E-learning has been around for quite some time, even before the pandemic. However, post-pandemic, living in the new normal, educational practitioners are now focused on blended learning. They don’t depend on one set of tools but have come up with approaches incorporating both learning styles to provide a comprehensive, well-rounded education. So, what is blended learning? The technical definitions of the term vary widely, but it is commonly understood as an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities with traditional classroom setups. It can also be called a hybrid learning model, phygital learning, or mixed modes of schooling. But why is blended learning being adopted in schools and institutions? There are multiple reasons, ranging from the philosophical to the practical benefits compared to conventional classrooms and e-learning. The philosophy of blended learning draws roots in the constructivist school. Both put children at the centre of their education and use the teacher as a facilitator and guide rather than a mere instructor. They believe that knowledge is gained through understanding and adding to the social meaning of concepts learnt. From a passive bowl waiting to be filled with knowledge, children create knowledge through hands-on experiences. Where blended learning starts to branch out is the technological input. It adds a whole new dimension to constructivist learning by providing tools from both physical and digital resources. In the initial stages of e-learning, the model of education was heavily praised for increasing access to more children around the world, providing more tools and resources, and providing a more personalised learning environment. However, drawbacks were soon discovered. Socialising is an inherent part of education that e-learning failed to deliver. Moreover, many children worldwide still don’t have access to the internet or the means to use laptops or mobile devices, cutting off a significant population of students from the benefits enjoyed. E-learning, while enabling a student to learn at their own pace, also doesn’t actively encourage physical experiences and experimentation. Thus, a hybrid approach is now being recognised as the way forward. It combines the best of both worlds, so to speak, providing both physical and digital resources to children. A hybrid approach focuses on hands-on learning using digital technologies. The modules provide multiple opportunities for exploration and experimentation, with the aid of teachers, both online and offline. This keeps children engaged with the material and nurtures curiosity, creativity and confidence. This approach thus lends itself to the Agastya way of learning naturally. We are firm believers in constructivist education and have experimented with digital learning in the lockdown. This has provided us with a solid foundation to create multiple blended learning tools that aid education and educators in the remotest corners of India. One such tool is We-Learn, an android application that teachers can use to explain modules in fun, simple ways. It is also loaded with activities children can perform with everyday materials, actively involving them in the learning process. We have also developed several phygital modules across different Agastya outreach activities, maximising access. While digital technologies may still be out of the hands of many Indian children, we have equipped our instructors with tablets to travel and spread these resources. Keeping in mind that India has the largest population of mobile phone users and mobile data, Agastya instructors conducted online lessons (through WhatsApp, Zoom etc.) and created sessions using android-based learning resources. We also developed kits and manuals couriered to children’s homes. The instructors act as online facilitators in these scenarios, guiding children on using these kits to build an understanding of the taught concepts. There are still many unanswered questions about how education should be delivered to keep up with the current world. But blended learning has become a staple guide to the answers.

Agastya International Foundation is a vast space for multiple initiatives that serve one singular purpose: get children interested in learning through hands-on, quality education. We currently have more than 15 programs that aid our mission. So, we thought, why not introduce you to some of them through video! Here are 6 Agastya Programs you can look at through short 2-minute videos. But first, here is a video to understand Agastya and delve deeper into our vision: Here’s another video outlining some of our main programs: 6 Agastya Program Introductions Ramanujan Math Park: Located in Agastya 172-acre campus in Kuppam Andhra Pradesh, the Ramanujan Math Park is an ode to the mathematical genius and a way to pass on his passion for math to younger children. Watch here to get a glimpse: Vision Works: Another component of the Kuppam Campus, Vision Works is the lab where Agastya’s models and tools come alive to provide an experiential, hands-on learning experience. Watch here to know more: MediaArts Program: The MediaArts program at Agastya aims to inculcate observation and creativity in children and enable them to narrate their stories. Here’s a glimpse into the beautiful productions our students have come up with: Operation Vasantha: A community learning centre, Operation Vasantha conducts evening classes for children with no or limited access to the formal education system and who have to work for a living. It aims to get them back into learning. Watch here to know more: i-Mobile: A unique program where the science curriculum is blended with IT (Computer skills), the i-Mobile program is a blended learning initiative that uses both physical and digital tools to provide a rounded education. It also aims to get children acquainted with modern technology like laptops that they may not have access to in their homes and schools. We-Learn: Another initiative that ties technology with hands-on learning, We-Learn is an android based learning app with modules ranging from science and math to general health and education. Look below to know how the app works: . . . We hope this gives you a deeper insight into why we do what we do and what exactly it is that we do. Which other programs of Agastya would you like an introduction to?

