Learn Mathegramming

MATHEGRAMMING ACADEMY N E W S L E T T E R Volume – 1, June 2023

Mathegramming Academy aims to build Responsibility and Rigor in children and generate Results through mentoring and mastery of Mathematics through projects in programming/electronics, and through leadership in action. Mathegramming Academy is a program of C3STREAM Land Designs, Auroville

Philosophies Underlying Mathegramming Academy

The philosophy underlying the approach for C3SLD is based on the principles of progressive and constructivist thinkers like Jerome Bruner, and Seymour Papert in the United States, and Sri Aurobindo in India. The philosophy of Sri Aurobindo of the integral development of the child and emphasizes self-knowledge which the National Education Policy is based on stating “knowledge is a deep-seated treasure and education helps in its manifestation as the perfection which is already within an individual.” The philosophy creates guiding principles as teachers and in how we engage with children.

MATHEGRAMMING ACADEMY’S
baby step
Collaboration with VAASAVI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – CBSE in
training teachers on Mathematics through programming and leadership program .

The three principles of true education by Sri Aurobindo are:

  • Nothing can be taught which can be linked to the constructivist theory of not forcing knowledge into a child.
  • The mind needs to be consulted in its own growth indicating that the role of a teacher is not to mould or hammer a child into the form desired by the adult. The teacher is a guide, or mentor that supports and encourages a child in the process of learning, enabling them to evolve toward perfection
  • From near to far – which is to work from what is tangible and accessible to children to what is abstract to them

These principles guide our work at C3SLD where Mathegramming is codifying the work that has been done with children over the last 10 years.

A session on GeoGebra tools by Mathegramming Academy:

GeoGebra is a free and open-source interactive mathematics software that allows users to create and manipulate mathematical models, graphs, and figures.
Teachers at STEM Land have already been using GeoGebra for some classroom demonstrations, and the Mathegramming Academy presented a session on GeoGebra that would step up their ability to interact and engage with children and create interactive projects and 3D models.

Dharani presented how to create a GeoGebra activity and then a classroom for students to be able to do tasks and for the instructor to be able to observe the progress in real-time. Dharani created a classroom with many activities and then one that let someone work with a GeoGebra sheet. The rest of the session was done in this classroom which allowed everyone to see the progress of individuals signed in.


  • Sivashankar presented how to create a circumcentre, circumcircle, incentre, and incircle for a triangle. To move the triangle points and see how the construction refreshes and holds. Also, to add color and character to the projects. on how to create a circumcentre, circumcircle, incentre, and incircle for a triangle.
  • Premkumar presented how to create a 11^3as (10+1)^3 visually as a 3D construction with polygon and prism extension.
  • Soundariya presented how to create interactive (and randomized) questions and answers and provide input boxes and buttons and respond to the user’s inputs using the if condition.

The session was intense for 1-1/2 hrs and was enjoyable and enlightening.

Breakthrough meeting of Mathegramming Academy

Date: May 20, 2023

Agenda:
Review Integrity
Discussion of new goals and objectives
Blogs and Weekly update Scaling Stemland
Friday Activity Class

Action Plan
Integrity Check
The team had an integrity check in the previous action plan and discussed what went well and what could be improved.


The team agreed that they will hold integrity to make good progress on their goals but could have been more organized and efficient.

New Goals and Objectives

The Mathegramming Academy team is excited to announce our new goals and objectives for the upcoming weeks. We are committed to making modules exploring Geogebra, Scratch, and Electronics.

– Our first goal is to make Mathegramming Academy more accessible to everyone. We want to make it easy for anyone to take support from Mathegramming Academy.

We believe that these new goals will help us to make Mathegramming Academy a valuable asset to rely on for everyone.

We are excited to work towards these goals and look forward to sharing our progress with you.

They agreed that they wanted to focus on increasing their reach and engagement, website development, and developing new and innovative ways to teach math.

Blogs and Weekly Update

As the team members should write a blog at the end of the week about what they learned and worked

Sending weekly updates on time and Weekly team updates would be sent by taking turns.

Accountability in Stem land

In Mathegramming Academy each person has to take responsibility for Stem land.

How to manage stocks, website management, puzzles, News Letters, Videos, Visitor Management, Stem land(fest), etc.

Action Plan

The team agreed to take the following next steps:

  • Develop a CFSR for the website
  • Pre-presentation on Thursdays for the presentation on Fridays at 11 am.
  • Meet daily from 3’o clock to 4’o clock to review daily learnings and progress.
  • The team is excited to continue working on its mission to make math more accessible and engaging for everyone.

Design session for Mathegramming Academy:

A design session in radical

transformational leadership is a process of creating a vision for the future and then developing a plan to achieve that vision.

It is a leadership program that supports learning what I deeply care about and aligning it with systems shifts and strategic action.

The Mathegramming Academy attended the session which was held on the 24th and 26th of May.

The design session began with a group of people coming together to share their projects. This was hosted by Dr.Sudharshan from RTL Works. This is followed by a discussion of the challenges that must be overcome to achieve these projects. Once the challenges are identified, the group works together to develop a plan of action.

The action plan should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. It should also be based on the group’s values and beliefs. Once the plan is in place, the group can begin to implement it. The design session allows the group to come together, share their ideas, and develop a plan for change. The action plan can then be used to guide the group’s efforts and help them achieve their goals

In the session, the Mathegramming team discussed the following with the RTL works by presenting the three templates of architecture for equitable and sustainable change. Dharani from the Mathegramming team presented the templates with the inputs from the rest of the team. The templates are the Conscious full spectrum response model, Respond and realize, and Synergistic operational strategies.

Defining the problem or opportunity. What is the issue that the group is trying to address? What are the opportunities that the group is seeking to exploit?

Identifying the stakeholders. Who are the people who will be affected by the change? What are their needs and interests?

Generated ideas. Made a list of possible solutions to the problem or opportunity.

Evaluated the ideas. Assessed the feasibility and potential impact of each idea.

Chose a course of action. Selected the best idea and develop an implementation plan.

Implementing the plan. Putting the plan into action and monitoring its progress.

Evaluating the results. To assess the impact of the change and make necessary adjustments.

