Celebrating a Year of Innovation, Collaboration, and Growth in STEAM Education

As 2024 comes to a close, we have been reflecting on all of the incredible moments and achievements that defined our year at TinkRworks. This year has been one of growth, innovation, and collaboration, as we continued to inspire learners through hands-on STEAM learning opportunities. From launching new projects to forming valuable partnerships, 2024 has been a milestone year for TinkRworks.

In January, we kicked off the year with the release of our STEAM program guide, highlighting our newest offerings. This comprehensive guide showcases our commitment to creating and providing innovative resources that enable educators to inspire creativity and critical thinking in the classroom.

We attended IDEAcon in February, connecting with educators from across Illinois and sharing how TinkRworks can transform STEAM learning right in their own classrooms. We also had the privilege of participating in the Northwest Regional Technology Competition with Northwest Georgia RESA, celebrating the creativity and ingenuity of young learners and giving them an opportunity to try out our newest projects.

In March, we engaged with education leaders at the National Afterschool Association’s annual convention. Here, we shared how our K-8 STEAM curriculum can empower schools to create meaningful learning experiences that engage and inspire students.

This summer, TinkRworks’ K-8 STEAM curriculum was featured in the Summer 2024 Products & Services Catalog from the National Afterschool Association. This acknowledgement highlights our dedication to developing impactful educational solutions that suit a variety of educational applications. We were also featured in a few prominent publications this summer, including Class Tech Tips and The Learning Counsel as their App of the Week.

In August, we formally introduced our newest STEAM projects, Tech-A-Sketch and TinkRsynth, which are designed to inspire STEAM learning through drawing and music. These innovative projects engage students in hands-on, creative exploration, turning learners into innovators.

November was an important month for TinkRworks, as we began an exciting partnership with 1st Maker Space to help schools bring STEAM to life through Project-based Learning in makerspaces. This collaboration is aimed at unlocking creativity in schools, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and complementary makerspaces that spark innovation. With 1st Maker Space, we hosted the webinar “Maximize Your Makerspace: Unlocking Creativity with Hands-On STEAM Learning,” to introduce our powerful partnership and provide practical tips for educators to develop engaging makerspaces.

Throughout the year, we hosted several other popular webinars to connect with educators across the country. In February, we led a webinar called “Nostalgia Meets Innovation: Exploring Tech-A-Sketch and 21st Century Skills,” sharing how our newest STEAM project blends essential technology skills with a nostalgic and creative activity. In September, we held another webinar focused on “Designing an Impactful STEAM Program for Grades K-8,” to equip educators with insights and strategies to implement successful STEAM initiatives.

As we look back on 2024, we are proud of all that we have accomplished and all of the opportunities we’ve had to connect with educators and provide young learners with valuable STEAM learning experiences. Our mission to inspire the next generation of innovators remains as strong as ever, and we are deeply grateful for the educators, students, and partners who have joined us on this journey.

In the upcoming year, we are looking forward to our new and ongoing partnerships with public, private, and charter schools across the country, from Texas to Chicago to Washington, D.C. and beyond. This December, we secured a partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools to implement our hands-on STEAM education system in their classrooms and afterschool programs, at family STEAM nights, and in other programs. This program will bring challenging project-based STEAM curriculum into more than ten schools in the greater Chicago area.

We are excited to see what 2025 holds, and we look forward to continuing to make a positive impact through STEAM education. On behalf of all of us at TinkRworks, we are wishing you a joyful holiday season and a bright, innovative new year!