At C3STREAM Land, Karan who we know through the weekend Vipassana sit heard about our network issues and took the responsibility of clean up and setting up a 1Gb switch. As we are also a place of learning and growth, I took on the responsibility of managing the switch and router after the initial setup and Karan taught me how to manage and configure the switch and router.
Karan took the time to explain everything to me step-by-step on Sundays, from assigning IPs and splitting them to each port, to organizing the routing of the Ethernet cables and labeling them for easy reference. He patiently guided me through the process, ensuring that I understood each concept before moving on to the next.
I learned to assign IPs and split them to each port. I also organized the routing of the Ethernet cables and labeled them for easy reference. I also learned to check for updates and install them on the router. We soon had an issue where I needed to do this and I was able to get us up and running quickly.
I also learned that managing the network is not only about
technical skills and I communicated any issues or concerns with Karan and the
team, and the internet provider. I learned a lot about myself during this
process, including my ability to take action, communicate effectively, and work
collaboratively with others.
I was grateful for the opportunity to learn from Karan and acknowledge his patience, and I found that I enjoyed working on this project. Through this experience, I developed a greater understanding of network infrastructure and gained valuable skills in organization, planning and coordination that I will use in other areas of work in C3STREAM Land.
The International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) symposium is a major international conference that brings together mathematicians, mathematics educators, and researchers from around the world to discuss current issues and challenges in mathematics education. The symposium is held every four years and features a range of presentations, workshops, and discussions on topics such as mathematics curriculum development, teacher education, assessment, and the use of technology in mathematics teaching and learning. The ICMI symposium provides a forum for sharing ideas, research findings, and best practices in mathematics education, and plays an important role in shaping the future direction of mathematics education worldwide.
Pratap Ganesan, Saranya Bharathi, Muralidharan Aswathaman, and Vasantharaj Gandhi presented a poster presentation on how the Isai Ambalam School in India used cultural celebrations and festivals to promote universal values and environmental consciousness among its students. The research methodology employed the theoretical framework of interrupting disempowering ISMs (rigid and disempowering mindsets) and the wisdom profile that embodies universal values to address all ISMs simultaneously. The philosophy underlying the C3STREAM Land is based on the progressive and constructivist thinkers such as Bruner, Papert, and Sri Aurobindo, who emphasized self-knowledge and integral development. The interventions discussed in the poster include Aadi festival and garden, Maavoli, Christmas decoration and fair, and Pongal, which provided opportunities for students to learn about different topics, such as monsoons, environmentally conscious alternatives, and traditional games, and encouraged higher-order thinking skills. Overall, the poster emphasizes the importance of collective effort beyond silos of subject learning to promote universal values and create empowering narratives through festivals and celebrations.
One of the ways the teachers shifted the culture in their community was by addressing social issues that had previously been ignored. For example, they tackled the notion that only women should do kolam (a traditional Indian art form using rice flour), and encouraged the participation of men as well. This mixed-gender approach during the kolam event was a significant shift in the cultural norm.
As part of their project, the teachers organized a vegetable gardening competition to further encourage families to grow their own food. The winners of the competition were awarded a variety of vegetables, which could be used to make a nutritious dinner for their families. This initiative was highlighted in the symposium and received positive feedback from the audience.
During the symposium, participants were able to connect with the teachers and provide examples from their own experiences. This allowed for a meaningful exchange of ideas and strategies for addressing socio-ecological issues in different communities around the world.
Reflections from the authors
Attending the conference was a turning point for me as it boosted my confidence to speak about our work with children and helped me understand the significance of contributing to the world and the impact we create. I take pride in my personal growth as I was able to answer the audience’s questions without any assistance. The response was overwhelming, and I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with a diverse audience worldwide. Our approach to breaking down societal barriers and isms with children inspired many, and people expressed their interest in knowing more about our work. I am grateful for the support of Sanjeev Ranganathan, Saranya Bharathi, Muralidharan Aswathaman, and Vasantharaj Gandhi in making this happen. The team spirit and the commitment that you all contribute enriched our work with children and I will use it in my life.
I noticed that being part of this research paper and presenting it to a wider audience around the globe helped me realize the importance of the work we do here. Seeing people appreciate the paper this much indicates that we as a team are addressing the isms and doing things in an alternative method for the betterment of society.