It’s World Youth Day on the 12th of August, and we thought you should know some of the most influential youth leaders in STEM for the occasion. The United Nations classifies people between the ages of 15 and 24 as a youth, which is the criteria used for this curation. Gitanjali Rao TIME magazine’s Kid of the Year, 2020, now 17-year-old Gitanjali Rao has multiple accomplishments to her credit. At 10, she developed a device called Tethys that can be used to detect lead content in water to help the Flint, Michigan residents. Recognised as America’s Top Scientist in 7th grade, the teen’s most recent innovation is Kindly, an app that can detect cyberbullying in the early stages. She has also invented a device called Epione that helps calculate prescription opioid addiction using genetic engineering. The youngster has a long way to go and will continue to advance the world of STEM with her work! Olivia Hallisey A winner of the Google Science Fair in 2015 at 17 years and one of Time Magazine’s “Thirty Most Influential Teens of 2015”, Olivia Hallisey developed a low-cost Ebola test that works rapidly. The Ebola Assay Card (EAC) is an easy-to-use visual device that also does not need refrigeration, making it a user-friendly and inexpensive device that can be used worldwide without barriers. She has also developed the Lyme Assay Card (LAC), an early detection device for Lyme disease based on saliva. Her research continues to progress and is helping develop low-cost innovative solutions to identify medical problems. Anjali Sharma Indian-Australian climate activist Anjali Sharma wrote history with seven fellow 17-year-olds in 2021 when she took the then Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, for failing to consider the impacts of climate change and won! The class action by the group asked for disapproving expansion to the coalmine Vickery, near Gunnedah, in NSW, on the grounds that it was harmful to the youth and future generations. The Federal Court ruled, in a world first, that the Minister for the Environment was required to have a duty of care towards teenagers and children concerning climate change impacts, particularly bushfire and heatwave impacts. This set a precedent for following court cases. A finalist for the 2021 Climate Action Prize, Anjali’s work may not be directly related to STEM but is a shining example of advocating for environmental rights, one of the most essential STEM fields. Joaquin Cortacans The first Uruguayan to attend space camp at 15, the now 20-year-old Joaquin has dedicated his time to spreading the love of space to Uruguayan youth. His nonprofit, Jóvenes Bajo la Lupa, is spreading awareness about the importance of science education and is a space for students to explore STEM-related fields. In 2018, Joaquin was named one of The Mars Generation’s 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Award recipients! His work goes to show how little resources and inclination developing countries have for pursuing advanced sciences when they are the ones that can bring the most innovation to the field and benefit from it. Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López We know we said we’re following the ages of 15–24, but this 12-year-old’s project is definitely worth a mention on the list of young STEM leaders on the path to changing the world! Xóchitl grew up in a low-income area of Mexico where residents did not have access to hot water and, as a result, often fell ill with respiratory diseases and were forced to cut down trees for firewood. Thus at the tender age of 8, she developed the project Hot Water, a solar-powered water heater made from basic, recycled objects that costs only about $30 to assemble. Her innovation is revolutionary for countries that struggle with deforestation and provides a sustainable, low-cost alternative for people who can not afford hot water. These are just a few of the many youths changing the world for the better day by day with their innovations and advocacy. We hope to inspire and enable many more such children at Agastya by spreading curiosity, creativity and confidence in Indian school children and encouraging their love for STEM. Let’s invest in our youth this World Youth Day and invest in a sound future for generations to come.

