Tinkering with Tech and AI
Innovating and developing 21st century skills and AI literacy
Tinkering with Tech is a UNICEF-led initiative that equips students and teachers with the digital skills, tools, cutting-edge technologies and creative problem-solving mindset needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world. By placing hands-on, collaborative and experiential learning at its core, the programme works to bridge the digital divide in education – with a particular focus on girls and underserved communities. In alignment with UNICEF's Digital Education Strategy, the programme takes a human-centred approach to improve learning outcomes, increase digital skills, and ensure a safe, balanced and ethical approach to technology in the classroom.
At the heart of Tinkering with Tech is design thinking: a structured, creative approach to problem-solving in which students empathise with real-world challenges, define problems, develop and test solutions, and celebrate their achievements. Using various technologies including AI, students tackle issues that matter most in their own communities – from climate change to mental health – building critical skills including computational thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity, and digital and AI literacy along the way.
At its core, this initiative is designed to expand learning pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to provide today’s students with the skills they need to thrive in the bold new world of digital technology and AI. Teachers and school leaders receive comprehensive training on the programme and ongoing mentoring support, embedding design thinking and technology meaningfully into classroom practice.
The result is a generation of innovators and builders – curious, confident, solution-oriented learners – who transform from passively consuming technology to confidently using it as a powerful catalyst for change.
Outcomes
Students
- Develop future-ready skills, including digital and AI literacy, critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration.
- Gain agency over their learning through hands-on problem solving and human-centered design.
- Build confidence and innovation mindsets, learning to prototype solutions to real-world challenges.
- Increase interest in STEAM pathways, particularly among girls and underrepresented groups.
- Strengthen problem-solving and computational thinking skills that support broader learning outcomes.
Teachers
- Receive practical, immersive training and professional development in human-centered design and learner-centered approaches.
- Strengthen 21st century and digital skills, fostering more equitable classrooms.
- Access Communities of Practice for peer learning, support and collaboration.
- Empowered to integrate innovation and digital transformation into daily teaching
- Become facilitators of innovation, guiding students through inquiry, experimentation, and creative problem solving.
Governments
- Advance digital transformation with an inclusive, scalable model building national capacity.
- Generate evidence and lessons for scaling innovation, supporting policy development and system-wide adoption.
- Positioned as a leader in AI literacy, 21st century skills, and STEM education.
- Advance partnerships and donor interest through a strong national use case for responsible EdTech and AI in education.
News
Countries and Implementation
Honduras, Montenegro, the Maldives and Viet Nam formed the first cohort for implementing Tinkering with Tech via the UNICEF Country Offices. The initiative plans to now expand to Lao PDR, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The project has been designed with a modeling-to-scale approach grounded in adapting to contextual realities and aligning with national education priorities, accompanied by agile implementation research to help inform the next steps and design a sustainable model.
Moreover, Tinkering with Tech has been designed to be device-agnostic. While the rollout in the pioneering four countries used micro:bit devices, countries also have the option to use Raspberry Pis, Arduinos, robotic kits, and other similar devices depending on their preference.
Tinkering with Tech is entering its next phase – Tinkering with Tech and AI – to expand to new countries and deepen its focus on AI literacy. With continued strategic support from Arm and the Government of Finland, and technical partners Micro:bit Educational Foundation and Raspberry Pi Foundation, UNICEF is co-developing new learning materials, enhancing AI literacy, and scaling the initiative to reach more learners and education systems.
Countries
Addressing the Gender Digital Divide
Tinkering with Tech is paving the way for future innovators by giving children –especially girls – the chance to understand and create with AI in a safe, ethical and meaningful way. Around the world, girls continue to face significant hurdles when it comes to pursuing STEM education and careers. These barriers include underrepresentation, persistent stereotypes, lack of visible role models, deep-seated cultural beliefs, and fewer opportunities to use technology and develop digital skills.
Tinkering with Tech is purposefully designed to close this gender gap.
The program creates inclusive, supportive spaces where girls feel welcome to explore, experiment, and lead in technology. Activities are built from the ground up to encourage participation from all children regardless of gender, including those with disabilities, ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table. Teachers learn gender responsive and inclusive techniques and use UNICEF's Superstar Teacher Toolbox to build safe, playful environments that support every learner.
Learning materials in the program are carefully crafted to champion gender equality, highlight female mentors, and connect STEM learning to real-life problems. Girls gain confidence, creativity, communication, and crucial skills for the future, including digital and entrepreneurial skills. The program also spotlights the work of girls, celebrating their creations and innovations, while connecting them with women mentors in tech and AI.
Beyond digital know-how, Tinkering with Tech helps girls and boys build lifelong skills, including problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, self-belief: in short, every skill they need to succeed in school and in future careers.