Gever Tulley

Gever Tulley is a writer, speaker, educator, entrepreneur, and computer scientist recognized for his work in education innovation, hands-on learning, and child development. Tulley is the founder of Brightworks School, Tinkering School, the nonprofit Institute for Applied Tinkering, and educational kit company Tinkering Labs. A self-taught computer scientist, Tulley is known for his focus on encouraging independent thinking and empowering children to explore and learn through direct experience.

Tinkering School, established by Tulley, operates on the belief that children are capable of solving real-world problems when provided with real tools and opportunities. The program offers a week-long overnight experience near San Francisco, where participants collaborate on large-scale projects such as roller coasters, rope bridges, and tree houses. The school’s philosophy centers on learning through doing, emphasizing the value of making mistakes, collaboration, and building ambitious projects.

Tulley’s perspectives on childhood, risk, and creativity have reached a global audience through his writing and public speaking. He delivered a TED Talk titled "50 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do," advocating for supervised risk-taking as a means to foster learning and resilience. Tulley has also authored "Fifty Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do)" and the TED e-book "Beware Dangerism!" His TED Talks, books, and media appearances have contributed to ongoing discussions about self-directed learning, creativity in education, and the benefits of playful tinkering experiences for children.

Tulley founded Brightworks School in San Francisco, which utilizes a project-based learning framework called the Brightworks Arc. This approach organizes learning into three phases: exploration, expression, and exposition, moving away from traditional subject-based classes. The framework has been studied internationally as a model for integrating maker-centered learning with academic rigor, and Brightworks has been recognized as an innovative educational institution.

Through Tinkering Labs, Tulley extends hands-on, discovery-based learning into homes and classrooms by producing open-ended educational kits that encourage exploration of concepts such as electric motors and engineering. The Institute for Applied Tinkering, his nonprofit organization, oversees programs including Brightworks, Tinkering School, a Curious Educators Division, and an Innovation Lab, all dedicated to advancing educational methods that engage children deeply in learning through real interests and practical tools. Across his ventures, Tulley advocates for empowering children by providing them with meaningful opportunities to learn and create.