Author: Poovizhi

~ Sanjay

I have previously talked about morning meetings and the role they play at C3SLD. There are two other activities that are common to C3SLDers. One is the RTL workshops that comprises Levels 1 and 2, SDGs and PC Training. The other is 10-Day Vipassana courses. Youth at C3SLD are all required to attend at least one 10-day course with subsequent 10-day courses being optional (though highly encouraged) based on the individual’s own perspective, needs and observations.

Sanjeev sets an example by attending one 10-day course every year. And it is now almost a cliché` that every time, he returns from one such course, he is bursting with ideas and insights on how C3SLD can do more and do it better. One such idea was that for one week (which turned into two weeks after the week was up), we would replace the usual routine of morning meetings with Vipassana for the entire week. This was the schedule for the 2 weeks

Monday – Friday

1. First 5-10 minutes: Short discussion on some Pali terms, some detail regarding the technique, posture, intentional breathing, review of the insights from discourses of the previous day, etc
2. First 30 minutes: Anapana/Vipassana
3. Next 30 minutes: GoenkaJi’s discourses
4. Last 5-10 minutes: Video of one of the old students at the conclusion of a 10-day course regarding why they keep coming back for more 10-day courses

Saturday: Half day Vipassana course from 8:00 AM – 12:45 PM with a 20-30 minute break for breakfast

Here I will share my own perspectives about this break of routine. Generally, I sit daily for an hour at the very least. The first hour is a breeze while I really struggle to make the next hour. We can say that Monday to Saturday, I manage about an hour and 20-30 minutes on average and with the 4 hours on Sunday, I am able to average a little less than 2 hours/day over a period of a week. 

However, these two weeks, because there was Vipassana every morning, meditating 2 hours a day was a breeze. The one hour I was able to sit by myself with ease and the next hour with the youth at C3SLD. Group meditation is always easier than sitting individually and being able to sit with the group really made 2 hours/day very easy. So, since I was able to sit 2 hours each day for the entire week, and with the two half day courses, it amounted to an average of a little more than 2.5 hours per week.

What changes did I see in myself during this week? Here were all the mundane benefits/changes I saw these two weeks

1. I usually struggle to exercise, however, this week, I was able to exercise every day for atleast an hour, either resistance training, or stretching, or Asanas or light movements and even some sports.
2. Much enhanced concentration and efficiency when working
3. Sometimes I joke (it may not be a joke) that I really moved to C3SLD because it would prevent me from whiling away my life in net surfing. This is something I still struggle with, though a lot less than 3 years back. However, this week, it was much diminished. I just did not feel like surfing the net at all. It felt much more fitting to take a walk, breathe the fresh air, stare at the trees or enjoy the scenery.
4. I also had several insights about how I can live a healthier life. I will have a post on this after 6 weeks if these insights really help me.
5. Much less getting carried away by my background conversations during walks or down time. I was able to detach from my background conversations, just allowing them to play themselves out without getting involved in them
6. Able to wake up every single day before the crack of dawn, and wake up feeling refreshed. Sleep time was diminished from an average of 7 hrs/day to 5.5 hrs/day, a gain of 1.5 hours every day just from sleep.
7. Was exquisitely and deliciously tired around 9:00 PM everyday. Body was tired but mind was fresh.

             All in all, a wonderful two weeks. Something I will remember years from now. I wish this could continue, but as an organization, we have a multi-disciplinary approach to personal development and personal growth such as book reading, RTL sessions and Learning sessions which we cannot neglect or ignore or reduce. Therefore, I feel very grateful for these two weeks. I feel very grateful that they happened and I feel very grateful for whatever caused Sanjeev to do this.

            I cannot wait for Sanjeev’s insights and changes he brings about when he returns from his 20-day Vipassana course.

~ Sanjay Tumati

At C3SLD, we start of the day by meeting together for approximately an hour every day Monday to Saturday. Much like an morning assembly they have the effect of keeping the group together. C3SLD is now a medium sized org with about 30 people spread over teams à Embedded Software, Drivers, Layout, Layout automation, Verification, Absolute and Mathegramming. With these many people, it is very easy to get into a silos and for members of one group to become isolated from those in other groups. Over time, an us Vs them mentality can also develop as seen in large organizations.

The morning meetings are a reminder as to what is common between all of us, why we are all in one team, what is our purpose as an organization, what is our purpose as individuals, how our purpose as individuals is aligned with our purpose as an organization among many other things. It is very well known that people come together over shared activities even more than over shared beliefs. The morning meetings are our shared activities and it is part of the glue that keeps us together as a team.

While keeping the team cohesive and connected is an important function of the morning meetings, it would be a tragedy if it was limited to that. After all, morning meetings could just have everyone playing board games and that would be enough to keep the group connected, however superficially. It would be better to utilize that time in a way that is wholesome, benefits the individual as well as the organization and also forms deeper connections between participants. It is my belief that the morning meetings at C3SLD do just that.  Here is our schedule during morning meetings

1. Monday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM à Vipassana and Metta
2. Tuesday
   1. 7:45 AM – 7:55 AM: Anapana
   1. 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Learning sessions, either technical or non technical. A sample of topics covered are TED talks, Unix OS, VI editor, Verilog programming, Mathematics, teaching effectively, Financial literacy, Social service etc
3. Wednesday
   1. 7:45AM – 7:55AM : Anapana
   1. 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Radical Transformation leadership (RTL) sessions choosing selected topics from the RTL workshop
4.  Thursday
   1. 7:45 AM – 7:55 AM: Anapana
   1. 8:00 AM- 9:00 AM: Book reading, currently RTL by Monica Sharma, Formerly Altered traits by
5. Friday: 7:50 – 8:00 AM, Anapana, Layout team meeting with Aura and Software team, Mathegramming code reviews
6. Saturday
   1. 8:00 AM – 8:10 AM : Anapana
   1. 8:10 AM – 9:00 AM: Weekly reflections
7. Sunday (Optional): 8:00 AM -12 Noon à Half Day Vipassana course to serve old meditators in the greater Auroville and Pondicherry area. All Shifuians and 2-3 C3SLD youth attend every week.

My own perspective on these morning meetings is that it is a good start to the day, a positive start to the day. I always enjoy and look forward to hearing Sanjeev speak during these meetings and his perspectives give my mind nutritious food for thought. The 10 minute Anapana focuses the mind and the rest of the sessions reminds us as to why we are doing what we are doing. C3SLD is a growing organization comprised of individuals who have made a commitment to their own growth and the growth of others. The role played by morning meetings in this growth is not little.

~ Poovizhi

Reporting period: 2023-24

This form is for reporting on the activities of a SAIIER Sub-unit over the last financial year. Please use as much space as you need for the report.

Please submit this report to SAIIER by April 30, 2024. For any questions or clarifications, please write to saiier@auroville.org.in.

1. Name of sub-unit: STEM Land (formerly Aura Auro Design)

2. Sub-unit executives: Sanjeev Ranganathan, Muralidharan, Vasanthraj

3. Report writer: Poovizhi.P

4. Introduction:

A few sentences. Why does the sub-unit exist, what are its aims? Were there any special goals this year?

STEM Land is a learning organization providing resources for anyone willing to learn in the fields of Science, Technology, Mathematics, Technology and English. The aim of the organization is to develop responsibility, equality and courage to create.

This year we started Mathegramming Academy to standardize the process of codifying STEM land. Worked with multiple schools Vasavi and government schools in the bio region. Conducted Hackathon event. Created Just In Time website to support teachers with math resources. We initiated Math intuition classes for children in the evenings where they discovered new patterns and logic and not just focus on answers. The team participated in the Inetegral Education workshop conducted in Auroville. We have partnership and collaborated with multiple schools.

We continued to support leadership working and training through being practitioner coaches for RTL (Radical Transformational Leadership) program to support individual and collective growth in Auroville and beyond.

5. Enrollment/beneficiaries:

For schools: number of students in each grade.

For other sub-units: who were the beneficiaries and how many people participated?

We work intensively with Isai Ambalam School and Udavi school

Around 10 youth have enrolled for BNB Shifu program which started in 2021.

We generally work with around 400 children across the schools either though our own Centers or supporting centers at Thamarai, Vasavi, Government schools in bioregion.

15 students have enrolled for B.Voc programme

87 students participated in the Mathegramming Hackathon tournament.