India celebrates its 75th year of independence on the 15th of August, 2022. On such a momentous occasion, we thought it was befitting to shine the spotlight on some STEM visionaries of the country and how their inventions or research changed not just one nation but the whole world. This list also focuses on the 20th and 21st centuries. Many already know the greats of the previous eras: Ramanujan, CV Raman, Homi Bhabha, Satyendranath and Jagdish Chandra Bose, and of course, APJ Abdul Kalam from this one. Uddhab Bharali Born in Assam in 1962, Uddhab Bharali has been inventing since the 1980s, with currently over 160 innovations to his name. The Padma Shree Awardee and winner of the President’s Grassroots Innovation award is known for low-cost, eco-friendly tools such as the pomegranate deseeder (which was also selected in online voting for the NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal). His other inventions include low-cost peeler machines for other vegetables, a bamboo processing machine, and devices that help disabled people eat and write. Aparajita Datta Wildlife ecologist Aparajita Datta is best know for her work on saving the hornbills of Arunachal Pradesh from poachers. The Whitley awardee also discovered the presence of leaf dear and black barking deer in India and the Arunachal Macaque, a new species of monkeys. Datta’s team has always included local tribes and communities in her work, and she has also helped the Lisu people of Arunachal Pradesh find alternative sources of income by increasing nature tourism in the area and marketing their handicrafts. Modadugu Vijay Gupta Pioneer of the Blue Revolution of southeast Asia, Modadugu Vijay Gupta was selected for the Sunhak Peace Prize in 2015 for helping create an aqauculture system that empowered rural populations in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Prior to this he has also been awarded the World Food Prize in 2005 for increasing nutrition in the diet of impoverished families by disseminating low-cost fish farming techniques and adding to protein and mineral content in their food, along with helping increasing their income. Gagandeep Kang Microbiologist and virologist Gagandeep Kang is a leading researcher on viral infections in children, and the testing of rotaviral vaccines. For her lifelong work in the field of viral diseases, their effect on children, and vaccine testing, Kang was awarded the Infosys Prize in 2017. In 2019, she became the first Indian woman to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. You can learn more about the esteemed professor from herself over here , in our interview with her as part of the Inspirational Indians Series. E.A. Siddiq Padma Shree Awardee E.A Siddiq is an agricultural scientist whose research focus has been on genetics and plant breeding, culminating in the development of more than 10 high-yielding rice varieties. He has assisted in creating breeds such as dwarf basmati, hybrid rice, and quick maturing varieties such as Pusa 2–21, Pusa 33, Pusa 4 and Pusa 834. Siddiq has collaborated with the World Bank/FAO as consultant and advisor and has pioneered programs in Egypt, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. He has also helped in the establishment of rice research institutes in Vietnam and Bangladesh. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay The first woman director of the Indian Statistical Institute, and recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay is a computer scientist specializing in computational biology. She is credited for her work in discovering a genetic marker for breast cancer, the role of white matter in Alzheimer’s disease, and the links between cancer and HIV. The Infosys Prize awardee currently serves on the Prime Ministers’ Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council, and was conferred with the Padma Shree in 2022. Asima Chatterjee The organic chemist was the first woman to get a doctorate in science from an Indian university and the first woman recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have substantially contributed to scientific, technological and mathematical advancement around the world. Her most notable work includes research on vinca alkaloids, the development of anti-epileptic drugs, and development of anti-malarial drugs. She also did considerable research on medicinal plants in the Indian subcontinent and their use.