The session was an eye-opener and paved the way to look at different and multiple perspectives of the project. It narrowed the gaps in the project. It was interesting. We thank the RTL workers for their time and feedback. We look forward to being in action.

Mathegramming Academy explores Pygame

Mathegramming Academy explores different platforms of programming every month since it started. First, we worked on scratch programming and later worked on GeoGebra projects.

This month we looked into Python and started doing projects in Pygame implementing mathematical concepts.

We learned basic programming by doing a guided project in the course era and made a pong game.

Pygame is a powerful and popular open-source library that provides functionality for building 2D games and multimedia applications using Python. We explored different simplest installations for using Python coding. We compared the installation time, size, inbuilt modules, and packages, steps involved in the installation, and arrived at the most feasible and operational way of PyCharm as children will be using it for learning .

Once Python is installed, we proceeded with installing Pygame.
We made projects on pong game,squares visualization , fractions and so on.

We still continue to explore Pygame and extend to make projects in it using maths concepts.The journey is fascinating.

Working in Alignment with School Curriculum and School Reopening

As schools begin to reopen, it is important for Mathegramming Academy to work in alignment with the school curriculum.

This will help ensure that students are able to make the most of their learning opportunities and continue to progress academically.

We started with the specific learning goals for the year. This will help us with a better understanding of what your child is expected to learn and how we can help them.

We focused on creating opportunities to practice what they are learning in school. This could involve reading books, doing math problems, or working on maths projects.

It is also important to be supportive of your child’s learning. This means providing them with positive reinforcement and encouragement. It also means being patient and understanding when they are struggling.

Working in alignment with the school curriculum is an important way to support your child’s learning.

Contributions towards Mathegramming Academy can be directed towards:

Auroville Unity Fund With a note for STEM land and mail it to

Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan, STEM land Udavi School, Auroville, Edayanchavadi, Tamil

Nadu – 605101 (All donations are 100% tax-deductible in India). www.auraauro.com

MATHEGRAMMING NEWSLETTER VOLUME -2, AUGUST 2023

Mathegramming Academy aims to build Responsibility and Rigor in children and generate Results through mentoring of Mathematics through projects in programming and leadership in action. In this newsletter, we capture the initiatives that have taken off with the mentoring of teachers and engagement with children in government schools. This is a glimpse of the last two months of what Mathegramming Academy delivered.

MATHEGRAMMING TOURNAMENT

Explore math in action with code! Join the Mathegramming Scratch Tournament, where you’ll use Scratch to turn math ideas into interactive wonders. From stories to games, unleash your creativity. No equations, just pure math magic!

Embracing the Future of Education: UGC Faculty training at STEM Land

On July 29th, 2023, the vibrant campus of STEMland welcomed esteemed faculty members from diverse disciplines and various states across India as part of the faculty training program Gurudakshita program. Dr. Sanjeev, the founder of STEMland, warmly received the group and initiated the session with what we as teachers want to manifest in the world along with an engaging presentation on the B.Voc program and the Mathegramming Academy. The B.Voc program blends vocational education with traditional academic courses, providing students with industry-relevant skills and knowledge.

The Mathegramming Academy to combine mathematics and computer programming, enabling students to leverage computational thinking in solving real-world challenges was appreciated for its effectiveness in nurturing critical thinking skills and enhancing problem-solving abilities among students.

The visiting faculty members were from diverse academic backgrounds, representing disciplines such as Management, Physics, Botany, Philosophy, History, and Chemistry. Each of them hailed from different states in India, including Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala. The age range of the faculty members was between 35 to 45, a group known for its dynamic energy, professional experience, and open- mindedness to embrace new educational approaches.
The Gurudakshita program emphasizes
interdisciplinary learning, promoting collaboration across different academic domains to implement NEP and encourage youth to become critical thinkers and responsible global citizens.
The faculty members participated in hands-on sessions and discussions during the training program.

They actively shared their experiences, challenges, and aspirations, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas. This collaborative atmosphere laid the foundation for building a strong network of educators committed to transformative education.

After the training sessions, the faculty members were given a tour of the STEMland campus. They witnessed the implementation of the innovative curriculum, where classrooms were transformed into hubs of creativity and inquiry.They were inspired by the institution’s commitment to providing students with a holistic and cutting-edge education. The experience motivated them to explore new pedagogical approaches and integrate real- world applications into their teaching methods.

The day concluded with a sense of optimism and excitement. insights gained at STEMland, they are bound to catalyze a positive change in the lives of their students and the broader community.

Mathegramming Academy trains Vaasavi international school teachers

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. The school is committed to using technology to enhance learning which is where we are supporting them. .

Mathegramming Academy and Vaasavi International School have partnered first to provide training for teachers The partnership is focussing on using technology for children to program and make mathematics (and sciences) learning engaging and effective . 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.

Mathegramming Academy recently conducted the first teaching training session for teachers at Vaasavi International School on 13th June 2023. The Mathegramming Academy team with support from C3STREAM Land Designs (C3SLD) seniors who visited the school and presented a session on the RTL tool Stand and Fear and a brief explanation about the upcoming sessions. The session focused on how to use technology to enhance math learning.

A short video on what C3SLD has been doing in the last 10 yrs which is being codified in Mathegramming Academy was shared as an introduction.

The partnership is expected to benefit both Mathegramming Academy and Vaasavi International School. For Mathegramming Academy this offers an opportunity to reach out to 320 children (initial target from 6th-8th grade) and in time the remaining teachers who are currently getting trained as well.

Vaasavi International School will be able to offer its students a more radical approach to learning. 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. Mathegramming Academy recently conducted the first teaching training session for teachers at Vaasavi International School on 13th June 2023. The Mathegramming Academy team with support from C3STREAM Land Designs (C3SLD) seniors who visited the school and presented a session on the RTL tool Stand and Fear and a brief explanation about the upcoming sessions. The session focused on how to use technology to enhance math learning.

A short video on what C3SLD has been doing in the last 10 yrs which is being codified in Mathegramming Academy was shared as an introduction.