6. Activities of the year:

In general and/or highlights. Who, what, when…

Mathegramming Academy:

Mathegramming Academy aims to build Responsibility and Rigor in children and generate Results through Online mentoring of Mathematics through projects in programming, electronics, and through leadership in action. It is a unique blend of visual mathematics and programming. This approach not only makes mathematics more engaging but also helps students internalize abstract concepts by visualizing them through code. It also allows children to share something concrete with their peers adding a sense of responsibility to their learning, enhancing problem solving skills, and gives confidence and a sense of accomplishment. The team works towards the following shifts:

1. Mediocracy to excellence
2. From rote learning of concepts to looking at visualization of the concepts and encouraging critical thinking.
3. From Disempowering isms like classism, groupism, and genderism to a creative space.

They also conducted sessions for STEM land teachers on Geogebra that would step up their ability to interact and engage with children.

Hackathon tournament:

The Mathegramming team organized Hackathon tournament to foster creativity and learning. 94 students from 6th to 9th grade enrolled in this tournament from different schools in and around Auroville. On the day of the event, 87 students came. In addition, many youth and children who had been exposed to STEM land in the past including our B.Voc students volunteered as mentors to support each team. The session started by the enquiry of sourcing our inner capacities followed by introduction to the modules created by the Mathegramming academy which could make children code faster. We invited Judges from various organizations- Lopa from Ashram, Sanjay, Pratap, Vasanthraj, and Duraiswamy from C3StreamLand Designs, ShankarDevi from Thalam, Julian from Vaasavi International School, Arun from Aura semiconductor, Bridget from Thamarai, Bharani from AIAT and Chitralekha from Pondicherry University. It was enriching to see that we had reached out to so many children/youth in the past who were enthusiastic to support others learn. There was an equal mix of boys and girls at the hackathon and they all worked with each other harmoniously. The tournament showcased the values of equality, responsibility, and the courage to create. It demonstrated the transition from individual to group learning, with strong communication between mentors and mentees. The exchange of ideas between different age groups was a testament to the Academy’s commitment to holistic learning. It was heartening to see the breaking of barriers and the shift from silos thinking to interdependence.

Hackathon workshop on Electronics:

The Mathegramming team wanted Children to connect electronics to the world around them and they will relate Electronics to the Mathematics they have been learning. was set up to encourage creativity and learning at every stage. We conducted the workshop for around 40 children and the children were from different schools. Our team mixed the children from different schools. So that children got different perspectives, encouraging working together, increased their communicative skills. We introduced concepts such as batteries, resistors, LEDs, variable resistors, capacitors, and their symbols, enabling students to draw circuit diagrams. We also demonstrated how the sensor (LDR) works, and students provided different perspectives on how to incorporate LDRs into their circuits. We explained capacitors as being like buckets, where the battery acts as a reservoir of charge. Students learned that capacitors with higher capacity can hold more charge. They observed the capacitor’s functionality by charging it using the battery and discharging it through the LED. Children were also given some challenges on which worked in teams.

Partnering and collaborating with multiple schools:

1. Vaasavi International School

Mathegramming Academy and Vaasavi International School have partnered to enhance math learning for students. The partnership focused on using technology to create more engaging and interactive math lessons. Our learning modules synthesize the technical development of a teacher along with developing competence and supporting inner capacity with RTL (Radical Transformational Leadership) tools. This is because skill in itself is insufficient to create meaningful and sustainable change in society.

Vaasavi International School is a private CBSE school in Puducherry that offers a holistic education. The school has been selected to be a model school in Pondicherry for implementing NEP and this is where we are supporting them. For Mathegramming Academy reached out to 160 children in 7^th grade. Vaasavi International School will be able to offer its students more engaging and interactive math lessons. The partnership is a significant step forward for both Mathegramming Academy and Vaasavi International School and a sign of their commitment to using technology to enhance math and science learning.

• Government schools located in Edayanchavadi and Bommayarpalayam

Mathegramming Academy organized sessions in government schools located in Edayanchavadi and Bommayarpalayam. These training sessions aimed to equip students with the tools and techniques needed to create engaging and impactful learning experiences. Mathegramming Academy’s teacher and children training sessions in Edayanchavadi and Bommayarpalayam illuminated a path toward a brighter future for education. As we celebrate this remarkable endeavor, we continue to champion innovative approaches in education especially for those who do not have access to it.

• Arulvazhi school

STEM land teachers had a session with Arulvazhi school students who came for the first time to STEM Land.

Students’ insights after the session at STEM land:

          “In the beginning, we felt that we were in a place that had technical materials that would be difficult to handle and learn. But we felt connected to the teachers here and they explained in such a way that it was so clear and easy.”

          “When I was doing robotics on my own and made it work, it was so encouraging for me. I am becoming more confident in myself.”

• Smart vacuum cleaner with a child from Study International school

A child from the 7th grade from Study international school has come to STEM Land for making a vacuum cleaner robot as part of her school project and she wanted to make it by her own with some guidance from STEM land. At the beginning her parents were told to buy the required components for the project then Shivashankar a member of Mathegramming Academy has volunteered to help that student in the project and were able complete it. The vacuum cleaner robot project clearly shows that learning can be fun and creative and also interactive. The girl and her family were also happy after completing the project it also created a space for co-creation and we hope her project will also inspire other children to make one on their own and we hope it will make a great impact on Mathegramming and also in children lives by adding values to learning and application of that learning in life.

Just In Time Website:

We created a website called Just In Time (JIT) teacher – that supports teachers on new ways of looking at concepts and projects and activities with it. It contains projects and videos based on specific mathematical topics that support teachers to teach and introduce mathematical concepts visually and logically. Users can search for topics or even by grade level.

Yoga :

At STEM land we embrace unending education and constant progress. Auroville brings many opportunities for this. For the commencement of the Auroville festival in 2024, the Yoga gathering happened at Matrimandir Amphitheater, Auroville, from Feb 22 to Feb 26. From STEMland, a few teachers attended the Yoga session along with students from Udavi and Isai Ambalam schools. There were also children from other schools.

Every Saturday, our group from STEM land, goes to the Matrimandir amphitheater for yoga with around 150 children. We had also experienced a special sound healing yoga session conducted by Mr. Balu, an executive from Mohanam, with guidance from Muthukumari and her team.

Radical Transformational Leadership:

We have a team building session where everyone comes together to look at their leadership ability – leadership means “my ability to create new future grounded on universal values”. These RTL sessions helps to look at oneself within deeper and reflect on it. We see RTL program as both personal transformation and a team building program.

RTL for B.VOC and family members:

C3stemland organized a radical transformation leadership program in Tamil at Auroville SAIIER conference hall. It was a one-day program in Tamil, facilitated by Srilatha Juva, Professor at TISS. B.VOC students and teachers, SAIIER staffs, employees, volunteers and their family members were invited for the program. The primary objective of the program was to help participants identify their stand, fear, four profiles and gain a deeper understanding of their background conversations, system principles, and design from universal values. By participating in these sessions, participants were able to develop a new project that addressed their problem statement, focusing on self-growth or social issues, and using their potential to bring about positive change in themselves and their communities. Around 55 people took part of the program.

Poster presentation at International Commission on Mathematical Instruction conference:

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.

Out team 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.

Session on Data Privacy for Udavi  School teachers:

C3streamland organized a session on Data privacy for the teachers of Udavi School and STEMland. Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan briefed on data privacy and some of the ways by which our personal data can be protected. As we teachers handle children, we must be aware of ourselves and educate children.

Sanjeev discussed the applications of Artificial intelligence and the intended and unintended consequences of technology. He also briefed on how to transcend it by self-awareness. The policies on data protection and the strong need to have data protection policies were also discussed. As a part of self-awareness, a few smart ways to have personal data protected by ourselves were discussed. Some of them are noticing our engagement with phones by turning on the digital well-being in the smartphones, turning off unwanted notifications, not just randomly accepting without even going through the privacy policies, cookies management, and software to protect passwords.

7. Outcomes:

What was created; how did participants benefit?

Mathegramming academy – Creates modules in Scratch to support children program faster and visualize mathematics. We were able to partner with Vaasavi school, collaborate with government schools in Edaiyanchavady and Bomayarpalayam and Arulvazhi school. Conduct tournaments and workshops for children to learn mathematics through programming and electronics while connecting with real life challenges from the space of their universal values.

At the same time codify STEM land and create Just In Time teacher support website.

8. Research highlights:

Please describe anything done in the last year which was especially research-oriented or innovative. What did you find out, and will you take it further?

Breaking Silos Through STREAM Education And Using The Wisdom Profile To Engage With Culture,  March 2023

We found out the importance of collective effort beyond silos of subject learning to promote universal values and create empowering narratives through festivals and celebrations.

9. Reflections:

What was most meaningful this year? What was challenging and what was learned?