An account of those educating the future The Acharya Initiative Teacher Training Program (TTP) is a part of Agastya’s effort to enable teachers to conduct lessons fruitfully and with all the required resources. With India celebrating Teachers’ Day on 5th September, the TTP team at Agastya wanted to share their experience with the government school teachers they interact with. They wanted to express gratitude to the unknown heroes of the country silently building our future. Here’s what they have to say. . . . Ask an ordinary everyday person in our country about the government school teachers and their teaching methods, and their first reaction will probably be ‘miserable’ or ‘unsatisfied’. But the truth is not so! Being ordinary men, we may have our dispositions on the public school system and fail to see the exemplary efforts of these extraordinary teachers. When we started conducting Teacher Training Programs for these teachers, we saw their efforts and dedication to their job. If you saw their core beliefs and educational practices, your disposition would change too. All they needed was more resources and some guidance towards creating an active classroom. This is where Agastya’s Acharya Initiative comes in. To provide holistic education to children, Agastya started training teachers using the ‘constructivist approach’ in a 4-days workshop. We also equipped teachers with tools by developing low-cost models in a 4-day long ‘Make Your Own Lab’ (MYOL) workshop. During these programs, we observed that many teachers performed extraordinarily to make the learning process more effective. It is important to note that these teachers try their best to make up for any inadequacies in their subject knowledge through hard work. From painstakingly preparing lesson plans and brainstorming to engage children in their classroom to creating activities that involve every single child, facilitating through various practices, conducting experiments, and incorporating arts and role play in their pedagogy, they left no stone unturned to make learning fun. In many schools, teachers even contributed money out of their own pockets for stationery, books, setting up an activity room, etc. A teacher dressed up as a butterfly to teach pollination Can you imagine — a Biology teacher bringing a real heart and lungs of a goat to teach biology to Grade 8 students and dissecting it?; A maths teacher teaches number systems by playing the flute and harmonium?; A science teacher teaches pollination by dressing up, mono acting as a butterfly? Each of these is happening in the public schools around us; Actually, a lot more than this! Without them, the most extensive education system in the world would not function at all. We are glad to play our part in helping these superstars create the superstars of tomorrow. Having reached lakhs of teachers, Agastya hopes to influence even more through the Acharya Initiative. A teacher using music to teach his lessons Meanwhile, on this occasion, Agastya shares its gratitude to all these unknown extraordinary teachers. We wish them a very HAPPY TEACHERS DAY!!

According to numerous governmental and non-governmental surveys, many elementary school students (consisting of more than five crore children) have not yet attained the foundational literacy and numeracy skills they should have by that age. This means that most children in class three cannot still comprehend basic concepts, read at the required level, or even perform basic addition and subtraction. They are thus already falling behind due to a lack of foundational knowledge required for concepts tackled in middle and higher secondary schooling. The New Education Policy (NEP) recognises this as an urgent crisis that needs attention immediately. The solutions suggested mainly fall under two categories: 1. Revamping the curriculum and modes of education and 2. Ensuring access to quality education Revamping the curriculum and modes of education: The NEP proposes an elementary curriculum focusing on reading, writing, speaking, counting, arithmetic, and mathematical thinking. It also suggests adding specific hours dedicated to activities that increase the above capabilities and integrating them into the year-long syllabus. It has been recognised that children are falling behind in grade 1 due to a lack of early childhood education. Thus the NEP proposes a 3-month ‘play-based’ preparatory module for children of class 1 where hands-on activities focused on shape, colour, numbers, and letters will be introduced to get them up to par. It