn. Students, however, will learn best through experiencing learning and this will make learning permanent.
As an educator I strongly believe in giving students the opportunities for permanent learning. Allow students to participate in simulations, role playing, and similar activities and they will retain a great deal more than when they zoned out during a session of a lecture and note-taking. This is not to say that the learning process is all just fun and games so to speak. In fact, it is quite to the contrary. Each activity must connect and have purpose. It is important to use those activities/simulations to debrief with students after and make the connections to what they are trying to learn. Students, however, will learn best through experiencing learning and this will make learning permanent.