Soundhariya:

When working with my team, I deliver my project at the correct time. But sometimes I am out of integrity. So, I want to fill the gaps with my universal values and plan my time before doing. While working with the team I felt creative thinking about different forms of support, generosity, and how to collaborate. It makes finding new ways to create positive changes in my project and life. When I was at my full potential, I noticed that I accomplished the things I planned to do. It also helped me to observe that when I work effectively, I can progress. It makes me find new ways to create positive changes in my project. When I work with my team, I feel creative thinking about various ways to support and collaborate. This helps me come up with new ideas for my project, and it makes learning programming easier. I noticed my integrity I felt happy and light but I am out of integrity I thought about how to narrow the gap with my universal values. Before starting a project, I try to understand how I can make it better. I talk to my team and listen to what they say. This helped me to make the project successful and also I learned how to acknowledge others with my universal values.

Premkumar:

My name is Premkumar I deeply care about courage and equality for myself and others. From the past one year I reflect on myself I learnt that I can also be part of children growth and I can help them to be at their full potential and as well as I also grow as an individual and it helps me to organize myself better. The most beautiful thing in working with children is that it is always interesting and something fresh so it always motivated me to be a better version of myself. I am grateful for the opportunities that I got to improve myself and help others to improve their lives as well.

Preethi:

            Before joining stem land, I never looked at whether I’m in integrity or out of integrity in what I’m doing. Now each day I’m reflecting whether I’m in integrity or not. And also, I’m speaking out when ever needed. I’ve learnt a lot about myself. One important insight is that challenges are opportunities to learn and grow my ability. When I face difficult in task, it pushes me to figure things out and become better at what I do. I’ve also realized the importance of feedback. Constructive feedback helps me see the areas where I can grow and do things better. And I’ve learnt that it’s good to keep learning new things. It’s not only helps me to grow my ability and also helps me to adapt to the new things. And also, I learnt that everyone will have some fear in their life. What more important is I have to be courage and work from my stand. Now a days even if I have fear, I’m working from my universal values. Instead of thinking about what will go wrong, I’m giving my best. I get to learn something new that I never learnt before. Even something I know; I learnt it again in different method. Whenever I learn new thing, I feel accomplished and I feel like it’s a stepping stone for me to grow. Last year I get to work lot with children, when I teach them math concept in different ways, I had been working patiently with them, trying different approaches to explain the idea. And when they understood the concept, it’s makes me happy and proud because it showed that the work, I do with children can make a big difference in their learning.

Dinesh:

            Noticing my gaps when things were not move forward by sourcing my universal values, I can narrow the gaps and I see the alignment when things move forward. Noticing when I am in integrity and out of integrity helps me to ask a clear committed request and with that I can give my committed request. In some cases, working as a team brought me solution quicker instead of overthinking by myself. Allocating time for myself helped me to improve my mental health. The Achievements and acknowledgement in the last year gave me confidence and to be motivated and helped me to be a better of myself in this year.

Ilakya:

            I learnt that mostly I do what I say, when I couldn’t do I fill the gap responsibly to the best I could. I noticed that there are many things that I learned here which I must have learned in the college and school, and it is not late to learn new things.

I noticed that when I accomplish something I feel good and I want to do more.

 From the above, I found that what kind of person I am in holding integrity. When I am out of integrity, it makes me to take action and fill the gap rather than feeling guilty about it. I am very grateful for the things I learnt after joining here. Though it is hard to accept that the way I learned everything is wrong and the inspiration that I got to continue my higher studies is actually nothing much. Now, I am moving forward with the things I learned and rather than blaming that I was taught wrong. I feel good to work on what I learnt.

Ajay:

            My name is Ajay, and I stand for love, happiness, and self-awareness for myself and others. I’ve been part of C3SLD for almost one and a half years, where everyone has opportunities to work with children and learn new things. I joined in 2022, participating in the Shifu program, which became a turning point in my life, surpassing the learning I gained during my four years of college. C3SLD provides a beautiful culture and environment where I collaborate with experienced individuals who have more experience than my age.

In the past year, I learned to hold my integrity, share my knowledge with others for the growth of myself and others, and support others during their unavailability. Practicing RTL has helped me perform at my best, notice myself where I can improve by using tools like feedback, integrity, etc. This practice guides me in addressing problems in much better ways.

Reflecting at the end of each week helps me to see my progress and what are all the gaps I need to fill in the upcoming week. These things encourage me to get more involved in activities and events, contributing to the organization.

Engaging in sports or going for a walk at the end of the day keeps me healthy, and I can see the difference compared to the previous year. I acknowledge Sanjeev Anna and seniors for their constant support towards everyone’s growth. I recognize the quality of care and progress I’ve witnessed, and I will apply these values in my life.

Arun:

            We are not individuals doing a single task. We work to support students in school and contribute to Aura’s multitasking. We also engage in spiritual growth, starting our day with meditation and participating in one hour of group sitting each week. During our morning meetings, we share our daily plans and any information that can be beneficial to our teammates. Learning sessions are included, along with reflection sessions based on the RTL Tool, which we practice every week.

Elamkathir:

I have had many opportunities to expand my knowledge, energy and skills as a part our organization that values learning, growth, work, and teaching. I have gained a deeper understanding of the values, as well as the importance of spiritual and personal development through participation in various activities and programs like RTL, Vipassana, and visiting Auroville communities, being a part of community life, IEPG,and PE training program. My learning experiences have led to a greater sense of purpose and direction, allowing me to approach my work with renewed energy and enthusiasm. I have also developed a stronger sense of community and shared my knowledge and experience with others, helping them to grow as well. Overall, my learning within this organization has been a transformative and rewarding experience, leading to personal growth and alignment with both the organization and the wider community. I am encouraged to keep learning and keep growing.

Jayabharathy:

C3SLD is a learning environment. When I first came in, I was very much worried about whether this would be the right place and what I am going to do here. As I started learning and doing things, this feeling of overwhelming completely went away. I have taken part in many programs organized here. This helped me to get connected with other people and work as a team. I came to know about RTL and Vipassana only after joining this organization. RTL has greatly helped me to understand who I am from inside and Vipassana has helped to control my emotions and be equanimous. I have also learnt a lot of technical stuffs over here with an open mind. Whenever I needed help, people over here supported me without judging me for not knowing something earlier. This increased my interest towards learning several things over the past year. On the whole, I feel I have joined in the right organization where I can grow as a person and also support others around me to grow.

Kugan:

My name is Kugan, and I stand for equality for myself and others. I have learned to uphold integrity in everything I do. In this organization, I have observed that I can learn, teach, work, and grow not only as an individual but also as a team member. We focus on innovating in mathematics concepts and material-based learning for children, as well as for ourselves. The environment is supportive of any initiative taken, providing feedback that helps me share what I learn with others during learning sessions.

I can handle multiple responsibilities as both an engineer and a teacher, which makes me more effective in my personal life as well. This environment supports me in leading a positive life by introducing and conducting various workshops, such as RTL, IE, etc.

Narmadha:

I am able to notice whether I am aligned with our values through creating blogs, and supporting teams. what I have learned is not only sticking with one domain should have diversity in learning for more exploration. This year I am able to focus on outcomes rather then output.

Santhosh:

This organization helped me to notice my actions and my purpose.  I notice gaps to fill, This organization helped me to be close to my purpose in life. I mingled with everyone in order to break group-ism and I Shuffled children into groups in order to break gender-ism also  I’m able to noticed my out of integrity and to change it with  being in integrity. I’m great full with the opportunities I have here to learn and grow as a team.  I published more blogs and started vlogs as a new initiative. I felt happy to participate in the all activities and programs, planning and term work came out very well and I learned how to solve mistakes without judging me

Sri Bhavani:

C3SL/SL gives me greater opportunity to see my growth through my learnings. This environment supported me to notice gaps in my actions and values, directed way to narrow that gap through the opportunities in different ways. I got opportunities to learn more about Integral education and interact with teachers from other Auroville schools and Auroville outreach schools.

 I started to respect others time when I work through integrity lens. It helped me to create healthy relationship with team members as well as in family. I am able to notice that when I am in integrity, I value others time and effort. When I am in integrity, I can see myself as whole and complete. It helped to narrow the gaps to make myself complete.

My effectiveness and efficiency are also depending on my interest and peaceful mindset. Apart from interest, I can also see my efficiency is depends on my rigor in doing things. When I feel accomplished in what am I doing, it improves my efficiency to achieve more in results. I am able to improve my efficiency through my achievements and accomplishments.

Also helped me to look back what I have done well and how can I do it differently in the upcoming opportunities.