I have learned that I presented well, but I still need more practice. I took extensive notes on Sri Aurobindo’s principles of true education, but only two minutes were allocated for me. As a result, I was only able to convey the essence of the Aadi Massam project and the garden. However, I noticed that I am able to summarize and convey my ideas effectively in a very short amount of time.
Overall, the teachers’ presentation at the international ICIM symposium was a success. They were able to share their innovative approach to shifting culture and addressing social issues, and their work was well received by the audience. The teachers’ dedication to their project and their willingness to try new approaches were admirable and inspiring, and they made a positive impact in their community.
The Let’s Talk Trash group in Auroville is a community of dedicated individuals committed to keeping their surroundings clean and sustainable. They have a routine of collecting waste every Sunday from different areas in and around Auroville. This week, they decided to come to Edyanchavady, and I enrolled the Shifuans, a group of of C3STREAM students, to join them. We met at the government school in Edyanchavady, and a few children from the school also came forward to lend a helping hand. The Let’s Talk Trash group provided proper gloves to each and every one of us, and we started collecting waste from the roadside and inside the school campus. They had different bags for paper, plastic bags, mixed waste, and glass bottles. It was amazing to see how everyone was so enthusiastic about cleaning the area and segregating the waste. After an hour of cleaning, we brought everything back to the school to load it onto the van. We washed our hands, and the Let’s Talk Trash group gave a short explanation of waste segregation and what happens when everything is put together. They explained that it is burned, and how that contributes to pollution and is not an environmentally friendly option. Burning plastic is a harmful practice that releases toxic chemicals into the air, which can cause various health problems. Polluting a pond can have severe consequences on the ecosystem and the living beings that depend on it. The pond is a vital part of the water cycle and serves as a habitat for many aquatic species. One of the major causes of pond pollution is human activity. Dumping waste, garbage, chemicals, washing clothes and other harmful substances into the pond can lead to a host of problems. The waste materials can cause an imbalance in the pond’s natural ecosystem, affecting the oxygen levels and the quality of water. This can lead to the death of aquatic plants and animals, making the pond unfit for other species to survive.
Through cleaning and waste segregation activities, the children learned about the impact of waste on the environment and the importance of preserving it. They also learned about the negative effects of pollution on living beings, including animals and humans. The children and Shifuans learned the importance of taking responsibility for their actions and the impact they have on the environment. They learned about the need to properly dispose of waste and reduce their environmental footprint. Participating in cleaning activities helped the children develop teamwork and collaboration skills. They learned to work together to achieve a common goal and appreciate the importance of each person’s contribution. The children also learned about the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment for their own health and safety. They learned about the proper use of protective equipment, such as gloves and masks, to protect themselves while cleaning. Overall, participating in cleaning and waste segregation activities helped the children develop a sense of responsibility and environmental awareness, while also building important life skills such as collaboration and problem-solving. These learning outcomes can help them become more conscious and responsible citizens of the world committed to preserving and protecting the environment. It was a great learning experience for everyone, especially the children. They realized the importance of keeping their surroundings clean and how to segregate waste properly. It was heartening to seehow everyone came together to make a difference in their community. We hope to continue to work with the Let’s Talk Trash group in the future to keep our community
Insights: ” It gave me a sense of purpose and inspired me to be more mindful of my plastic usage. It also gave me satisfaction knowing that I contributed to our environment”
This is the second post in the series of building more practical circuit applications that children can use in their daily life and show their friends and family. The first post was here, Cycle Safety light – C3STREAM Land Designs (auraauro.com)
The cycle safety light in the previous post relied on a 9-V battery which runs out or has to be recharged. Ashwin, a friend of Ajay (who built the previous application) decided to go one better than his friend and get rid of the battery altogether. To this end, he relied on a DC motor to generate the power to light up an LED.
The fact that a DC motor when mechanically rotated generates a voltage was known to the kids. They took advantage of this fact to use the rotation of the bicycle wheel on a vertical axis to rotate a DC motor on a horizontal axis. See the pictures to see how he accomplished this. He fixed a wheel of the required diameter to the DC motor axle. The diameter is such that it touches the bicycle wheel at a single point along both their circumferences. Thus, when the bicycle wheel rotates, it rotates the DC motor as well. Pretty ingenious isn’t it? God, these kids are creative.