directs NCERT and SCERTs to prepare such a module. Another scheme put forth by the NEP is Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA). Building a repository of high-quality resources on foundational literacy and numeracy on DIKSHA will help teachers tap into them when required to ensure quality education for their students. To spread the joy of reading and increase language comprehension, the NEP proposes enjoyable books be accessible to all grade levels. School or village libraries maintain reading material and activities to entice and inspire young learners. Ensuring Access To Quality Education Building the curriculum and resources is one thing, but it will only help the masses if it’s truly accessible. Thus the NEP proposes many methods to ensure they reach every child while personalising their learning experience to ensure lasting impact. One solution is training teachers and providing them with the resources required to carry out the activities and curriculum changes mentioned above. They also need to be trained to access digital resources. Only when teachers are equipped with these tools will they be able to pass them on to children. Another way is ensuring the pupil-to-teacher ratio is maintained between 30–1 and 25–1 so that equal time and attention is given to all children and teachers can focus on individual learning. Another solution is to expand the modes of education to peer-to-peer learning. According to the NEP, “Studies around the world show one-on-one peer tutoring to be extremely effective for learning not just for the learner, but also for the tutor. Thus, peer tutoring can be taken up as a voluntary and joyful activity for fellow students under the supervision of trained teachers and by taking due care of safety aspects. Additionally, it will also be made far easier for trained volunteers — from both the local community and beyond — to participate in this large-scale mission.” Agastya’s Role Agastya has always believed that hands-on learning is more effective than rote learning and thus has many prepared modules and curriculums to aid the process. Its mission aligns with the NEP to create a confident and creative learning population equipped to take on higher learning challenges. We have also been pioneering peer-to-peer teaching and learning through the Young Instructor Leaders program and training teachers to implement active learning through the Acharya Initiative or Teacher Training Program. Thus Agastya’s mission and vision concur with the NEP 2020, and we will continue to aid the process of spreading access to quality education to every child in India.

Agastya’s Sarga Samvad is a series of creative, experiential and imaginative dialogues with innovators from different fields. This takes the form of programs, interviews, panel discussions and more. The Inspirational Indians series holds one-on-one discussions with experts, innovators, and leaders from diverse disciplines. Here are 5 genuinely inspirational pioneers sharing the life mantras they swear by! “ It is up to me to make my life transparent so that people could perhaps get the courage to get motivated to be able to break the life scripts that are given to each one of us by societal, community, and family expectations and dare to write our scripts ” - Renowned dancer Dr Mallika Sarabhai on daring to live your own life. Hear more from her on the link below. “ If you want to be someone who moves a field forward then you have to experiment, you cannot stay grounded in tradition alone ” - Microbiologist and virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang on how to break barriers and grow into your best. Hear more of her insights here “ If you are more eclectic in general knowledge, then you begin to see things that are not connected, and connecting the dots is the best creativity ” - Prof Jagdish Sheth. The brilliant academician has some great thoughts on the process of learning. Catch them below “ You should know: What you are meant for; What you would love to pursue; and where does your learning take you ” - Lalitha Srinivasan drops some truth bombs about her passion for dance and life. Listen to her about her passion here. “ If you read the stories of all the achievers, they’ve all been failures until they succeeded” - Accomplished scientist Dr VK Aatre on failure and success. Catch more of his infallible advice on life below. We have some more mantras for you in, stay tuned. And, if you want to stay ahead of the curve, watch more Inspirational Indians motivate you over here !