Sundaresan:

Whenever I am in Integrity I feel accomplished. Integrity taught me importance of the time. A habit of integrity makes myself as more consistent person. Perseverance is most important thing to learn anything new. Sharing my learnings to others is helping to thinking about the concept more deeply. I learnt Whenever I see my full potential, I realise actually that is not my full potential, I have more than that.

Tamilarasan:

My name is TAMILARASAN. I stand for courage and compassion for myself and others. Being part of C3steamland makes me grateful, as the whole organization provides more opportunities to learn, grow, and teach. Here, children are getting more opportunities to learn with new technologies. As employees, we hold more responsibilities, which gives me more confidence to handle many things in social life as well.

Duraisamy:

My name is Duraisamy Pandurangan, and I am deeply care about dignity, wisdom, and freedom for both myself and others. Over the years, I have achieved meaningful milestones, particularly in supporting children’s education in electronics, microcontrollers, Python, machine learning, operating systems, and mathematics, integrating these concepts into their day-to-day lives. Through this effort, children have gained the ability to apply mathematical principles to real-time problems.

I have also contributed to the development of a new curriculum for B. Voc electronics in collaboration with AIAT, ensuring that these syllabuses align with industrial requirements to fulfill the needs of the students. Additionally, I have engaged in global interactions through RTL sessions, sharing new initiatives and problem statements with others. This collaborative approach has allowed me to articulate system shifts and cultural changes that I envision for the future, while providing technical solutions based on project statements.

Being an integral part of the STEM community, I actively contribute to the growth and development of youths and children. I eagerly anticipate new opportunities to extend this support to everyone.

Meganathan:

My name is Meganathan, and I deeply care about courage, love, and equality for myself and others. This year, I feel accomplished in moving forward with my growth to the next step and understanding real-time math problems. I worked with children to create materials for learning.

I see myself as part of the STEM landscape, supporting multiple people and children for their growth.

Muralidharan:

Last year I have been part of many things like handling finance, Mentoring shifuians and BVOC students, supporting kitchen related tasks, research paper, contributions for Au53xx, Au55xx, Au5328, Au56xx, Au5010, Au1901 and absolute project and RTL PC training and workshop organizing. Working and being with many new people helped me learn new skills from them and also teach them what I knew. For this year also, I hope to retain the things that have helped me grow in all aspects. I noticed how much I have contributed by being in integrity to the growth of our organization and would like to improve in the areas where I lack integrity as an individual and as a team. Revisiting the time spent and things I learnt last year, I realized that I should increase the time for learning and focus on things to learn that are relevant to my area of work or interests me personally and also on sports and health.

Poovizhi:

            I am able to notice that, the more I am being responsible the more I take initiatives. The alignment with my values and the organization helps me to take responsibilities and feel whole. I was able to notice the gap in taking care of my health and I need to work on it.

Sandhya Bala:

My name is Sandhiya Bala Anand, and I deeply care about courage, care, and happiness for both myself and others. I specialize in automating batch processes and ensuring the timely delivery of testing documentation for various projects and clients. I have acquired skills in C code testing, project regression testing, and website development. In addition to my technical expertise, I actively engage in personal development through meditation, workshops, and courses.

I collaborate with my team members, support mentees, and contribute to the development of school software features. I have successfully managed diverse responsibilities, including handling Aura’s work, supporting mentees in Shifu, training BVOC students, and caring for my family.

I am eager to delve into Python scripting and excited about taking on new responsibilities while anticipating upcoming challenges in the coming year. I look forward to embracing these new responsibilities and dedicating time to engage with my learning, preparing for the challenges that lie ahead in the upcoming year.

Pratap:

Over the past year, I achieved significant milestones across various dimensions. I successfully published two research papers in MES12 and had the privilege of representing the organization at the ICMI conference, where I also presented at the symposium and published an abstract. Professionally, I actively contributed to diverse projects such as au4693_revA, au4693_revA1, au4693_revB, au4851kA2, au5070, au6316, and Au4852. These projects involved crucial tasks, including making changes to sub-blocks and contributing to tape-out procedures.

In terms of technical skills, I participated in RTL book readings and  I played a key role in setting up and enhancing the office infrastructure, including internet and Ethernet cables. This involved communication with the Arinoco team to improve internet connectivity. I also took on responsibilities for office networking, which included organizing routers, switches, and procuring new equipment.

On a personal growth level, I dedicated time to activities such as meditation, Vippasana, and regular reflection practices. This holistic approach to well-being supported my overall growth. I took new responsibilities, including managing the Shifu Program, FCRA Finance, and office network. I also actively engaged with the Isai Ambalam school by organizing events like Karthigai and Christmas celebrations and contributing to environmental efforts by planting palm sprouts and turmeric plants. I learned the importance of making responsible decisions and doing things for the benefit of others’ growth. I emphasized integrity in both personal and professional aspects. Overall, the year was marked by accomplishments, personal and professional growth, and a commitment to contributing positively to both the workplace and the community.

Saranya:

To be part of C3STREAMLand This is my 6th year with this organization. I see myself getting better and better in many ways. Whatever the decision I take that come from my consciousness not influenced by others. This environment made me to be independent and to take correct or wrong decision but it always come from me. Whatever the interpretation I make I have to face the consequences. Lot more to work with myself independently. Being here is my lifetime cherishing moment. I love working with younger kids and would like to continue with them. I am being true to myself and this organization. When I am being true, I expect the same thing from the person or the organization, when this is not happening, I am able to accept it and move forward. I can only change myself not the others. I feel this is very good realization for me. The work I do with love and care and I use RTL tools often at work. I feel this organization supported for my growth and I valued all the opportunity I received.

I believe I am at the correct place. I spent most of my time here and those times are very valuable and this learning never going to end. This environment gave me wonderful support to be at my full potential. Every moment and every opportunity I get, I valued them all and used it wisely. I can see my continuous growth and support towards others, At school I spend my time with children those were my grateful moments. I love being with the kids and learn a lot from them. I am being in integrity with this organization and with myself. This is the right place for me to be here and work, and support the children.

Vasanthraj:

When I am working on the Palm and Monsoon projects with children, I looked for the alignment of values, system shifts and the actions. The values are responsibility and creativity, system shift as unorganised to work in a group, the actions are chart work and notes preparation. When children work in groups, I always make sure that the group is a mix of boys and girls and interrupt ISMs.

Support the initiative started by the organization which includes Mathegramming team (supporting on taking RTL in schools) and Shifu program (Mentoring Prem Kumar).

I have been involved in the verification process of various SPS variants, including au4851k revA4, au4851k revA5, au4851k revA6, au4851k revB, au4991k revA3, and au4852k revA. I identified the causes of my ineffectiveness and began working on them, which include distributing my work with Sundaresan, turning off mobile internet during work hours, handling financial tasks in the evening, engaging directly with the Aura team, and maintaining an Excel sheet with project status and debug issues and started documentation of my work.

Recognizing that manual waveform checking is time-consuming, I have started automating waveform using Ocean scripting and skill scripting. Additionally, I am investing time in learning the XRUN tool, simvision tool options, Spectre commands, vim and sed commands too.

10. Conclusion:

Any final remarks, and/or intentions for next year.

We will continue the codification of STEM Land as well as look to offer workshops with partners

11. Links and attachments:

Photos (please attach as separate files), links to videos and websites, any other supplementary material that you would like to share.

Research: https://www.auraauro.com/research/BREAKING_SILOS_THROUGH_STREAM_EDUCATION.pdf

Blogs and about the unit : https://www.auraauro.com/

JIT website: https://stemlandjit.pythonanywhere.com/

~Poovizhi, Soundhariya, Ilakya, Premkumar, Dinesh, Preethi, Sanjay

Thamarai (After school program) did a summer camp. Our Mathegramming team visited Thamarai to support students by explaining mathematical concepts visually and in a way that is fun. Our goal at Thamarai was to create a space for students to not only understand mathematics but also to enjoy it.

Visualizing place values:

Using Dines blocks, students were able to figure out what each place value means, such as ones, tens, hundreds, and beyond. They started to play with the numbers in a fun and hands-on way, and they could also identify the place values accurately.

We also introduced another method using sketch pencils. Students can increase their exploration with these pencils. They can use these pencils to identify the arrangements of Dines blocks, understanding the importance of each place value. Whether it’s a simple two-digit number or a multi-digit number, they can figure it out with the help of sketch pencils.

Working with the Thamarai students was a fantastic experience for both the Mathegramming team and the students.

As the team worked with the students, we noticed that everyone was learning new things without even realizing it. It was amazing to see how these simple ways of explanation could turn into grand adventures of thinking and learning. Students started to work together, sharing their ideas and exploring new things.

As our time with the Thamarai students came to an end. They had been amazing to work with, and we were grateful for the memories we shared. On our last day together, the students surprised us with a special ceremony to say thank you to the Mathegramming team.