The training then was led by Mathegramming Academy’s founder, Dr. Sanjeev. During the training session, Sanjeev delivered on sourcing one’s universal values to lead a transformation. Each teacher shared what they deeply care about. Sandhiya from C3SLD presented our socialized fear and how to transcend this fear to do something new followed by insights (what I learned about myself). Sanjeev and Sandhiya processed insights. Sanjeev also explained how Mathegramming Academy can help students visualize math concepts, solve problems more effectively, and develop critical thinking skills by training teachers

The teachers at Vaasavi International School were deeply influenced by the training and shared their insights on discovering the qualities they stand for and want to see in children. They also appreciated the opportunity to learn about new ways to use technology in math learning. They are excited to use the skills they learned in the training session to create more engaging and effective math lessons for their students.

Mathegramming Academy is looking forward to being in action. We have so far conducted 4 training programs with the teachers.

Igniting Minds through Innovative STEM- Centric Sessions in Edayanchavadi and Bommayarpalayam Government Schools

When looking at location action Mathegramming Academy embarked on a remarkable journey with the government schools located in Edayanchavadi and Bommayarpalayam. These training sessions were directly with children aimed to equip students with the tools and techniques needed to create engaging and impactful learning experiences.

The training sessions for Government School Edayanchavadi are slated for every Friday, while sessions for Government School Bommayarpalayam are scheduled every Monday. Each training session spans a duration of 2 hours. Among the highlights were explorations into STEM education, ground rules, and explocation based learning using GeoGebra.

The training sessions started with an introduction to STEMland and our goal of supporting children’s creativity and critical thinking and for meaningful learning experiences.

We shared the ground rules of STEMland – respect yourself, respect others and respect the materials. These guidelines foster a collaborative and supportive environment to learn. This initial step set the tone for a productive and engaging training experience and learn from one another.

One of the highlights of the training sessions was the introduction to GeoGebra – a versatile mathematical software that allows for discovery learning and create interactive visualizations and simulations

Through hands-on activities, teachers and students discovered how GeoGebra could be integrated in their learning, transforming abstract concepts into tangible visualizations. Exploring the Sum of Interior Angles of a Triangle was something that children could see and then explore noticing that no matter how a triangle was drawn the sum of the interior angles always added up to 180 degrees.

The utilization of GeoGebra not only demystified mathematical concepts but also kindled a passion for exploration and discovery among young minds.

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.

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 to their peers adding a sense of responsibility to their learning. These presentations also act as a way to revisit a concept or get an introduction to a new concept (across grades).

Empowering Students Through Mathegramming Academy: A Journey of Learning at Isai ambalam and Udavi School

Mathegramming Academy, a unique blend of visual mathematics and programming is looking to ground its learning locally. Students in Isai ambalam School and Udavi School are looking to create projects that help them deepen their understanding of the topics taken up in their classes. A couple of children in each grade took up the challenge each time to create projects for a topic by putting in a little more time practicing at home and using the time in the school to do projects.Z

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 to their peers adding a sense of responsibility to their learning. These presentations also act as a way to revisit a concept or get an introduction to a new concept (across grades).


The students who took up projects found that it challenged them and made them think creatively, needing to experiment with different approaches and come up with their solutions.

This approach not only enhances problem- solving skills but also gives a sense of confidence and accomplishment.

This is creating projects and children who are championing new approaches to education.

Gist of further sessions at Vaasavi International School

Mathegramming Academy continued to engage with the teachers of Vaasavi International School to support them learn and design a program that will work for their school. The third week delved into reflections on system principles, Mathegramming project demos, algebraic tiles, and designing classes with Conscious full System Response (CFSR).

Reflections on System Principles:

Educators reflected on their understanding of how components within a system interact and influence each other. Teachers learned how to apply the principles of systems and culture in their classrooms, considering the dynamics between students, curriculum, and teaching methods. By incorporating system thinking into their teaching approach, instructors can develop more holistic and effective educational strategies.

Mathegramming Project Demos:D

One of the highlights of this session was the demonstration of Mathegramming projects by the term based requests that the teachers had brought up in the previous sessions. The team showcased interactive projects that demonstrated complex mathematical concepts and science topics through fun and engaging scratch programs. It sparked excitement among the educators as they realized the potential of integrating technology into their lessons to enhance student’s learning experiences.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-33.png

Introduction to Algebraic Tiles:

Algebra can be a challenging subject for students, but the training session introduced a powerful tool for teaching algebraic concepts: algebraic tiles. Educators were given hands-on experience in using algebraic tiles to demonstrate factorization, forming equations, and exploring algebraic identities. The teachers felt that the tactile nature of algebraic tiles helps students visualize abstract algebraic expressions, making the learning process more accessible and enjoyable.

Designing Classes using Conscious Full System Response (CFSR): CFSR, an emerging teaching methodology, emphasizes creating a response that addresses immediate needs, systemic shifts required as well as fostering inner capacity.

Teachers were guided on how to design their classes by considering the needs, interests, and learning styles of their students. The CFSR approach encourages teachers to be adaptable, intuitive, and empathetic in their interactions with students. This fosters a positive and inclusive learning atmosphere that encourages active participation and academic growth.

The teacher training sessions at Vaasavi International School were an enriching and empowering experience for all participants. As educators, they discovered new and innovative ways to inspire and educate their students effectively. The insights gained from the sessions on system principles, Mathegramming, algebraic tiles, and CFSR will undoubtedly impact their teaching practices positively.

MATHEGRAMMING NEWSLETTER VOLUME -2, AUGUST 2023

Mathegramming Academy aims to build Responsibility and Rigor in children and generate Results through mentoring of Mathematics through projects in programming and leadership in action. In this newsletter, we capture the initiatives that have taken off with the mentoring of teachers and engagement with children in government schools. This is a glimpse of the last two months of what Mathegramming Academy delivered.

MATHEGRAMMING TOURNAMENT

Explore math in action with code! Join the Mathegramming Scratch Tournament, where you’ll use Scratch to turn math ideas into interactive wonders. From stories to games, unleash your creativity. No equations, just pure math magic!

Embracing the Future of Education: UGC Faculty training at STEM Land

On July 29th, 2023, the vibrant campus of STEMland welcomed esteemed faculty members from diverse disciplines and various states across India as part of the faculty training program Gurudakshita program. Dr. Sanjeev, the founder of STEMland, warmly received the group and initiated the session with what we as teachers want to manifest in the world along with an engaging presentation on the B.Voc program and the Mathegramming Academy. The B.Voc program blends vocational education with traditional academic courses, providing students with industry-relevant skills and knowledge.

