Atal Innovation Mission

Shaheed Rajpal DAV Public school, Dayanand Vihar has a rich legacy of 40 years in the field of providing excellence in education. Nurturing scientific temper, spirit of enquiry and innovation has been pivotal to the educational program of the school. The STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Mathematics) education program has strengthened the learning base and our school has received recognition from various government and non-government organizations. The school is a Microsoft school and has also received the IDS (International Dimension in School form) recognition from the British Council. The Atal Tinkering Lab was set in the school in the year 2018. Today ATL has expanded its goal of nurturing innovation amongst community members and CWSN. Community based STEM learning through the vigorous ATL activities designed by the teachers and students aims at empowering the children from the less privileged strata with the power of technology. The school’s Robotics team represented India at VEX Robotics Competition held in the USA (2015) and qualified the national level robotics championship to participate in the IRC League in Russia (2019). A team of 150 teachers work collaboratively to help pupils realize their full potential and achieve institutional goals through child centric approaches to learning. Music, Art, theatre, Life Skill education form the core of the co-curricular program. Our students are successfully achieving their career goals in the field of Medicine, Economics, Humanities, and Law. One of teachers from our school have been proud recipients of the National ICT Awards to teachers by Ministry of Education. She received this commendation for revitalizing the school education and curriculum with successful integration of IT and innovative practices. Our teachers are a resource person for the CBSE conducted workshops on Cyber Security, digital Learning and Management, new teaching learning pedagogies etc.

To commemorate the ATL Community Day this year, a 5-day activity plan with 9 meticulously designed sessions was executed.

•Session 1.1 was held on 11.04.22 with students of Government Primary School, Bironkhal, Uttarakhand in online mode. Objective: to help students learn that energy is never destroyed. It is converted from one form to another and is ultimately conserved. SDG Goal Covered: Reducing inequalities Goal 10,13, 4

• Session 1.2 The session was conducted on 11.04.22 in online mode with students of Manav gurukul Aashram. Objective: to help students learn how to implement Augmented Reality in creating immersive educational experiences. SDG Goals: Goal no 4, 10

• Session 2.1 was held on 12.04.22 with students of Government Primary School, Bironkhal, Uttarakhand in online mode. Objective: to learn that triangular bridges like the Truss bridge offer the highest strength. SDG Goals: Goal 4,9

• Session 2.2 was held on 12.04.22 with 4 schools belonging to Hubs of Learning (schools for the lesser privileged) in offline mode. Objective: to introduce students to the principals of refraction, density and concept of Electrostatics through hands on Training. SDG Goal: Goal 4

• Session 3.1 was held on 13.04.22 with students of Government Primary School, Bironkhal, Uttarakhand in online mode. Objective: to encourage students to further their newly acquired knowledge through an exhibition of their creations learned in the previous sessions. SDG Goals: Goal 4,9 ,17

• Session 3.2 was held on 13.04.22 with students of Sarvodaya Kanaya Vidyalaya, Jhilmil Colony in offline mode. Objective: to break the gender Stereotypes vis-a- vis subjects of study and choice of professions. SDG Goal: Goal 5.

• Session 3.3 was held on 13.04.22 with students of Sarvodaya Kanaya Vidyalaya in offline mode. They created an Augmented Reality device. Objective: to introduce girls to STEM thus addressing gender divide. SDG Goal: Goal 4,5,

• Session 4.1 was held on 16.04.22 with students of Banshgari 1, Government Primary school, Bhairab, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh in online mode. Objective: to help students learn how to implement Augmented Reality in creating immersive educational experiences using the ARLoopa app. SDG Goals: Goal 9 , 4, 17

• Session 5.1 was held on 22.04.22 with students from Primary School, Balatonboglar, Hungary, Europe in online mode. Objective: to create a scientific temper and cultivate the spirit of curiosity and innovation among young minds. SDG Goals: Goal 9, 4, 17

The threefold aim of the celebrating the spirit of innovation plan was- to reach out to the students from the less privileged strata of the society, break the geographical boundaries and reach the remote areas of Uttrakhand and connect internationally (Hungary and Bangladesh). The sessions were designed keeping in view the NEP 2020. The focus was on developing the computational thinking, cognitive and creative skills of the students. Also, some of the activities especially the ones with the rural areas were designed keeping in mind the pre-vocational skills of students. In addition to the above, the UNs Sustainable Development Goals were embedded into each activity that was conducted. The Impact Overview- Total number of students: 150, Total number of countries: 03, Total number of continents: 02, Total number of students from host school (peer mentor): 50, Total number of students from our city (Delhi): 50, Total number of students from Bironkhal, Uttarakhand: 30, Total number of students from: • Hungary: 10 • Bangladesh: 10

The ATL Community Day celebrations were marked by the activities to give unique learning experience. It was a platform for them to investigate, experiment, analyze and implement. The sessions focused on the following:

Immersive Technology- The students made a model of a merge-cube. They could unravel the mysteries of life (anatomy) through 3D models using the cube and the app.

Augmented Reality – Through Arloopa App they had hands on experience of Augmented Reality. They could learn to make educational experiences using the provided models in this free, easy to use app and bring digital objects to the physical world.

Addressing real world problems- Truss Bridge model was made by students Bironkhal, Uttarakhand. This was a solution for the problem faced by many in their villages. It was a lesson in pre-vocational skills as well.

Basic principles of Science- Students made a model of a plane based on the principles of Aerodynamics. This session was for girls, and it helped to break the stigma of gender stereotype.

Experiential Learning- The students experienced principles of Physics through hands-on activities. The students could actually feel the effects of refraction, density and electrostatics and they were able to understand the concepts of science in a fun filled manner. This will definitely be retained by the students for a very long time.

Taught to taught approaches engaged learners to collaborate for creating new learning experience.

The Takeaways It was a great experience for the students as well as the mentors. Knowledge sharing paves way for creating new knowledge. The key takeaways of the celebration were: It was a joyful experience of science and technology. The successful collaboration with the Bironkhal Primary School in Bironkhal, Uttrakhand reaffirmed our faith in our abilities that geographical boundaries can’t stop learning. Reaching out to the remotest corners gave us a vision for our future. Gender Gap in education can be best bridged by creating more and more opportunities for the girl students. The thirst for knowledge is best quenched by thirst for more knowledge. It was reflected amongst the interactive sessions with the young girl students who were amazed to make their own ‘planes’ that flew. The learners experienced the value of the 4 Cs of 21st Century education that are Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity. The four C’s manifested in the working models of merge cube, pull back car, truss bridge and the plane. The emerging growth mindset with forward thinking, innovative ideas and skills was witnessed. And, it is the need of the hour to nurture such mindset with many such activities. Learning with the different members of the communities made the students of our school realize that one should be grateful for the facilities and resources available to us for comfortable learning environment. It was a lesson in gratitude. From here on, the teachers and students have initiated a new project on the values of gratitude and empathy to connect and collaborate for happy classrooms with the counterparts from the less privileged strata of our community.

SHAHEED RAJPAL DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL
NEW DELHI