Sitting in a circle, they each spoke about what they had learned and how much they enjoyed our time together.

To show their gratitude, the students gave each of us a gift. They were simple things, like the handcrafted sand pots they had made and written acknowledgment letters. But they meant a lot because they showed that our time together had meant something special to them.

The experience taught us that teaching and learning are about more than just books and lessons it’s about building connections and creating moments that make a difference for a long time.

We also covered other mathematical topics like decimal division, exponents, algebraic questions- finding age of a person, area rectangle, Introduction about similar triangles.

Divisibility rule:

We taught divisibility rules, By explaining the rules for each number, such as divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, students gain a deeper understanding of how numbers interact and can quickly determine whether a number is divisible by another. Later we gave them a random number to divide, there they learned about the recurring and non-terminating decimal numbers.

Decimal division:

In teaching decimal division, we explained a simple method for removing decimal points: multiply or divide by powers of 10. By using numbers like 10, 100, or 1000, we can shift decimal points to make division easier. This practical approach helped students grasp the concept and handle decimal calculations more effectively.

Laws of exponents:

We first explained how these rules work by expanding powers. By breaking down the concepts of multiplication and division involving exponents, students gained a solid understanding of the laws. We then applied this knowledge to the order of equations, focusing on multiplying terms and simplifying expressions using the laws of exponents.

Similar triangles:

The students enjoyed using the geoboard to make different similar triangles and see how they were alike. It helped them understand similar triangles better and practice geometry in a fun way.

Reflections from Thamarai:

“I want to acknowledge your support during the camp and the dedication, you created with the students inspiring us. Thank you so much for the effective iterative session for making the student. self-examine and understand the basic concepts. We will follow up with the report soon and share it with you.” – Savithri on behalf of Thamarai team

Reflections from the team:

My name is Premkumar I deeply care about courage and equality for myself and others what I had felt while working with Thamarai children that I can also learn as many things as possible when I really care about others learning and growth it made me feel so special while working with kids and I really enjoyed the whole process and learnt that I can give something to the kids which they can teach to others and the peer learning will be excellent.

My name is Ilakyaarasi I stand for patience and courage for myself and others. I had a great time with the students. The students were calm and patient to learn from us though it didn’t match with their main core.

My name is Soundhariya I stand for courage for myself and others. Working with Thamarai children, I noticed that they learn to think differently to solve problems by creating their own stories, games, and using math-related materials. Everyone was learning new things without even realizing it, making them more energetic and effective. This approach helps them understand how it relates to daily life.

My name is Dinesh, I stand for care and perseverance for myself and for others. While working with the Thamarai children, I realized the importance of understanding where they get stuck in problem-solving or approaching a problem. I found it effective to engage with them at their level, whether they misunderstood the problem or were unsure how to proceed after certain steps, by offering various approaches such as using pen and paper methods or math materials

Sanjay:

Interacting with the Children at Thamarai was an extremely enjoyable experience. I wish I could have stayed longer than 11:00 AM each day, but I was grateful that I was even able to spend that amount of time with the children. 

I would like to Acknowledge both Sanjeev and the Mathegramming team for their support and for their creative approach to teach Math using materials. It is the teaching materials which made math more like a game than anything else. Mathegramming team members also told me about how enjoyable it was for them to interact with the Children at Thamarai. What stood out for all of us was the enthusiasm of the Children for learning via the materials

I wish to thank the entire team at Thamarai for providing us with the opportunity to do something meaningful and enjoyable. I hope for many more such opportunities for collaboration between StemLand and Thamarai in the future. 

~ Sivaguruprasath, Ajay, Poonguzali, Arunkumar, Rajesh, Sandhiya S, Soundhariya, Sharmila, Premkumar M, Nithya Sandhosh, Tamilarasan, Premkumar, Poovizhi, Duraisamy, SandhiyaBala

The drama rehearsal happened for about two and half days for the stage preparation, ensuring correctness and coordination of the characters. Additionally, adjustments to lighting for scenes and sound checks were completed for the dance and songs.

The children from grades 4 to 8 from our school contributed their roles in the play, and two teachers played the roles of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Our STEM teachers have guided and supported the children in making drama utilities, coordinating rehearsal and managing stage play.

The final stage play presented on March 7, 2024, on a Thursday evening (on a day before Sivarathri) at the Bharat Nivas auditorium in Auroville. Thirumuraiyai kanda cholan (jpUKiwiaf; fz;l Nrhod;) – The story depicted occurred over 1000 years ago during the rule of King Raja Raja I, who discovered the Thirumurai (inscriptions written by followers for Lord Shiva, notably Appar, Sundarar, Sambandhar, Manikkavasagar) with the help of Nambiyandaar Nambi and Thiruvasagam story by Manikkavasagar. It was enacted by children as depicted in the inscription. The drama showcased our cultural heritage and history. It also showcased the challenges and the values of different individuals and how they overcame them using universal values and inner capacities. We believe that by bringing our culture and history to life, we can foster a deeper appreciation and understanding among our audience, connecting them with the profound roots of our identity and instilling a meaning and purpose to life.        

Here are the reflections from out STEM teachers on their contribution,

Sivaguruprasath:

My name is Sivaguruprasath and I stand for courage, full-potential and equanimity for myself and for others. On participating in supporting the drama I feel so satisfied and also I learned about my own potential in managing and coordinating such an event. During rehearsal of the event we planned the positioning of backdrop setup, Nataraja statue, Palanquin(pallakku) and giving feedback for the children performance.

During the final play, I took up the role of changing collar microphones for the children according to their respective characters they were playing. The children cooperated well, and I also managed them for their next scenes.

Ajay:

My name is Ajay, and I stand for self-awareness for myself and others. From the Nayanmargal drama, I learned that team effort will pay off in the end. It helps people understand each other and listen to their ideas. I noticed myself putting my full potential into different roles: preparing materials, organizing people, and involving everyone to support seating allocation for children in the auditorium and distributing snacks. I felt happy, and this was a new experience in supporting such big events at our school.

Poonguzhali:

My name is Poonguzhali I stand for courage for myself and others. I volunteered to support the drama. I engaged in making questions based on the story and took part in background painting, craft jewellery, and decoration. I observed the quality of deep listening. This quality helped me to exchange my thoughts and enabled me to accomplish the tasks I did.  Thank you for the wonderful opportunity, I feel grateful to the school.

Arunkumar:

I was appointed as a microphone manager, and that’s a task for which I have to be honest and on time. Constantly engaging with changing microphones to the next character’s. It’s more challenging work than I have done for a while. Moreover, the little acknowledgement and recognition from a stranger urge me to engage in such activities. The children were aware that their voice should reach out to everyone in auditorium they ensured that before going to perform the mic is turned on and after coming they voluntarily asked us to turn it off.  In order to not make noise while others performing.

Rajesh:

My name is Rajesh, I stand for care and integrity for myself and others. I learned that When I am at my full potential, the outcome I can produce is higher and by the output, people get inspired. This can generate a new system in which everyone can involve themselves. I also learned how consistent I can be when I say ‘yes’ and get that done. This creates a huge trust in me. Throughout the practice and final performance, whatever support I was asked, I first said ‘Yes’, then we Did it. In doing the work, I was able to involve everyone from my team. As I was aware of what each individual could do, it was easier to get the required output from each individual.

Sandhiya S:

My name is Sandhiya. I stand for progress as happiness, and love for myself and others. I am happy to be part of the drama presentation. It was so nice to see children participating actively, fully involved, and working as a team. I noticed that everyone who was part of the drama, and those who supported, did so with goodwill. Not everyone needs to be instructed; when there is space for self-development, responsibilities, and creativity grow and show up so well. Many involved in that drama loved their work, and this was clearly seen during the presentation. Children had overcome their stage fear; they enjoyed from preparation to the presentation.

Soundhariya:

My name is Soundhariya. I stand for courage for myself and others. When I worked with the Nayanmargal drama, I noticed the collaboration of teamwork with full potential. All the students were able to participate with courage and break their silos. So I felt very enthusiastic throughout the event.

Sharmila:

My name is Sharmila, and I stand for courage and patience for myself and others.  Students of Isai Ambalam performed the “Nayanmargal drama” on the occasion of Sivarathri in Bharath Nivas. Stemland teachers volunteered to help them make their jewels and backdrops. On the day of presenting the drama, the students were all ready with their costumes, and the whole stage was filled with positivity and happiness. While seeing the children performing their roles, I felt very happy and accomplished. I had a wonderful experience and I’m happy to be a part of this drama.