The Mathegramming Academy to combine mathematics and computer programming, enabling students to leverage computational thinking in solving real-world challenges was appreciated for its effectiveness in nurturing critical thinking skills and enhancing problem-solving abilities among students.

The visiting faculty members were from diverse academic backgrounds, representing disciplines such as Management, Physics, Botany, Philosophy, History, and Chemistry. Each of them hailed from different states in India, including Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala. The age range of the faculty members was between 35 to 45, a group known for its dynamic energy, professional experience, and open- mindedness to embrace new educational approaches.
The Gurudakshita program emphasizes
interdisciplinary learning, promoting collaboration across different academic domains to implement NEP and encourage youth to become critical thinkers and responsible global citizens.
The faculty members participated in hands-on sessions and discussions during the training program.

They actively shared their experiences, challenges, and aspirations, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas. This collaborative atmosphere laid the foundation for building a strong network of educators committed to transformative education.

After the training sessions, the faculty members were given a tour of the STEMland campus. They witnessed the implementation of the innovative curriculum, where classrooms were transformed into hubs of creativity and inquiry.They were inspired by the institution’s commitment to providing students with a holistic and cutting-edge education. The experience motivated them to explore new pedagogical approaches and integrate real- world applications into their teaching methods.

The day concluded with a sense of optimism and excitement. insights gained at STEMland, they are bound to catalyze a positive change in the lives of their students and the broader community.

Mathegramming Academy trains Vaasavi international school teachers

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. The school is committed to using technology to enhance learning which is where we are supporting them. .

Mathegramming Academy and Vaasavi International School have partnered first to provide training for teachers The partnership is focussing on using technology for children to program and make mathematics (and sciences) learning engaging and effective . 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.

Mathegramming Academy recently conducted the first teaching training session for teachers at Vaasavi International School on 13th June 2023. The Mathegramming Academy team with support from C3STREAM Land Designs (C3SLD) seniors who visited the school and presented a session on the RTL tool Stand and Fear and a brief explanation about the upcoming sessions. The session focused on how to use technology to enhance math learning.

A short video on what C3SLD has been doing in the last 10 yrs which is being codified in Mathegramming Academy was shared as an introduction.

The partnership is expected to benefit both Mathegramming Academy and Vaasavi International School. For Mathegramming Academy this offers an opportunity to reach out to 320 children (initial target from 6th-8th grade) and in time the remaining teachers who are currently getting trained as well.


Vaasavi International School will be able to offer its students a more radical approach to learning. 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. Mathegramming Academy recently conducted the first teaching training session for teachers at Vaasavi International School on 13th June 2023. The Mathegramming Academy team with support from C3STREAM Land Designs (C3SLD) seniors who visited the school and presented a session on the RTL tool Stand and Fear and a brief explanation about the upcoming sessions. The session focused on how to use technology to enhance math learning.

A short video on what C3SLD has been doing in the last 10 yrs which is being codified in Mathegramming Academy was shared as an introduction.

The training then was led by Mathegramming Academy’s founder, Dr. Sanjeev. During the training session, Sanjeev delivered on sourcing one’s universal values to lead a transformation. Each teacher shared what they deeply care about. Sandhiya from C3SLD presented our socialized fear and how to transcend this fear to do something new followed by insights (what I learned about myself). Sanjeev and Sandhiya processed insights. Sanjeev also explained how Mathegramming Academy can help students visualize math concepts, solve problems more effectively, and develop critical thinking skills by training teachers

The teachers at Vaasavi International School were deeply influenced by the training and shared their insights on discovering the qualities they stand for and want to see in children. They also appreciated the opportunity to learn about new ways to use technology in math learning. They are excited to use the skills they learned in the training session to create more engaging and effective math lessons for their students.

Mathegramming Academy is looking forward to being in action. We have so far conducted 4 training programs with the teachers.

Igniting Minds through Innovative STEM- Centric Sessions in Edayanchavadi and Bommayarpalayam Government Schools When looking at location action Mathegramming Academy embarked on a remarkable journey with the government schools located in Edayanchavadi and Bommayarpalayam. These training sessions were directly with children aimed to equip students with the tools and techniques needed to create engaging and impactful learning experiences.

The training sessions for Government School Edayanchavadi are slated for every Friday, while sessions for Government School Bommayarpalayam are scheduled every Monday. Each training session spans a duration of 2 hours. Among the highlights were explorations into STEM education, ground rules, and explocation based learning using GeoGebra.

The training sessions started with an introduction to STEMland and our goal of supporting children’s creativity and critical thinking and for meaningful learning experiences.

We shared the ground rules of STEMland – respect yourself, respect others and respect the materials. These guidelines foster a collaborative and supportive environment to learn. This initial step set the tone for a productive and engaging training experience and learn from one another.

One of the highlights of the training sessions was the introduction to GeoGebra – a versatile mathematical software that allows for discovery learning and create interactive visualizations and simulations

Through hands-on activities, teachers and students discovered how GeoGebra could be integrated in their learning, transforming abstract concepts into tangible visualizations. Exploring the Sum of Interior Angles of a Triangle was something that children could see and then explore noticing that no matter how a triangle was drawn the sum of the interior angles always added up to 180 degrees.

The utilization of GeoGebra not only demystified mathematical concepts but also kindled a passion for exploration and discovery among young minds.

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.

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 to their peers adding a sense of responsibility to their learning. These presentations also act as a way to revisit a concept or get an introduction to a new concept (across grades).

Empowering Students Through Mathegramming Academy: A Journey of Learning at Isai ambalam and Udavi School

Mathegramming Academy, a unique blend of visual mathematics and programming is looking to ground its learning locally. Students in Isai ambalam School and Udavi School are looking to create projects that help them deepen their understanding of the topics taken up in their classes. A couple of children in each grade took up the challenge each time to create projects for a topic by putting in a little more time practicing at home and using the time in the school to do projects.

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 to their peers adding a sense of responsibility to their learning. These presentations also act as a way to revisit a concept or get an introduction to a new concept (across grades).