Curiosity is a powerful tool to keep children engaged with the material. It makes children want to learn, and research has proved it boosts academic performance and an overall understanding of the subject. Quoted by Edutopia as “a hidden force that drives learning, critical thinking, and reasoning”, inquisitiveness is thus a necessary resource that can liven up a classroom and drive students to excel. So, how can teachers cultivate curiosity in their classrooms? How do they effectively utilise this tool to engage their students and inspire them to take charge of their learning? Here are five ways to ensure children keep their thinking caps on: Asking Questions Approaching topics by asking children open-ended questions helps them open their perspectives and tackle the subject head-on. Keep in mind the objective is not that they find answers but that you, as a teacher, asking questions leads them to questions of their own. Thus, open-ended questions are the key. They will encourage the students to think about the whys and the hows. Moreover, seeing teachers ask questions will make them open up and not hesitate to ask for help when they feel stuck somewhere. Linking Difficult/Boring Topics With Things Children Want To Know Not all lessons in a subject are interesting enough on their own to keep a child’s attention. Thus keeping them engaged is a challenging task. It can help to link such topics with a topic children might be interested to know more about. It’ll tap into their inherent curiosity and help them pay attention to the task at hand. For instance, bringing in an action sequence from a popular movie to spark conversation about physics, gravity and movement would excite children and make them curious to know how the two are linked. It would capture their interest and help keep the classroom alive and buzzing. Active Learning Implementing active learning is the best way to cultivate curiosity in the classroom. Active learning is both a tool that encourages curiosity and a result of keeping interest alive in children. Using models, demonstrations and experiments make children actively participate in their learning process. This, in turn, encourages asking more questions and trying to find answers for them. It keeps the wheels in their minds turning. Critical Analysis Questioning and active learning also help develop critical thinking, which is another excellent way of invoking curiosity. Teaching students how to look at a subject critically means teaching them to ask how and why a certain thing works under what conditions. This helps in keeping their thoughts churning and their curiosity burning. Being Curious As A Teacher Keeping your inner child alive is critical to maintaining a curious environment in the classroom. It creates a comfortable atmosphere where children feel safe to question, explore and experiment. It keeps the spirit of inquiry alive. Last year, Agastya marked October 23rd as Curiosity Day with a quiz on the world’s most curious minds whose questions led to groundbreaking innovations. This is us doing our part to ensure children stay curious in their pursuit of knowledge, and we hope you do yours too! Happy Curiosity Day!

Mr Yakub Koyyur at the Agastya Campus Creativity Lab in Kuppam The Agastya Creativity Campus in Kuppam had a special visitor in early October in the form of math teacher Mr Yakub Koyyur. We are immensely proud that the drop-in inspired the Recipient of the National Award by the Govt. of India (2020) and brought him joy. Here’s his feedback from the weekend trip (translation provided after original text) ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಜಂಜಾಟಗಳಾಚೆ ಎರಡು ದಿನ.ಮನಸ್ಸಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಆಸೆ. ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ ತಂಡದ ಕ್ಯಾಂಪಸ್ ಕುಪ್ಪಂ ನೋಡಬೇಕೆಂದು. ಎರಡು ಮೂರು ಬಾರಿ ಆಹ್ವಾನವೂ ಬಂದಿತ್ತು. ಅಗಸ್ತ್ ಫೌಂಡೇಶನ್ ದೇಶದ 21ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಬಾಹುಗಳನ್ನು ಚಾಚಿಕೊಂಡಿದೆ. ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನ್ವೇಷಣೆ,ನಾವಿನ್ಯತೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಾಧಾನ್ಯತೆ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ ಫೌಂಡೇಶನ್ ನನ್ನ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದು ನನ್ನ ಕನಸಿನ ಲೋಕ “ Maths World”. ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭ, ಸಮಯ ಒದಗಿ ಬಂತು. ಎರಡು ದಿನ ಕ್ಯಾಂಪಸ್ ಒಳಗೆ ಸುತ್ತಾಡಿದೆ. ನನಗೆ ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ ಕ್ಯಾಂಪಸ್ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಪರಿಚಯ ಮಾಡಿಸಿತು. ಅದೊಂದು ಸುಂದರ ತಾಣ. ಕಲಿಕೆಗೆ ವಯಸ್ಸು, ಜಾತಿ, ಧರ್ಮ, ಬಣ್ಣ ಇವ್ಯಾವುದೂ ಅಡ್ಡಿಯಾಗದು. ಕ್ಯಾಂಪಸ್ ಒಳಗೆ ನಾನು ಬಾಹ್ಯ ಜಗತ್ತನ್ನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಮರೆತಿದ್ದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಮಾತ್ರ ಕಣ್ಣ ಮುಂದೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬಗೆಯ ವೇದಿಕೆಗಳು. ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ ಫೌಂಡೇಶನ್ ಕ್ಯಾಂಪಸ್ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ, ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಗೊತ್ತಾಯಿತು ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಜನರು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಎಂದು. ನನ್ನನ ಆತ್ಮೀಯವಾಗಿ ನೋಡಿಕೊಂಡ Agastya Acharya Initiative ಟೀಮ್ ನವರಿಗೆ ತುಂಬು ಹೃದಯದ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು. Translation Two days in a Dream World I desired to visit the Agastya Campus near Kuppam for three years. I was thrilled when I got the invite from Agastya’s Teacher Development Team. I was doubly happy because Agastya Foundation, which is known for bringing innovations and new ideas in the field of education, recognized and appreciated my ‘Math World’ and extended the invitation, so I decided to go. Agastya campus took me to another world. It is a beautiful place where learning becomes joy, and caste, creed, age, and gender are no barriers. Every lab and every corner of the campus offered an opportunity to learn and think creatively. Spending two full days, I realized that not only is the campus beautiful, but also the people in Agastya are beautiful; they are honest and passionate.