Premkumar M:

My name is Premkumar Murugan. I stand for self-confidence and equality for myself and others. Through the Nanyanmargal drama, I have gained many new insights. I am extremely excited to witness the performance of the Nayanmargal story by the Isai children. I deeply appreciate the talent of these Isai children. When it comes to speaking or acting on stage, I often feel fearful due to my age. However, I am delighted and pleasantly surprised to see these young children act without any fear. Participating in this drama has been a truly enriching experience for me.

NithyaSandhosh:

My name is Nithyasandhosh, I stand for kindness and equality to myself and others. I proudly supported “Nayanmargal” drama performed by the children of Isai Ambalam School. The children are performing drama in the center of the stage after a screenplay finished. we Dhinesh, Rajesh, and I eagerly worked together with the children to change the backdrop. I am so much involved in that drama. I am developing friendship with people and the children’s dedication and sense of responsibility filled me with joy.

Tamilarasan:

My name is Tamil, and I stand for courage and compassion for myself and others. I have learned that education is not only about studies. Each individual has their own identity and capability. When multiple sources are provided to children, they get the opportunity to develop themselves and their confidence. As a teacher, I have learned that I need to involve other activities that include creativity and create space for children where they can explore themselves and learn. I supported drama sessions with involvement and took on responsibilities such as supporting the setup of the stage backdrop and preparing the pallaku. Later, I was assigned to make a video of the whole process. This video gives a brief view of the preparation, efforts, and goals of the people involved. I was happy to see this video during the performance.

Premkumar:

My name is Premkumar I deeply care about for me and others. The drama was interesting and the students done it very well. The songs were sung in the background were very good. The acting of the children showed their full potential and the efforts were taken by them and the drama also showed the importance of team work which leads to success.

Poovizhi:

My name is Poovizhi and I deeply care about Equality and equity for myself and others.
After watching the drama, I learned about the stories of Nayanmars and their importance. The way the children performed was admirable; they were confident and clearly enjoyed what they were doing. They didn’t just act out the drama but also connected with the universal values behind the story. This connection made me think about spirituality in a deeper way, rather than just following blindly.

Sandhiya Bala:

My name is Sandhiya Bala, I deeply care about courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. I learned the dedication and confidence of each child’s effort . While I support the childen. I felt the spirituality in a deeper inner values of mine.

Duraisamy:

My Name is Duraisamy Pandurangan, I deeply care about dignity, wisdom and freedom for myself and others. After watching the drama performed by the children at Bharath Nivas, I had a wonderful experience. The story of Raja Raja Cholan and Maanikkavasagar deeply connects with values of wisdom and care.

~ Mathegramming team, Sundaresan, Sharmila, Poonguzhali, Jayabharathi, Ajay, Sri Bhavani, Duraisamy, Choudery

Learn the principles of Electronic and critical components

The core values of Mathegramming Academy are responsibility,equality,and courage to create.We (Mathegramming team) wanted Children to connect electronics to the world around them and they will relate Electronics to the Mathematics they have been learning.

Our team wanted to have the following shifts:

• From Theory to Hands-On Practice
• From classroom Learning to Real-World Exploration
• From Confusion to Clarity in Learning
• Moving from Being scared to trying new things to embracing new learning
• From Disempowering isms like classism, groupism and genderism to equality and creative learning together

The Mathegramming Hackathon was set up to encourage creativity and learning at every stage. We conducted the workshop for around 40 children and the children were from different schools. Our team mixed the children from different schools. So that children got different perspectives, encouraging working together, increased their communicative skills.

We started the day with an reminder about our Stand and fears, by knowing what I stand for or care about I can transcend my fears and work at their full potential.

We talked about the difficulty in learning electronics

• it is something we can see the impact of, but cannot see directly.
• Most the terms are known but the distinction is unclear e.g. the power has come, is there voltage, is there current. and all used as synonyms. Related to this there are too many units that appear unrelated.
• You can go over a large range of values – kilo ohms, to micro ampheres and requires some grounding in Engineering units and some Mathematics.

Then we dived into Electronics, by using the minimum mathematics of Multiplication and two hidden division stories. Using this simple idea, we introduced how to calculate power, current, Voltage, Charge, Energy. We also used only a few units for these that allows children to correlate between the quantities. We then applied this to our real life of understanding how much energy we consume. In time we analyzed how much energy would have been used to do the workshop itself on backup power and how much battery would have been used.

For resistance we use the concept of body resistance students and knew about their actual body resistance using multimeter with that they knew current and resistance were inversely proportional to each other and students also estimated that at what voltage they would get shock. Students checked if it is possible to light an LED through their body resistance (can you?) and also learned the importance of resistor in series with the LEDs.

From the Water Tank analogy students knew about the concept of voltage, current, resistance and energy. We introduced about the precautions while using multimeter for safety purpose. Students knew about how to use the multimeter to measure voltage, current, resistance and how to check the connectivity in the circuit. Students designed their own circuit for the required current flow in the circuit.

We introduced about the battery, resistor, LED, variable resistor, capacitor and also their symbols with that students knew about the symbols of the components.So,that they able to draw the circuit diagram and we showed the sensor(LDR) by showing the demo how it worked students gave different perspective how to use LDR for their circuit.Capacitor as a bucket if a battery is like a reservoir of charge by worked in it. Students knew that more the capacity in the capacitor more the charge it can hold and they saw the working of capacitor by charging using the battery and discharging using the LED.

When the challenges were allocated for each team I saw the enthusiasm with which children learn with engagement, We also saw team work worked well with different school students and each students shared their perspective and some students convenience why their perspective of approaching the problem was correct and some students struggled to understand and hesitated to do the task. students from different schools didn’t isolate themselves stepped up for their new friends worked as a team and got their output from that I saw the Leadership quality in that student and I saw a good team work among the students.

After the workshop came to an end students shared their learnings in the workshop and also shared what they learned about themselves in the workshop by doing the workshop I realised that we (Mathegramming team) added something useful to their life. We had many stdents who had not registered beforehand and our colleagues stepped up for us and supported us in organising the event and I saw the quality of care and that moment brought every one together.

Some of the reflections from our mentors in the workshop:

My name is Sundaresan,I stand for happiness and courage for myself and for others. While working with new children at the hackathon, I learned how to approach them effectively. I realized that I shouldn’t guide them with only wanting to win, but rather focus on their learning new skills and knowledge that will benefit in their future. I was impressed to see how they weren’t struggling with the calculation of power consumption of fans and lights, which showed me their strength in mathematics. Each child in my group has different talents: one excels in Scratch programming beyond my expectations, while another explains the project very well. Reflecting on this event, I recognized what I missed in my own childhood.

My name is Sharmila. I stand for courage and patience for myself and others. This electronic hackathon gave me a chance to contribute my knowledge to students regarding electronics. Students were excited and curious to know about electronics and how they are used in our daily lives. During the hackathon, the students quickly mingled with each other. They also shared their thoughts in the group while working on the tasks that we gave them. The hackathon showcased the values of equality, responsibility, and the courage to create. It demonstrated the transition from individual to group learning, with strong communication between mentors and mentees. Overall, the event emphasized the importance of electronics and their usage in our daily life.

My name is Poonguzhali I stand for courage for myself and others. I could see the values of STEM Land throughout the tournament: Equality responsibility and courage to create. I could see individual learning to group learning. There was good communication between the children and facilitators. We were breaking silos. The children were able to connect real-time examples with the electronic concepts.  I learned some basic electronics concepts from this workshop. It stimulated my interest to learn even more in the future. I felt excited throughout the event.

My name is Jayabharathi, I stand for Equality for myself and for others. The electronics hackathon helped me contribute my knowledge to the children. I was able to see the team work and the coordination among the children of different organizations. It helped me to bring out my universal values (care and confidence) into action. The curiosity of the children after each step of the experiments it helped me to develop my skills to teach them in a simplified manner. Apart from the technical part, children were able to mingle with each other very easily and they were able to help each other. The children were encouraging each other when other teams won the prize. I noticed that they were fostering leadership and i would also practice the same. This hackathon gave me an exposure to experience unity and curiosity with the team members as well as the children.

My name is Ajay, and I stand for love, happiness, and self-awareness for myself and others. My experience at the electronics hackathon with children was amazing. Initially, they learnt about themselves and then moved into the concept of energy consumption. They were able to calculate how much energy they used for the workshop and learnt about units of power, energy, current, and voltage in a different way. It turned into a tournament at the end. I found the part was finding out the body resistance of each member using a multimeter very interesting. As a team, we helped each other and took responsibility to claim the first prize for our team of children. We also assisted other teams’ children to complete their tasks so they could understand, what I learnt I have shared it with others.