The students who took up projects found that it challenged them and made them think creatively, needing to experiment with different approaches and come up with their solutions.

This approach not only enhances problem- solving skills but also gives a sense of confidence and accomplishment.

This is creating projects and children who are championing new approaches to education.

Gist of further sessions at Vaasavi International School

Mathegramming Academy continued to engage with the teachers of Vaasavi International School to support them learn and design a program that will work for their school. The third week delved into reflections on system principles, Mathegramming project demos, algebraic tiles, and designing classes with Conscious full System Response (CFSR).

Reflections on System Principles:

Educators reflected on their understanding of how components within a system interact and influence each other. Teachers learned how to apply the principles of systems and culture in their classrooms, considering the dynamics between students, curriculum, and teaching methods. By incorporating system thinking into their teaching approach, instructors can develop more holistic and effective educational strategies.

Mathegramming Project Demos:D

One of the highlights of this session was the demonstration of Mathegramming projects by the term based requests that the teachers had brought up in the previous sessions. The team showcased interactive projects that demonstrated complex mathematical concepts and science topics through fun and engaging scratch programs. It sparked excitement among the educators as they realized the potential of integrating technology into their lessons to enhance student’s learning experiences.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-33.png

Introduction to Algebraic Tiles:

Algebra can be a challenging subject for students, but the training session introduced a powerful tool for teaching algebraic concepts: algebraic tiles. Educators were given hands-on experience in using algebraic tiles to demonstrate factorization, forming equations, and exploring algebraic identities. The teachers felt that the tactile nature of algebraic tiles helps students visualize abstract algebraic expressions, making the learning process more accessible and enjoyable.

Designing Classes using Conscious Full System Response (CFSR): CFSR, an emerging teaching methodology, emphasizes creating a response that addresses immediate needs, systemic shifts required as well as fostering inner capacity.

Teachers were guided on how to design their classes by considering the needs, interests, and learning styles of their students. The CFSR approach encourages teachers to be adaptable, intuitive, and empathetic in their interactions with students. This fosters a positive and inclusive learning atmosphere that encourages active participation and academic growth.

The teacher training sessions at Vaasavi International School were an enriching and empowering experience for all participants. As educators, they discovered new and innovative ways to inspire and educate their students effectively. The insights gained from the sessions on system principles, Mathegramming, algebraic tiles, and CFSR will undoubtedly impact their teaching practices positively.

MATHEGRAMMING ACADEMY N E W S L E T T E R Volume – 1, June 2023

Mathegramming Academy aims to build Responsibility and Rigor in children and generate Results through mentoring and mastery of Mathematics through projects in programming/electronics, and through leadership in action. Mathegramming Academy is a program of C3STREAM Land Designs, Auroville

Philosophies Underlying Mathegramming Academy

The philosophy underlying the approach for C3SLD is based on the principles of progressive and constructivist thinkers like Jerome Bruner, and Seymour Papert in the United States, and Sri Aurobindo in India. The philosophy of Sri Aurobindo of the integral development of the child and emphasizes self-knowledge which the National Education Policy is based on stating “knowledge is a deep-seated treasure and education helps in its manifestation as the perfection which is already within an individual.” The philosophy creates guiding principles as teachers and in how we engage with children.

MATHEGRAMMING ACADEMY’S
baby step
Collaboration with VAASAVI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – CBSE in
training teachers on Mathematics through programming and leadership program .

The three principles of true education by Sri Aurobindo are:

  • Nothing can be taught which can be linked to the constructivist theory of not forcing knowledge into a child.
  • The mind needs to be consulted in its own growth indicating that the role of a teacher is not to mould or hammer a child into the form desired by the adult. The teacher is a guide, or mentor that supports and encourages a child in the process of learning, enabling them to evolve toward perfection
  • From near to far – which is to work from what is tangible and accessible to children to what is abstract to them

These principles guide our work at C3SLD where Mathegramming is codifying the work that has been done with children over the last 10 years.

A session on GeoGebra tools by Mathegramming Academy:

GeoGebra is a free and open-source interactive mathematics software that allows users to create and manipulate mathematical models, graphs, and figures.
Teachers at STEM Land have already been using GeoGebra for some classroom demonstrations, and the Mathegramming Academy presented a session on GeoGebra that would step up their ability to interact and engage with children and create interactive projects and 3D models.

Dharani presented how to create a GeoGebra activity and then a classroom for students to be able to do tasks and for the instructor to be able to observe the progress in real-time. Dharani created a classroom with many activities and then one that let someone work with a GeoGebra sheet. The rest of the session was done in this classroom which allowed everyone to see the progress of individuals signed in.


  • Sivashankar presented how to create a circumcentre, circumcircle, incentre, and incircle for a triangle. To move the triangle points and see how the construction refreshes and holds. Also, to add color and character to the projects. on how to create a circumcentre, circumcircle, incentre, and incircle for a triangle.
  • Premkumar presented how to create a 11^3as (10+1)^3 visually as a 3D construction with polygon and prism extension.
  • Soundariya presented how to create interactive (and randomized) questions and answers and provide input boxes and buttons and respond to the user’s inputs using the if condition.

The session was intense for 1-1/2 hrs and was enjoyable and enlightening.

Breakthrough meeting of Mathegramming Academy

Date: May 20, 2023

Agenda:
Review Integrity
Discussion of new goals and objectives
Blogs and Weekly update Scaling Stemland
Friday Activity Class

Action Plan
Integrity Check
The team had an integrity check in the previous action plan and discussed what went well and what could be improved.


The team agreed that they will hold integrity to make good progress on their goals but could have been more organized and efficient.

New Goals and Objectives

The Mathegramming Academy team is excited to announce our new goals and objectives for the upcoming weeks. We are committed to making modules exploring Geogebra, Scratch, and Electronics.

– Our first goal is to make Mathegramming Academy more accessible to everyone. We want to make it easy for anyone to take support from Mathegramming Academy.

We believe that these new goals will help us to make Mathegramming Academy a valuable asset to rely on for everyone.

We are excited to work towards these goals and look forward to sharing our progress with you.

They agreed that they wanted to focus on increasing their reach and engagement, website development, and developing new and innovative ways to teach math.

