STEAM AND ROBOTICS EDUCATION
- WHAT IS THE OFFERING BASED ON?
Our initiative is to bridge the gap in implementation of the National Curriculum Framework ( K 12 education ) and our National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These aim to encourage STEM (STEAM) AND ROBOTICS as an important co-curricular activity in schools, to make students familiar with AI and machine learning which will enhance their problem solving skills and meta cognitive skills which are much needed for their future.
India has integrated AI into its New Education Policy 2020, which aims to expose students to digital literacy, coding, and computational thinking from a young age in school and thereafter to offer courses on AI and related topics at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The policy also envisions using AI for promoting multilingualism, holistic education, and high-quality research. The government of India is committed to using AI to transform education in the country. The demand for STEM-related skills in India is expected to grow by 50% by 2025 and 80% of all work will be automated by 2030.
National Curriculum Frame work 2023:
Extracts Verbatim:-- (NEP 2020 pg 15, para 4.23 to 4.25) The approach should use resources like Bar Code Craft, and Open AI to educate students about Generative AI. This program will teach children various skills across different disciplines, familiarize them with AI’s potential and limitations, and prioritize promoting AI’s ethical use in real-life scenarios.
- (NEP 2020 pg 37, para 11.2) integrate the humanities and arts with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) have consistently showed positive learning outcomes, including increased creativity and innovation, critical thinking and higher-order thinking capacities, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, communication skills, more in-depth learning and mastery of curricula across fields, increases in social and moral awareness, etc
- (NEP 2020 pg 56, para 23.2 to 23.9) new technologies involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, block chains, smart boards, handheld computing devices, adaptive computer testing for student development, and other forms of educational software and hardware.
- WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGE AREAS RESEARCHED IN SCHOOLS AND THE URGENCY OF ADDRESSING THEM?
The major challenge areas as identified are :-- Resource limitations and lack of infrastructure in schools
- Lack of awareness of the benefits of STEM Education
- Assuming it is optional and not compulsory to skill students
- WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR THE STUDENT?
Students need human skills which cannot be replicated by machines such as creativity, problem solving, adaptability, ethical awareness, emotional self-regulation, teamwork, ingenuity, and critical thinking. AI tools, machine learning and chat GPT can change the relative value of these human skills by facilitating to some extent by providing content and formulae but cannot be initiators in themselves. This need gap needs to be rightly addressed by introducing STEM education in schools. Scientific and technological knowledge is integral in today’s world to many different careers. Every job today includes a financial aspect – and therefore math education is crucial for this. We live in the digital age, so technology is important in all jobs. Even if you choose humanities and the arts, computer skills are something you should be familiar with. - HOW DOES IT BENEFIT THE SCHOOL?
Students will learn real world skills grade to grade one step at a time, strengthening their retention capacity and ensuring lateral thinking replaces rote learning, which the aim of National Education Policy. It will also enhance the school’s standing with more students cracking competitive examinations as well as doing wells as innovators and engines of India’s future growth. A school which produces a world beater like Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai or Narayana Moorthy has much to be proud of. - WHAT ARE THE MODERN DAY NEEDS BEING MET?
The functioning of an automated traffic control with proximity sensors or for that matter reversal of polarity in a ceiling fan vis a vis an exhaust fan , differential drive robots and rope way robots functioning in cable cars and many more explain to the students how codes are being applied to free the human mind for more innovation and research. Making and disassembling projects will assist in problem solving and meta cognitive skills. There are hundreds of benefits in the modern world for students who are upgrading their skills to meet work places. Today’s students are besides belonging to a country are global citizens too as they interact with a global audience, work for foreign companies on their rules and procedures for example sitting in Delhi, Bangalore, Indore or Hyderabad. - WHAT IS THE COST OF THE OFFERING?
We ensure academic excellence irrespective of the price point a school is comfortable with. We will need the following inputs to give a school a cost effective quotation- Grades from which to do STEM education. ( NCF talks of Gr 1 to 12)
- Number of sections in each grade
- No of students in each section ( higher number is needed to cater for kits)
- Number of working days in a week
- Number of periods in a day for eg. 7, 8, etc.
- WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE LAB NEEDED?
We need a standard class room with a smart TV or projector. Tables and chairs to accommodate the students , computers ( one per three children) and an almirah to store material. An internet connection is optional as we have catered for remote Army and government schools as well in all locations. - WHAT do we request from the SCHOOL OR INSTITUTE ?
To provide a classroom, equipped with a smart TV or projector, computers, furniture. - WHAT IS THE COMPANY’S RESPONSIBILITY?
The company’s service is:- ROBOTS AND ROBOTIC KITS AS PER NEED.
- VIDEO LESSONS FOR CODING AND PROGRAMMING.
- PROGRAMMABLE APP
- WORKSHEETS AND DATA SHEETS FOR EXERCISING STUDENTS
- PROVIDING A DEDICATED TRAINER TO THE SCHOOL.
- REPLACEMENT OF PARTS IF THE COMPANY TRAINER IS EMPLOYED
- VIGOROUS AND FUN TO DO TESTS,
- HALF YEARLY AND ANNUAL PROJECT EXAMS
- TAKING PART IN SCHOOL SCIENCE AND INNOVATION PROJECTS
- WILL THE TRAINER BE DEDICATED TO EACH SCHOOL OR INSTITUTE?