My name is Sri Bhavani. I stand for Love and Equality for myself and others. In this Hackathon, our team created an opportunity for the children to work with other school children to get the essence of team work to achieve the goals. My favorite part in this event was that one representative was requested to share their learning to represent their team at random. In this, team members encouraged the team representative to share their team learnings. Children were able to notice their fears during presentation as well as competition, then they were also be able to still themselves to act from their values. Overall, children as well as facilitators enjoyed the event and Mathegramming team, all facilitators, and students acted from their full potential to make this event happen.

My name is Duraisamy, I stand for Dignity, wisdom and freedom for myself and others. Mentoring kids about electronics and how they’re part of everyday life is something new for them. Understanding the different parts and symbols is a first step. It helps them see how things work and sparks their curiosity to learn more. Explaining electronics to kids in simple terms not only helps them understand the world around them but also encourages them to explore and ask questions. It’s important to lay a basic foundation that they can build upon as they grow, fostering a lifelong interest in learning and discovery.

My name is Choudery. I stand for justice and equality for my self and others. In the electronics tournament I just came to have a look how children were doing. Then I sat with a team at random. I have noticed children are curious to learn electronics and doing their tasks one by one. Then I start to teach a child and explain how seven segment display works. One child understood the logic behind the seven-segment display and started to do it by own. This made the other children in the team to curious. The children came to me and ask how to do. Then I ask the children to ask the child who was doing it. The team them learned from him. Here I noticed the curiosity of learning, peer learning and teamwork. This electronic workshop and tournament really helpful for children to have more ideas and thoughts about how the real world working with electronics.

~ Sharmila, Santhosh, Poonguzali, Preethi, Nithyasandhosh , Premkumar Murugan

Students of Isai Ambalam School decided to stage the “Nayanmargal” (saints in the Shiva) drama for the occasion of Sivarathiri and how their songs have made it to us now. The creation of backdrops played a crucial role in bringing the production to life. Over a period of six weeks, we embarked on the journey of painting these backdrops, encountering various challenges and experiences along the way.

Initial Challenges Encountered:

One of the initial difficulties we faced was sourcing the right materials after finalizing the scenes of the drama to be displayed. As it was our first-time painting on such large cloth we did not have confidence that we will be able to do it. We decided to create draft paintings on smaller cloth pieces to test our abilities. Upon seeing the results, we gained confidence in our skills. We then prepared a list of materials required for the painting and provided it to the organizer, Anita akka.

Step-by-Step Painting Process:

Conceptualization: Initially, we planned to paint four backdrops: 1) a larger flowing Vaigai river with trees and bushes on both banks, 2) a temple gopuram with trees and people, 3) Nandhi facing sideways with four pillars, and 4) a palace. Later, we added a fifth backdrop—the Kailash Mountain which was painted by Arham.

Sketching: With the concept in mind, we began sketching rough outlines of the backdrops on the cloth and finalized them with Anita akka. This stage allowed us to experiment with different compositions and perspectives to ensure that each backdrop would complement the unfolding story on stage.

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Layering Colors: Once the sketches were finalized, we embarked on the colorful journey of painting. Using acrylic paints, we meticulously layered colors to create depth and texture, bringing each scene to life with vibrant hues and subtle shading.

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Detailing and Finishing: As the paintings progressed, we focused on adding intricate details and finishing touches to enhance realism and evoke emotion. Every aspect of the backdrops was infused with care and attention to detail. Adding details to the backdrops took more time to complete.

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Collaboration and Feedback: Throughout the painting process, collaboration and feedback played a vital role in refining our work. We regularly consulted with Anita akka, friends, and fellow artists to ensure that the backdrops aligned seamlessly with the overall vision of the production.

Overall Insights on Painting:

Painting the backdrops for “Nayanmargal” was not just about applying colors to clothe; it was a journey of exploration and expression. As artists, we discovered the power of storytelling through visuals, transcending language barriers to convey the rich tapestry of emotions woven into the fabric of the drama.

In conclusion, the creation of backdrops for “Nayanmargal” was a testament to the transformative power of art.  When the backdrops were hung upon the stage they looked really good and amazing. As a artist we felt happy and accomplished.

Individual Insight on Painting:

My name is Sharmila, and I stand for courage and patience for myself and others. As I love painting, I volunteered to paint backdrops for the “Nayanmargal” drama. Initially, we were a bit nervous about painting on such large cloth pieces and whether we could finish on time. However, working as a team, we were able to overcome our doubts. After completing each backdrop, the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction fueled our confidence. The praise from Anita akka and others made us feel good and motivated us to carry on and complete the backdrops on time. I had a wonderful team to support me throughout. Through this activity, I noticed qualities such as care, love, taking responsibilities, deep listening, courage to create, and the ability to plan and execute effectively.

Insight of Santhosh

Doing backdrop painting for the Nayanmargal drama was a wonderful experience because this was the very first time I made big-picture drawings and paintings. when I completed my first backdrop of natural scenery with the Vaigai River I felt satisfied and also I had a wonderful painting team to support me with other backdrops. From this activity I learned my life lessons like stillness is very important, focus on what we doing now, full concentration, preplanning plays a major role and more creative imagination.

My name is Poonguzhali and I stand for courage for myself and others. I volunteered to paint the backdrops for the drama. Whenever I had time, I helped with the backdrops. As a team, we worked to our full potential, and I felt accomplished with the work. When the backdrops were hung on the stage, they helped in setting the scene for the play. It was more satisfying and added colors to the atmosphere of the performance. Being a part of the creative process made me feel courageous, happy, and proud of our work.

My name is Preethi. I stand for courage, kindness and perseverance for myself and others. When I’m doing drama backdrop painting, I get to learn lot about myself. when I was painting it reflected my thoughts, emotions, and creativity. It helps me to understand myself better and appreciate the beauty within me. I also realize making mistakes is a part of the process. Sometimes the imperfections make the painting even more beautiful. While doing new things and making mistakes helps me grow and learn. Through painting, I learn to be patient and keep going, even when things don’t work out the way I want. When I paint with others, I learnt lot from them and inspire one another to create beautiful things. It’s really a wonderful experience that I really loved

My name is Nithyasandhosh. I stand for kindness and equality to myself and others. I volunteered to painting a backdrop for Nayanmargal drama. I love painting, before I have done painting in wall and paper but Its was my first time I am painting in a big cloth. I felt happy to paint with my team, and learn from each other. When I was painting I felt more focused in what I’m doing.  After finishing our 4 backdrops, I felt responsible and integrity.

My name is Premkumar Murugan . I stand for self confidence and equality for myself and others. My insight for painting Nayanmargal drama. So far I have only experienced painting on papers, As this was my first time of painting on big clothe, I felt nervous but when I met with my group I felt, I could draw and then I tried drawing and painting and it worked out well. After completing the backdrops, I felt complete and happy. It also helped to recognize my talent within me. It gave me a wonderful experience.

~ Ajay, Sundaresan, Sandhiya.B, Rajesh, Murali, Premkumar, Preethi

One of our values is responsibility. This includes taking responsibility of our life and health. Few of us decided to participate in the Auroville Marathon event. While most of us participated in a 10k run, Prem did a half marathon (21 kms). Some of us prepared leading to the event a few others did a bit of a warm up for a week leading up to the challenge. Here are our reflections.

The Auroville Marathon was held on Sunday 18^th February 2024. In addition to the marathon and half marathon and a 10k run is available. It is one of the largest and most popular running events in India, with participants from all parts of India which is publicized by past runners through word of mouth or blogs like this.

The event is non-commercial and organized purely for the joy of running. It considers all the finishers as winners.

This year our team participated in the marathon. For that, our steward Sanjeev Ranganathan encouraged us to be physically fit to do the push-ups and sit-ups during the morning meeting every day for a week before the run. This helped us to stretch ourselves as physically fit. It helped us to complete the marathon without any physical injuries.

Insights

Ajay– My name is Ajay, and I stand for happiness and self-awareness for myself and others. I noticed my ability to overcome my fear of not being good enough to complete the marathon. Somehow, I was motivated by the senior people who ran alongside us. This boosted my morale and helped me complete the 10K at the marathon event. It also motivated me to participate in more marathons with proper training.

Sundaresan – I regularly practiced running 5km to prepare for the AV marathon. This practice helped me during the actual marathon. I learned that I can keep going even when things get tough. Finishing the 10km race without stopping made me feel confident. Even though my legs hurt halfway through, I didn’t give up. I realized that pushing through the pain is important to reach my goals. I want to keep this determination in my life. The marathon brought people together and allowed me to meet new friends.