Agastya Annual Report 2021–22 Here’s an excerpt from our Annual Report 2021–22 , showcasing our achievements in the previous year and the path lying ahead: The prolonged onslaught of the pandemic has called on us to become bolder and more creative with our programs. It has spurred us to develop innovative solutions so quality learning continues to remain accessible to students, including those isolated in remote villages. In 2021–22, we pushed harder to harness the power of technology to launch a spate of unique blended learning concepts and creative digital learning platforms. We focussed on empowering children isolated in lockdowns by facilitating self-study options at home. One of the key initiatives this year to place children at the centre of their learning has been the launch of the book ActiLearn 1.0. With more than eighty hands-on activities, the book aims to engage children and inspire their curiosity and creativity. ActiLearn has been released in Kannada, English, Telugu and Hindi and has reached two lakh plus people in more than ten states. We are collaborating with the governments of Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra and Haryana to distribute the book in respective state government schools. To take forward the concept of self-study amongst children, we introduced Parishodhana Kits and Home Lab Kits that children could use in their homes while attending online classes. This complemented their digital learning sessions, making it easier to understand complex concepts on their own. The Agastya pioneering spirit to find solutions during the challenging Covid times drove us to launch two digital platforms: the We-Learn app and MyAgastya.education website. These platforms promote self-learning and enable students to take their education into their own hands. They contain modules with easy-to-do activities and experiments connected to the NCERT syllabus. We also trained teachers in the effective use of these platforms. While we innovated with technology, we continued to expand the scope and reach of our current programs. We capitalised on the need of the hour to launch 28 pilot phygital (or blended) learning programs across our various initiatives, including Science Centres, Mobile Science Labs and Lab-on-a-Bike. Along with face-to-face sessions, our instructors also used digital platforms and applications to provide a rounded educational experience. We expanded our Kuppam Campus, the seat of Agastya’s innovation and operations, by adding two more buildings dedicated to specialised learning. The campus now boasts of an innovative biomimetic structure with four biology labs and an exclusive Aviation centre. We also started new outreach programs at the campus in the form of Eco-clubs in schools and Mana Nestham, a mobile school library. To enhance learning outcomes, we also augmented the syllabus in our current initiatives to include math, electronics and Covid-relevant content. Today, backed by innovation, we are driving education to new frontiers. We are inspired to not only create impact but ignite hope in the hearts of students. Together with our partners and supporters, we are taking confident and bold strides in the new normal, stepping towards a world where learning is possible without any boundaries and restrictions.