Take a look at the pictures and the video which is the final demonstration. Pratap and I helped the kids a bit, mostly with materials and some muscle with lifting the bike, rotating the wheel, and holding the torch lights. But this was the kids’ brainchild through and through. He and I were just the laborer and the quartermaster. I think what we have here is a local and practical implementation of what the government is trying to achieve via the Atal Tinkering Labs.
At the end of the day, my heart was filled with bursting. There is so much joy in these things. Why did it take me so long to discover this sort of Joy?
As part of the Becoming and Being a Shifu program we have time put aside for reading books. I read the One Straw Revolution. After reading the book, the first thing that I noticed is how I can think differently about problems. When I start to think differently, I can see a lot of options, and I can go with the best one which is helpful to all. The other insight is the gap between thought and action is the most important to fill. Implementing an idea may be difficult, but one man’s effort can become revolution among all the people. Implementation: I have already done farming, but in the normal way that people use today with chemicals and fertilizers. But now I would like to do
farming in a very natural way as practiced by Masanobu Fukuoka in
one straw revolution after completing the Becoming and Being a Shifu program.
Book reading:
Book reading improves my communication skills and also helps me understand new ideas and their meaning of the context and comprehend any passage that I read or hear.
Looking at the last year being part of C3STREAM Land Designs (C3SLD). I started taking responsibility for my growth and the team’s growth. I have inquired into the congruence of my values with what I am doing at C3STREAM Land Designs. Being on time is my choice and a way for me to embody my commitment and dedication to work. I find that it sets behavioral standards and workplace values are aligned with my values. Even though we meet at 8:00 a.m. for meditation (and 7:45 a.m. for learning sessions) I inspire myself to come in around 7 to 7:15 a.m. to work to strengthen my resolve to be reliable and trustworthy. Consistently coming early to work and if needed staying late from the office helps me ensure that I meet important deadlines. Coming early, I have enough time and energy to accomplish my daily tasks eg: taking a class in Isai Ambalam, and doing admin stuff for the office early in the day, which allows me to work in VLSI layout work for Aura the company that supports me to C3STREAM Land Designs.
Coming early gives me enough time and energy to accomplish my independent tasks before tasks requiring engagement with the team need to be done. It helps me meet deadlines without rushing through tasks and plan with the larger picture of my personal development in mind.
Last year when I started coming early it helped me improve my work relationships and teamwork. It showed respect for others and that I valued their time when we met together. Consistently being on time required me to develop my time-management skills, as scheduling my morning arrival on time for work often involves planning and scheduling things at home with my wife and child. I also extend being on time in the morning to all tasks and activities and I see these are valuable in my continuous growth and my career. For example, the early morning also gives me time to reflect, and beyond technical work helped me accomplish publishing an article and posting and documenting 25 blogs this year.
These are my contributions in the last year growing in all aspects. I started to take initiative to organize planning and reflections on school work. I also created a Signal group to support this initiative. The notes are not only reflective of the teacher but also allowed Sanjeev to be able to provide feedback and make videos that supported the learning of teachers. When I saw Vahan cube was missing in STEM land, I laminated 3 sets for STEM land. Mathew from AVI-USA wanted to document good initiatives in Auroville and asked to make a video on C3SLD and STEM Land. This involved all the initiatives of C3SLD be it volunteering in different schools or our partnership with corporates that supports and sustain us. Serina from Aurore Eye Films, Auroville made the video and I helped her capture all our initiatives. I went to the conference in Aurovidhya where we did an RTL (Radical Transformational Leadership) session and an electronics session for the teachers. I organized the sleepovers at Isai Ambalam and did many projects with children which I documented in blogs and be in integrity as creating a new narrative for learning is one of our ground rules. The projects we did were EBD school ground, LED sessions with 6th grade, Rashi project, and school ground. I was accountable for handling the website and I posted all the blogs that I received from everyone in the office. I made some changes to the website so that the lessons that the teachers created can be accessed by everyone. I also provided technical support to the Isai Ambalam school when the internet was not working, I debugged it.
For the Shifuians, I took RTL tools and processed TED talks. I see a change in myself as I was uncomfortable while doing this but I understood that it is for my growth. I also worked on the accountability of the office space be it by installing an air conditioner or following up for faster internet. This year I published an article in the teachers plus magazine. I see that I broke my pattern of not publishing anything to something. While I don’t have the authority to ask others to do something as it creates resistance between me and others, but I see that I am the change I wish to see. I use RTL and Vippasana which help me to overcome and move forward and work from my fullest potential.