Blogs and Weekly Update

As the team members should write a blog at the end of the week about what they learned and worked

Sending weekly updates on time and Weekly team updates would be sent by taking turns.

Accountability in Stem land

In Mathegramming Academy each person has to take responsibility for Stem land.

How to manage stocks, website management, puzzles, News Letters, Videos, Visitor Management, Stem land(fest), etc.

Action Plan

The team agreed to take the following next steps:

  • Develop a CFSR for the website
  • Pre-presentation on Thursdays for the presentation on Fridays at 11 am.
  • Meet daily from 3’o clock to 4’o clock to review daily learnings and progress.
  • The team is excited to continue working on its mission to make math more accessible and engaging for everyone.

Design session for Mathegramming Academy:

A design session in radical

transformational leadership is a process of creating a vision for the future and then developing a plan to achieve that vision.

It is a leadership program that supports learning what I deeply care about and aligning it with systems shifts and strategic action.

The Mathegramming Academy attended the session which was held on the 24th and 26th of May.

The design session began with a group of people coming together to share their projects. This was hosted by Dr.Sudharshan from RTL Works. This is followed by a discussion of the challenges that must be overcome to achieve these projects. Once the challenges are identified, the group works together to develop a plan of action.

The action plan should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. It should also be based on the group’s values and beliefs. Once the plan is in place, the group can begin to implement it. The design session allows the group to come together, share their ideas, and develop a plan for change. The action plan can then be used to guide the group’s efforts and help them achieve their goals

In the session, the Mathegramming team discussed the following with the RTL works by presenting the three templates of architecture for equitable and sustainable change. Dharani from the Mathegramming team presented the templates with the inputs from the rest of the team. The templates are the Conscious full spectrum response model, Respond and realize, and Synergistic operational strategies.

Defining the problem or opportunity. What is the issue that the group is trying to address? What are the opportunities that the group is seeking to exploit?

Identifying the stakeholders. Who are the people who will be affected by the change? What are their needs and interests?

Generated ideas. Made a list of possible solutions to the problem or opportunity.

Evaluated the ideas. Assessed the feasibility and potential impact of each idea.

Chose a course of action. Selected the best idea and develop an implementation plan.

Implementing the plan. Putting the plan into action and monitoring its progress.

Evaluating the results. To assess the impact of the change and make necessary adjustments.

The session was an eye-opener and paved the way to look at different and multiple perspectives of the project. It narrowed the gaps in the project. It was interesting. We thank the RTL workers for their time and feedback. We look forward to being in action.

Mathegramming Academy explores Pygame

Mathegramming Academy explores different platforms of programming every month since it started. First, we worked on scratch programming and later worked on GeoGebra projects.

This month we looked into Python and started doing projects in Pygame implementing mathematical concepts.

We learned basic programming by doing a guided project in the course era and made a pong game.

Pygame is a powerful and popular open-source library that provides functionality for building 2D games and multimedia applications using Python. We explored different simplest installations for using Python coding. We compared the installation time, size, inbuilt modules, and packages, steps involved in the installation, and arrived at the most feasible and operational way of PyCharm as children will be using it for learning .

Once Python is installed, we proceeded with installing Pygame.
We made projects on pong game,squares visualization , fractions and so on.

We still continue to explore Pygame and extend to make projects in it using maths concepts.The journey is fascinating.

Working in Alignment with School Curriculum and School Reopening

As schools begin to reopen, it is important for Mathegramming Academy to work in alignment with the school curriculum.

This will help ensure that students are able to make the most of their learning opportunities and continue to progress academically.

We started with the specific learning goals for the year. This will help us with a better understanding of what your child is expected to learn and how we can help them.

We focused on creating opportunities to practice what they are learning in school. This could involve reading books, doing math problems, or working on maths projects.

It is also important to be supportive of your child’s learning. This means providing them with positive reinforcement and encouragement. It also means being patient and understanding when they are struggling.

Working in alignment with the school curriculum is an important way to support your child’s learning.

Contributions towards Mathegramming Academy can be directed towards:

Auroville Unity Fund With a note for STEM land and mail it to

Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan, STEM land Udavi School, Auroville, Edayanchavadi, Tamil

Nadu – 605101 (All donations are 100% tax-deductible in India). www.auraauro.com

Rishi Valley School Journey into STEM Land

On 24th January 2024, there were 40 Students and Teachers from Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh who came to visit STEM land. The Mathegramming team conducted a two-hour session with them. First, we started the session with Stand and Fear in “Radical Transformational Leadership”. Technology is value neutral and we talked about the values that we would like to embody when we use technology and also my socialized fear that does not support me being my full potential or embody my stand.

These sessions help to break our silos and work as a team in groups. Each student shared their name and qualities in different ways.


Explored STEM Activities

Following the workshop, the children were asked to challenge themselves and take up something they had not done before and the group explored various STEM activities. The students choose activities based on their interests. The categories included Puzzles, Mindstorms, Materials, Craftwork, Electronics, Scratch, and Games.

Showing STEMland concept materials like Integers, dines blocks, and Algebraic Identities to children they can see how these concepts are related to everyday life. Teaching students makes a big positive impact and it helps them to think critically and problem-solving skills. This way of approach not only benefits the children’s educational development but also makes collaborative learning with others.

In the electronics section, students were able to understand the uses of electronic devices such as voltage, resistors, and current, along with a multimeter. They gained knowledge in drawing circuit diagrams and calculating the daily consumption of current in their surroundings.

In the Mindstorm section, we had fun with robots. Step by step, we guided each other on how to build a simple robot, the connection of all the parts, and how to control our robots. It creates enthusiasm and joy in learning.

In the craftwork section, students and teachers participated in crafting Kirigami balls. They started by painting their sheets and observing the connection between creativity and critical thinking. After finishing the Kirigami balls, they made everyone happy.

After completing the learning experience students and teachers shared about what they learned and how it connects to real life.

Reflection from our Organization’s member

My name is Sharmila. I stand for courage and patience for myself and others. On January 24, 2024, a group of students, accompanied by their teachers, visited STEM Land. I volunteered to guide them in exploring the games. The students were enthusiastic and thoroughly enjoyed playing the games introduced to them, which were focused on logic and strategic thinking.  It was heartening to witness their engagement and enjoyment throughout the exploration. I believe that the gaming session at STEM Land provided a perfect platform for both fun and learning.