             When I reached the 9km mark, I felt a burst of energy that helped me run faster. Finally, I finished the marathon in 1 hour and 10 minutes (1:10). Now, I want to try a half marathon (21km) next time. This experience taught me that taking small steps can lead to big accomplishments.

Sandhiya- My name is Sandhiya Bala, and I stand for courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. I have learned that by consistently practicing activities such as exercise and walking, the discomfort associated with them diminishes over time.

Taking this initiative, I gained more confidence and completed 10 km marathons after my delivery. I felt a sense of achievement, and I’ve realized that regular practice empowers me to accomplish anything in life.

I acknowledge our steward Sanjeev Ranganathan for encouraging us to maintain physical fitness by incorporating push-ups and sit-ups into our morning meetings every day. This practice has helped me to improve my physical well-being, and I intend to continue using it in my life.

Rajesh- My name is Rajesh and I stand for care and integrity for myself and others, I learned that before leaping into anything the preparation part is important. My organization played a vital part in preparation as we spent a few minutes in sit-ups and pushups every morning.

I also learned life is a long journey like a marathon, which has ups and downs. What matters is how equanimous I am, and how determined I am to explore the journey. Also, in the long run like life or organization or say marathon, Partners play a vital role. Where they encourage courage throughout the hard run. When I am completely down, they give me that inspiration and a positive mindset to continue. I noticed this when I was running with a person throughout the marathon.

Murali- My name is Murali and I stand for happiness and Equality. I noticed that after completing my 10 km marathons, I noticed how I was physically fit.

Premkumar-My name is Premkumar I deeply care about courage and equality for myself and others. While running the 21 kilometers at the beginning I felt I couldn’t finish it but seeing every other person passionately running towards the goal inspired me to finish the marathon. I felt like I was challenged and motivated. It was a great journey that created a meaningful impact on my life.

Preethi –My name is Preethi. I stand for courage, kindness, and perseverance for myself and others. While participating in a marathon, I get to know how tough I am by not giving up when I’m tired or facing challenges. Running a marathon helps me realize how strong my mind can be when I need to keep going. I understand more about how my mind and body work together and how to take care of myself. Staying focused and determined during the race helps me understand how determined I can be. I ran the marathon along with my friend. When I felt tired, he encouraged me, which helped me complete the marathon. Therefore, I acknowledge Ajay for his support and care, and I will carry it with me in my life. Finishing a marathon makes me feel proud of myself, which feels awesome.

Sundaresan, Preethi, Sivaguru Prasath, Sri Bhavani, Ajay, Narmadha, Nithya Sandhosh

At STEM land we embrace unending education and constant progress. Auroville brings many opportunities for this. For the commencement of the Auroville festival in 2024, the Yoga gathering happened at Matrimandir Amphitheater, Auroville, from Feb 22 to Feb 26. From STEMland, a few teachers attended the Yoga session along with students from Udavi and Isai Ambalam schools. There were also children from other schools.

Here are the few reflections from our STEM teachers on attending Yoga session,

Sundaresan:

The yoga masters teach different types of yoga and pranayamas throughout the entire week. It makes me feel healthy for the entire week. They start with Hatha yoga on day 1 by Dr. Mollika Ganguly. Without continuous practice, it causes back pain and body pain for two days. After continuous practice, my body adapted to the pain. Surya Namaskar is taught by S. Srinivasan with the Ramayana story on day 2. The story is related to the 12 asanas, and I enjoyed it. I learned that Surya Namaskar has different types of 12 poses, each taught in its own way. On day 3, Yogic Pranayama and Silence Concentration for ‘the Supramental Manifestation’ are taught by M. Muthukumari.

On day 4, I learned Ashtanga yoga by Velu and Tamil Hymns and Chants by Anandou. I learned three different types of Chants in the session. On day 5, Mantra chanting by Devan and Aravind, and Sounds Meditation and Relaxation by Swaram. From this, I learned how to slowly convey new things to others. I will use this teaching method and calmness in my life. From a sound healing session, I learned to notice my background noises and conversations. After the session, I felt very calm. My mind was clear, and I didn’t feel any stress. The vibrations caused some changes in my body. This session helps me to continue yoga every day. I can feel that I get lots of energy from yoga. For that reason, I can work efficiently the whole day. I decide to teach others what I’ve learned to make it a habit, as well as to keep my health as good as possible.

Preethi:

My name is preethi. I stand for courage,  kindness and perseverance for myself and others. My insight for yoga workshop is I learnt different asanas that help me make my body strong, flexible, and balanced.  I learnt breathing techniques that calm my mind and give more energy. While doing meditation I find out how to relax my mind and focus on the present moment to feel more peaceful. When I do yoga in Mathirmandir,  amphitheater, I feel close to nature. I enjoy hearing birds singing and feeling the cool breeze on my face. It feels like nature is giving me a hug, and it makes me feel calm and peaceful inside. I had a really awesome week, and I had a great experiences.

Sivaguru prasath:

My name is Sivaguru prasath and I stand for courage, full-potential and equanimity for myself and for others. On practicing yoga, I observed that I feel calm, active and flexible and also it was a immense pleasure to do yoga along with children and old-age people which gives us more positive energy and motivation. The day-1 was a like a quick session, we did it continuously, most of the children were felt tired and we motivated them to do it properly and completely. The Surya namaskar we did on the day-2 were taught with the correlation of Ramayana was a different and interesting experience.

On the day-3, we did Pranayama, which improved my breathing and concentration and I found it as the most needful thing for me. On the day-4 we did yoga with some chants and On day-5 they conducted a sound healing session with Swaram team that relaxed my mind and felt like a feather without stress, fear and anxiety. I noticed that I felt active throughout the days when I was practicing yoga and I have to keep my practice day to day to feel energetic and thoughtful.

Sri Bhavani:

My Name is Sri Bhavani, I stand for Love and Equality for myself and others. This time number of members joined from our team for the yoga session has increased compared to the past. Children from Auroville and Auroville outreach schools participated in this session and benefitted. This event also helped us to enhance our physical health. All age groups were participated in this session, this shows physical health has how much importance in all the stages of life. As Sri Aurobindo offered Physical education had three principal aspects:

(1) control and discipline of the functioning of the body;

(2) an integral, methodical and harmonious development of all the parts and movements of the body; and

(3) correction of any defects and deformities.

This session helped me to have disciplined physical activities and utilise it as healing for the body.

Ajay:

The five-day yoga session in the morning at the Amphitheater has been refreshing for me. It helps me keep my body flexible and energetic throughout the day. Going for yoga with children gives me a special feeling in the early morning. Each day, different people shared their way, and I learned various pranayama techniques, Savitri chantings, and on the final day, we had an amazing sound bath from the Svaram team. This year more people from stemland joined so it motivated me to continue doing this and looking forward to the upcoming yoga activities

Narmadha:

The day started with stretching; it had been a long time since I had done yoga, so it was initially difficult for me. However, as the days progressed, I found it easier to perform the yoga asanas, and I noticed a positive difference in myself. Each day brought a unique blend of physical challenges, mindfulness, and spiritual connection. At the end of each session for all five days, we concluded with Savasana and chanting. On the last day, there was a sound bath, during which I could feel my breath and the sensations in my body. This practice was organized in celebration of Auroville’s birthday and took place from 6:30 am to 7:30 am. The morning meditation and yoga routine provided a refreshing start to my day, and I have continued this practice every morning since.

NithyaSandhosh:

My name is Nithyasandhosh, I stand for kindness and equality to myself and others. As I settled onto my mat, the world around me seemed to fade into a gentle blur. With each inhale, I welcomed peace into my being, and with each exhale, I released tension and doubt. In the stillness of the moment, I felt a profound connection with my body and mind. Every stretch, every pose, was a conversation between the two, a dance of harmony and balance. As I flowed through each movement, I embraced the sensation of energy coursing through me, awakening every fiber of my being.

~ Rajesh

We were thrilled to teach a math intuition class to students, as it was fascinating to have a sense of what the result would look like. Under the guidance of Sanjeev Anna, we focused on patterns instead of answers. He spent each morning explaining mathematical patterns, which we taught to school students in the evenings

We discovered new patterns and logic that were not taught in schools or colleges to us

Advantages of having intuition in maths:

Having intuition in math allowed us to quickly recognize patterns, leading to more efficient problem-solving. It also improved our understanding of abstract concepts and fostered creativity in problem-solving and generating new mathematical ideas.

Feedback from students who attended the classes:

Firstly, they noticed the simplicity of understanding maths with patterns.

Even complex concepts were understandable

Patterns finding reduced our school theory of memorizing maths

Telling stories and relating with real-time examples increased the logic of mathematics