This year I was training and supporting Santhosh, Choudhary, Elam, and Narmada to do the floor plan layout. For Aura, I worked to deliver 4 products. I held integrity to deliver the layout projects that I worked on time. I am happy being part of C3SL where I am growing in inner capacity, competency, and skill. I feel grateful for being part of building the ground in Isai Ambalam which is used by so many children and publishing an article. I am grateful for posting 25 blogs in the last year and organizing events like Karthigai and Christmas celebrations. I am grateful that I am confident and learned to work on real projects and I delivered what I intended and was able to work independently. Looking at the last year I learned to be more responsible and make hard choices based on what I want to accomplish and grateful for whatever I delivered. I learned that I should not do things so that people appreciate them but so it benefits others’ growth. I also feel grateful to be part of the RTL book reading club which helps me have the clarity to deliver sessions on RTL. I feel grateful for being able to support sleepovers for one year and that I learned how to write blogs as new narratives. I am grateful that last year Aura recognized our contributions and enrolled us in shares and I was recognized as a senior person at work based on experience and contributions.
What I learned about myself is how can I inspire myself in all the things that I do. I learned that I need to take only the positive things from other and ignore negative things from other. I learned that I need to hold integrity so that others get inspired by me. Practicing RTL and triad every week give a reflection on my accomplishments. Practicing Vipassana helps me to see things as they are and to work effectively, and efficiently with delivering outputs. When I am overloaded, I do meditation and then start my work. I am delivering what I plan to deliver and holding integrity.
This year I can see my growth in all aspects. The days in the last year were busy where deadlines had to meet or something completed urgently while working during tape out. These days were stressful to the point where there were times, I did have to stay back to get the work done. This in some ways reminded me a lot of my late-night study sessions at college and how even in the workplace, this does not change. As I reflect I see that I ended up learning a lot more than I thought I would be able to in the last year.
Vasanth Reflection:
My name is Vasantharaj, I stand for equity and full potential for myself and for others. When I reflect back on the last year I am able to see my growth in both technical aspects and inner being. Our office C3SLD started a new initiative of subsidizing new e-cycles for employees this year. I had been using the e-cycles and wanted to transition to a regular cycle. Many people suggested that it won’t suit me. But, I made the choice and used the subsidy for a better geared cycle. I have been continuously using the cycle for a year now. It has been
excellent for my health and my determination to not take the convenient way out. Now it has become my habit, I avoid using motor bikes and like to use the cycle.
From a technical perspective I worked on layout for about 8 months this year
delivering 4 products\.I learnt skill programming and did the setup of one of the project bindkeys. Viren invited us to visit Bangalore Aura for one and half month of training. It was a good opportunity for me to improve speed in layout and while we were there I also learned about micro component soldering. In October, I made a choice with the help of Sanjeev and Sanjay to move to the Verification team of analog modeling. It provided new dimensions of
earning in different aspects. I started to look into some details of the circuits, model them using verilog modules and look at mixed mode simulation. I started documenting my learning process in the verification team that will be useful for upcoming team members I supported Choudary and other people in the Shifu program learn layout skills and work at their full potential. This became new learning for me and also it refreshed some layout concepts.
I started my journey as a PC in the RTL workshop. It provided me to explore the tool deeper and give chances to deliver it, and get feedback from others. I started supporting 2 children in the SAC program. That feeling is my greatest initiative this year. This year I worked with children on a Monsoon project, garden EBD and electronics.
7th in Udavi children were learning ratios. We used a crank fan and used a spur gear system (in the pictures) to spin the blades around and make a breeze. The faster the fan turns, the stronger the breeze. Using a big gear to turn a small gear makes it easier to turn the blades quickly. For one full turn of the big gear, the small gear spins around many times. How many times it spins depends on the number of teeth both gears have (gear ratio). The spur gears turn the blades much faster than if you turned the blades directly with a crank. Using this crank fan, we showed 1:1 ratio up to 1:5. Showing it visually gave children the confidence to understand the ratio concept.