UDAVI SCHOOL FAIR – REFLECTIONS

Udavi school conducted a fair on 26.01.2024. Students from different schools took part and many also conducted games from their side. Some games were based on physical activities and others involved a certain level of critical thinking. Some of the teachers from STEM Land supported children at Isai Ambalam School by making games that they wanted to present. We could see the efforts put in by the students for the preparation of each game. Many teachers and alumni also took part in the event. The participants happily took part in all the games they wished to play and appreciated the involvement and the commitment behind the hard work of the children. The school also organized lunch for all the children and all the participants. We had a nice time having food together. As a whole, the event turned out to be a good learning platform for everyone who took part in it.

Udavi school conducted a fair on 26.01.2024. Students from different schools took part and many also conducted games from their side. Some games were based on physical activities and others involved a certain level of critical thinking. Some of the teachers from STEM Land supported children at Isai Ambalam School with making games that they wanted to present. We could see the efforts put by the students for the preparation of each game. Many teachers and alumni also took part in the event. The participants happily took part in all the games they wished to play and appreciated the involvement and the commitment behind the hard work of the children. The school also organized lunch for all the children and all the participants. We had a nice time having food together. As a whole, the event turned out to be a good learning platform for everyone who took part in it.

Sundaresan:

When I was supporting children in making projects for the Udavi School Fair, I was able to notice the depth to which they can think and apply. While helping, I was able to give inputs to them and based on what they did on their own, I also learned different methods of approaching a task. I saw unity among children when they were allowed to work in groups. I also observed that many children came forward to contribute their best in completing the work. I was able to notice the acceptance among children as each of them shared their ideas for their projects. This was very different from what usually happens in classroom-based education.

Because of such events, unity, and courage to create were built among children from different schools. They were able to gain knowledge by observing and taking part in the games organized by their co-participants. I noticed the quality of leadership among children while conducting the games which usually doesn’t come if they just participate in the games organized by others. The efforts and interest levels of the kids went high as they prepared for the event. Irrespective of whether the project was complicated or simple, each child did their best. I even asked for the project’s use when they were designing. This made them think of the actual purpose of the work they were doing.

Santhosh:

For the Udavi school fair, we decided to make games with our Isai Ambalam school children, in my team I had 2 girls from 7th grade and 2 boys from 8th grade so we decided to make a game with magnets named “Magnetic Game”. In this game we can play with two players, First, we will give 15 magnets to each player so the total number of magnets is 30. we have a square base in cardboard on which a square margin is drawn so now without touching that margin we have to place these 30 magnets one by one, we can place the magnets anywhere within the square, at the same time when a player places a magnet on his turn it might get attracted with magnets placed before so in such case that player should take all attracted magnets. Finally, which player places all 15 magnets without any attraction, they are the ones called the winner.

I have participated in all other games that were organized by children and they were more logical and fun games and I had new ideas of games in this fair. In our school our children participated in this fair and they kept a magnetic game.

Ajay:

I supported Isaiambalam children in preparing games and purchasing materials for the Udavi School fair. The children shared their ideas and created new games. We had only two days to prepare, so the children worked with full potential to make it happen in such a short time. During the preparation, they worked as a team and supported each other. I also learnt some new games at the fair, which were challenging and required logical thinking. Everyone enjoyed the fair and participated in almost all the games and puzzles. This experience taught me the importance of preplanning for every activity I undertake.

Jayabharathy:

The school fair gave me an opportunity to mingle with children. Children from different schools came forward with interesting games. Every time I played a game, I appreciated the child for being creative. I even encouraged other children, who were participants just like me, to be at their full potential while playing the games. When I saw them feeling bad for not winning in a particular game, I talked to them and motivated them to be a little more concentrated when they go to the next game. I noticed the quality of happiness, equality and confidence within myself and people around me. I observed unity and joy among children and adults during the entire event.

Sri Bhavani:

In Udavi school Fair, children and teachers were worked together and created wonderful space for the children from other school to engage and participate in the thoughtful games. Children were created games like maze using hydraulic pressure, recreating the animals using shapes like different types of triangles, quadrilaterals etc. All the children were engaged in participating and showcase their creative ideas with other school children. In this event, every child was able to engage themselves through psychic, mental and physical being.

Poonguzhali:

I enjoyed the fair games with the children. Children were creating many games. They were all united despite of distinct organizations. Children were at their full potential. I took part in many games. I won in button game. It involved a lot of concentration. I was given a handful of buttons, all mixed in colours. This game involved collecting buttons of same colour and putting them in separate bowls within the given amount of time. I felt that it was a good exercise for both my hands and my brain. I noticed that when I played this game, I gained more confidence and concentration.   

Sivaguru Prasath:

It was really fun and entertaining to participate and play the games conducted by our school kids. I learnt how to compete to win each game, not in a single attempt but many trails. Children were really good in conducting games in disciplined and sportive manner. The children prepared game kits and crafts on their own, without anyone else’s help. That was one thing I admired about self-learning.

Narmadha:

The school fair began with an exciting tug-of-war game, it was quite interesting to see everyone getting involved. Following that, students from other schools started organizing games in their stalls. These games tested both physical and mental abilities and were open to everyone – kids, teachers, and others.

What stood out was that there were no prizes for the games, but everyone was still eager to join in. Children were helping each other out and arranging various games. I got a chance to be part of all the games, and it was quite interesting. The main thing I learned from this experience is that I shouldn’t just stick to what I already know. I should explore new opportunities and support others along the way.

HOMESCHOOLER VISIT STEMLAND

A group of homeschoolers along with their parents visited stemland on Thursday – 28th december 2023 to explore new ways of learning. The Mathegramming team welcomed them wholeheartedly. We started the session with Stand and Fear, through stand they get to know who they are and what they deeply care about. And while doing fear they get to know about their socialized fears. 



They did all sorts of exciting things like:

Scratch programming, Electronics, Solving cast puzzles, Exploring Math materials, Games, Kirigami art, Mindstorms.

SCRATCH

          Through Scratch, kids get to be really creative and have a lot of fun. They learn how to think in a different way and solve problems by making their own stories, games, and animations. Scratch helps them understand simple coding ideas like loops and sequences while having a great time.