Did you know it was World Science Day for Peace and Development on November 10th? According to the United Nations , the day is celebrated to a. Strengthen public awareness of the role of science in peaceful and sustainable societies. b. Promote national and international solidarity for shared science between countries; c. Renew national and international commitment to the use of science for the benefit of societies; d. Draw attention to the challenges faced by science in raising support for the scientific endeavour. We at Agastya believe in the power of useful STEM education, and this is one of the reasons why. Science can change the way we live for the better, and access to such education can help children in far-flung places participate in the process. After all, these places are most adversely affected by the climate crisis, conflict and such. Agastya’s work helps them bring their voice to the table and improve the situation hands-on by ensuring they have the tools to engage in scientific debate. Sure, this is not done on an international level at a large scale, but ensuring STEM education is accessible in every corner of India helps reach the domestic pockets that have been underserved for decades. It helps every child gain the confidence and resources necessary to access better opportunities and raise the standard of living. And if the conditions improve little by little individually, the whole society is benefitted at large. Thus, we ensure that, along with science education, we do our bit to spread the spirit of community and innovation that can help ease living conditions. Our syllabus includes space for children to experiment, innovate, and come up with solutions for everyday problems. The result? Over the years, children have come up with multiple innovative models and projects that, to name a few: increase road safety, help with farming organically, reduce the usage of coal while providing alternative energy sources, make access to medical resources easier in rural and hard-to-reach areas, guide mental and physical well-being, and make learning easier with cheap to produce tools. These are just a few examples of the many ideas and prototypes witnessed at the Agastya Innovation Hub and the science and innovation fairs we’ve held across the country over the years. We are proud that our work has been helping cultivate the scientific spirit of future generations, helping them solve problems one sustainable solution at a time. Isn’t that what development is about?

Experiential Learning Humanity is constantly on the cusp of the next great invention. With this, a wide perspective of multidisciplinary learning has become extremely imperative. There has emerged a need to possess an evolved skill set to be able to live and work in the future world. In this fast-paced world, design thinking creates room for individuals to tap into their creativity and come up with innovative solutions for real-life problems. In an interview with Dr. Vinay Dabholkar, innovation expert and the president at Catalign Innovation Consulting, he stated that design thinking is an iterative process where one learns from doing things over and over again. When looking at design thinking, one must know that it’s a creative, problem-solving approach that is human-centered and aimed at solving daily life problems. This approach takes up to 5 steps to design ideas aimed at problem-solving. Learn to EMPATHIZE The first step- empathizing, makes individuals use this process to put themselves in the shoes of those who are facing the problem. It’s a means to identify the problem through a third person’s perspective and understand it better. The key is to make oneself invisible and make them comfortable enough to share their problems. DEFINE your problem. After creating a space to analyze, it’s time to recreate spaces of affirmation to acknowledge the problem. The multiple perspectives received in the previous stage need a proper term or clarification. Hence in the second stage, it becomes essential to DEFINE by building on the observations noted through empathizing. This helps in designing the challenge in order to look at the most suitable take on it. IDEATE towards solutions A proper definition and characterization of these problems lead to the third step- IDEATING. Brainstorming on a finite impression of the problem helps in coming up with multiple actionable ideas to solve it. This thinking process helps in channeling a meaningful idea which Is also the ultimate goal of the third step. Form a PROTOTYPE Then comes the formation of a feasible PROTOTYPE where the participants challenge the ideas. This helps one understand whether the solution found would be successful or not. The aim of this stage is to make cognizant decisions and keep in mind the whole purpose, integrity, and consequences. TEST your product The last stage is to TEST the prototype by giving it to the users. This also demands proper feedback from the users to enhance and improve either the experience or the product before promotion. According to Dr. Dabholkar, design thinking is a loop of finding and losing, unlike a linear problem-solving approach. It teaches a person to fail fast to learn faster as it’s a journey of failures and it’s impracticable to get everything right the very first time. It makes you more empathetic, and innovative as you proceed with your solution-finding journey. Agastya International Foundation started design thinking programs under the guidance of, Professor of Organizational Behavior at Standford University- Prof. Hayagreeva Rao. It has become a major part of Agatsya’s pedagogy, with several innovation-based programs, like Mobile innovation buses and innovation hubs and others, taking children through the process.