We gave the students another gear pair as an example for further examination: If the 75-tooth driver gear rotates 3 times, how many times will a 15-tooth driven gear rotate? What if the 75-tooth driver gear rotates 5 times? By focusing on the relationship between the gears. In this case, the 15-tooth gear rotates 5 times for every rotation of the 75-tooth gear. This is true regardless of the number of times the 75-tooth gear rotates. This brought us closer to the gear ratio of a 75-tooth driver gear and a 15-tooth driven gear and what they do in class as the gear ratio is 1:5.
Children understood that.
A colon is often used to show a gear ratio:
gear ratio = rotations of a driver gear: rotations of a driven gear.
Children when seeing it visually it gives confident to build different numbers to find the ratio. The session was interesting for the children. Children sheared their learnings to each other and started working in peers.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of the industry in India, partnering with industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes. CII Puducherry Innovation Contest organized in partnership with Atal Incubation Centre, Pondicherry Engineering College Foundation is an ideal platform for the Students and Startupreneurs of Puducherry to showcase their innovative ideas, proof of concept, and prototypes. The event is structured through a 3-stage process that involves application shortlisting, online presentations, and a Pitch round. Boot camps, personal mentoring by Industrialists, and guidance by AIC are the salient features of the contest. Winners of the contest will get an opportunity to take their ideas to next level in the Atal Incubation Centre, PECF, and an opportunity to avail of seed funding.
The energetic youths of STEMland Vikinesh. R, Mugilan.M, and Punithavel.M from the Acharya College of Engineering and technology as the team participated in CII Puducherry Innovation Contest 2022 and presented their project “SALTWATER LAMP” and got selected for the finals of the Pitch round. They worked on this project to address the problems encountered by the fishermen and the public during disasters.
From left, Vikinesh. R, Mugilan.M, and Punithavel.M.
First, they conducted a survey to formulate the objective and worked on a solution – saltwater lamps. They used the STEMland tinkering lab to develop this project. This project paved the way to help fishermen during the night-time, deep sea fishing, and the public during disasters. The project employed salt water to produce electricity through which the lamp glows. The team presented the project to the C3streamland team to have a final rehearsal before presenting in the contest and took feedback for growth.
The project set out to be a benchmark and inspired many rural youths to use the STEMland tinkering lab for developing projects.
This project is about using a photoresistor along with an Arduino Uno board to determine the brightness of a room which is bright or average light or dark. A photoresistor which is also called an LDR (LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR) and two LEDs and Breadboard and a 1 k ohm Resistor and 2 resistors for the LEDs which range from 100 ohms to 220 ohms are used. The jumper wires are used to connect Arduino digital pins to the breadboard. The output is displayed through the LEDs and Serial Monitor.
WIRING: The photoresistor is wired into analog pin 0 and a 5V on the right side of the breadboard. It runs through a grounded 1K ohm resistor. An LED on the opposite side of the breadboard into digital pin 13 and grounded a 220-ohm resistor slightly to the right of the first LED, a wired LED of a different color is employed, just with a different digital pin.
Photoresistor working principle:
A photocell or photoresistor is a sensor that changes its resistance when light shines on it. The resistance generated varies depending on the light striking the surface. High intensity of light incident on the surface will cause a lower resistance, whereas a lower intensity of light will cause higher resistance.
WORKING: If the photoresistor reads a value above 450 ohms, it prints “It is quite light!” on the serial monitor and turns all LEDs off. If it reads a value between 230 ohms and 450 ohms, it prints “It is average light!” on the serial monitor and turns on the left LED. This only leaves us with values below 230 ohms to account for. If a value is below 230 ohms, it prints “It is quite dark!” on the serial monitor and turns on both LEDs.
Components setup:
Applications:
The ambient light sensor is used to control the backlight of LCD-based applications to control the display brightness of mobile for reducing battery life. The applications of this sensor range from consumer electronics to automotive. This is the main benefit of mobile applications.
These devices are used to replicate the sensitivity arc of the person’s eye, allowing mobile displays and the levels of its brightness to be attuned more accurately. These sensors are used in automotive applications like headlight control & cockpit dimming.
The main feature of this sensor is an automatic alteration to save power & to increase the LCD screen’s life in handy display devices. Additionally, these sensors control the backlighting based on the program set by the maker.
This sensor is also used in indoor as well as outdoor lighting for turning on/off which includes street lighting and electronic signals.