As understood, this is a full time, all week long activity, so a dedicated trainer is a necessity and will be ensured. - WHAT IS THE PAYMENT MODE BY THE SCHOOL TO THE COMPANY?
After the demonstration and agreement on a quotation, a formal contract to run the lab in the school will be executed. At the time of signing we will request for a 50% advance payment as per quotation to procure and calibrate all kits, to be available on time as well as recruit a trainer / trainers as per need for the school and train them so that they are available in a fully functional lab from the first day of the next academic session. The balance 50% is requested to be paid after the first 100 days of the session to fund the smooth running of the lab. - WHAT ABOUT SPARES?
Spares are important as students during experiments will sometimes accidentally short circuit sensors,micro controllers, inputs and outputs or break parts. Not only will we be using the push method of spare availability, where they they are available in adequacy form the first day of school, in addition we will keep two complete kits of each type, so that lab time for a student is gainfully utilized at all times. It needs to be noted that we can provide spares throughout on need, at no additional costs only when we have our own trainer in the school . If the school chooses to have its own trainer, we will only provide spares ab initio and will support on a cost effective basis thereafter as per need. - WHAT IS THE TIME TABLE FOR THE STEM AND ROBOTICS LAB?
With each quotation, we will submit a suggested timetable , so that it is easy for the school to adjust it into their overall timetable. - WHAT ABOUT COMPANY SUPPORT IN BETWEEN A SESSION?
The company’s directors and channel partners in various cities will be hand in glove with the school authorities especially the principal, VP, HoD Computers, etc to ensure that projects and teaching is closely monitored. Timely inputs on tenets of the UN SDGs are recorded and fed to the class teachers and parents. Suffice to say, education is critical for the company and the veteran officers heading it and will be first always and every time. Year long conduct in the lab will be a well oiled, smooth and closely monitored process by the company. - WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS OFFERED PER STUDENT IN A MONTH / ACADEMIC YEAR?
We promise to offer a minimum of 40 projects per student per academic session ( 10 months with 4 weeks each). Therefore a project a week. There would be breaks due to exams, annual day, festivals etc, So our trainer/ Trainer after the first 3 months of teaching will increase the speed and challenge of learning , construction, coding, programming and integration to ensure that students complete 40 and if possible many more projects in the given time in the lab. - DURATION OF RUNNING THE STEM LAB IN EACH ACADEMIC YEAR?
Schools by and large have opted to begin in the first week of each academic session conclude lab activities by end February each year as it is necessary that students study well and focus on their academics. However the school is free to choose till the end of march of the academic year if needed. - I’M CONFUSED. WHAT DO ALL THESE ACRONYMS MEAN?
- NEP 2020 – National education Policy 2020
- NCF 2023-24 – National curriculum Framework 2023-24
- UN SDGs – United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- ISTE – International science and tech education standards.
- NGSS – New generation standards for schools.
- WILL BRAND NEW KITS BE GIVEN EACH YEAR?
Yes. Kits will be subject to heavy use in the lab by all students and will need to be fully replaced. Eg. A 60 year old man who has lived his life cannot run and perform as well as a 20 year old man. Lab time being sacrosanct, we cannot have sensors and micro controllers looking perfectly alright, though their capacity and performance has become sub par and fail midway in a project. By the time we realize whether the fault was in the code or the hardware would have lost project time of that particular class which is best avoided. - WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OLD KITS?
The kits of an average go through a seventy percent attrition and are beyond economic repair. To reduce E waste they will be disposed off in a graded manner by separating metal and plastic . It would be notable to know that we promote recycling with kit boxes made out of recycled plastic and all our power sources are rechargeable vis a vis use and throw, thereby reducing E waste as best as possible. Sensors, micro controllers, inputs and outputs and especially construction material for projects cannot be from recycled plastic due to tensile strength and electronic processes for printed circuity, so they are made brand new.
CAREER COUNSELING AND COACHING
- What are the theories used to do career counselling?
The various theories proposed by western psychologists are relevant to their respective cultures and methods of education. We have tailor made counselling and coaching for our students in the global south as well, so that it becomes co relatable and easy to understand and implement. - Why is it required?
Careers have diversified in intra and inter fields, new verticals have been added to the main lines of work. Specialization is the key, finding one’s own’s path has become more important so that careers are built with periodic upgradation and specialist courses. - How many sessions are needed?
For group counselling and individual counselling, the yardstick is three sessions along with a psychometric test for individual counselling. It becomes necessary to go through the paces , assimilate, ask questions and find answers. Therefore three sessions will be needed to do this comprehensively. In special cases, a session more will be well worth it.
CONSULTANCY
Educational Consultancy is a much needed service for an increasing busy schedule in the day to day functioning of institutions. It is therefore necessary to assist in administrative, Academic and facilities.
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT ( SDPs and FDPs)
Systematic and comprehensive work with a well qualified team is critical is the need of the hour to ensure that the youthful dividend is harnessed to make them engines of future growth.