Reflection from Ilakyaarasi

          My name is Ilakyaarasi. I stand for patience and courage for myself and others. I learnt that I need to think of a more creative way for children to have an interest in working with scratch. I worked with two children from scratch, I gave an introduction of how it works then gave a task to them. Then, they were able to think and complete it on their own. I saw the feeling of accomplishment when they completed the task. I also learned different ways to solve the given task by myself.

ELECTRONICS

          Parents and childrens from homeschoolers explored electronics. They learnt Concept of Body resistance using conducting gel. Simple circuit using LED, Resistor,

switch and battery. How to find the Breadboard connection using a connectivity test in the multimeter. With a Multimeter how to measure the battery voltage, To check the working of LED, How the 7 segment display works and given tasks which alphabet can’t be displayed in the 7 segment.

Reflection from Dinesh

          My name is Dinesh,I stand for peace and Perseverance for myself and for others. While starting to explain the concepts to the group I was little bit nervous and when they started to ask questions about concepts I gave my answers with an analogy that made them understood the concepts and I felt confident on myself and started to answer for their questions confidently .While introduced the concept of body resistance ,everyone in my group was excited (especially children)to know their body resistance that gave an idea how can I change my way of explaining concepts to the children I am working with.

SOLVING CAST PUZZLES

          When kids and parents solve a cast puzzle, it seems challenging to them. First off, it helps them figure out problems and think really hard. They were patient and did not give up, even if the puzzle is tricky and they start noticing how shapes fit together. It’s like a fun game that makes them focus and pay attention, and when they finally solve it, they feel really proud of themselves.

Reflection from Premkumar:

          My name is Premkumar. I stand for self-confidence and happiness for myself and others. I supported the Mathegramming team in this workshop. I got to engage with a lot of new people and I had a wonderful experience. When I show the Cast Puzzle to others, I notice each person thinks in different ways and possibilities to solve puzzles. I also learnt how different people solve problems. I enjoyed it a lot throughout this session.

EXPLORING MATH MATERIALS

          When we explore math materials, the parents and kids find it more interesting that they are able to learn math with things they can touch and move around. It makes learning more fun and helps them understand the concept even better. When kids use objects like blocks to learn math, they get to remember the ideas more easily.

Reflection from Soundhariya

          My name is Soundhariya. I stand for care and perseverance for myself and others. Showing STEMland concept materials like Fraction, Integers, and Dines blocks to children and their parents they can see how these concepts are related to everyday life. Teaching with students makes a big positive impact and it helps them to think critically and problem-solving skills. This approach not only benefits the children’s educational development but also makes collaborative learning with others. When parents actively participate in all the STEM concepts, they become more aware of their child’s improvement.

GAMES

          The children and parents explored a few games in stemland like Azul, Dimension, sputnik and kabaleo. When they explore these games, they pick up skills like logical thinking and problem-solving and also they learn about patterns and strategies. These games teach them to work together and have fun as a team. So, while enjoying the game they end up picking up skills like strategy, creativity, and teamwork.

Reflection from Sharmila

My name is Sharmila, and I deeply care about courage and patience, both for myself and others. I introduced some selective games to the students and their parents. Initially, I felt anxious and nervous about interacting with them, but when I focused on my stand, I was able to overcome the fear and engage with them. While playing the games, I noticed that almost everyone enjoyed themselves, and some parents even took note of the game names due to their cognitive engagement. I also observed that some students enjoyed playing a particular game multiple times, while others were keen on exploring all the games I had prepared for them. The enthusiasm and energy shown by them during the exploring the games, left me astonished. I am delighted to be a part of this experience.

KIRIGAMI

 As they start to fold and cut, they also learn about shapes, symmetry, pattern and coordination. Kirigami helps them understand how different folds and cuts can turn a simple piece of paper into amazing 3D creations. It’s like learning a special kind of art that combines creativity and a bit of paperwork.

Reflection from preethi

          My name is Preethi. I stand for courage, kindness and perseverance for myself and others. I taught kids and parents how to make Kirigami balls. Before we started making kirigami balls the parents were more excited about how we are going to make a ball with a few pieces of paper. First we started with coloring the paper, some colored the paper some drew the patterns in there paper. It’s kind of like playing with colors and shapes to make their own special designs. And also they were more focused and patient in what they are doing and when we completed I saw the satisfaction and joy in their faces. I personally enjoyed the session and got to engage with new people.

MINDSTORM

          Through constructing and programming their robots, children develop essential skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It helps children with logical thinking, teamwork, and perseverance. Mindstorms provides an engaging and interactive platform that makes learning enjoyable and effective for young minds.

Reflection from Sivashankar

          My name is Sivashankar. I stand for courage and equality for myself and others. Playing with things like Mindstorms, which involves building robots and programming them, is really good for kids. It helps them understand science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a fun way. It also teaches them how to solve problems and not give up when things get tough. When they make mistakes, they learn from them and keep trying. Overall, playing with Mindstorms doesn’t just teach technical stuff; it helps kids become well-rounded and ready for a world that relies a lot on technology.

From Dusty Bowl to Fishy Paradise!

We work on beautifying our campus at Udavi. Do you all remember that old conical cement slab lying left outside the office by the last residents? I had a vision of turning it into a small pond, and with the help of a few friends in an organization, we dug the soil and found some granite stones. We utilized them and placed them around the plants to make them visually amazing. We washed the slab and placed it in the hole we dug, filling it with water.

The next day, I brought a lotus plant and soil from my village pond, poured the soil in, and planted the lotus. To enhance its appearance, we also added four fish we caught from the kitchen pond. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.

About three months later, I got a lily from Uthamaraj Anna and planted it in the pond. Now, the lily started to bloom with a beautiful white and purple colour. The population of fish inside the pond drastically increased, and now more than 40 fish are swimming around. With the sunlight, the little pond we made looks so appetizing to the eyes.

Every four or five days, I added more water to the pond. It was not just for the fish but also for birds, dogs, and cows to drink from it. Sometimes, the water would go down a lot when the big cows drank a bunch, but I always made sure to fill it up again. This way, it helped all the animals around by giving them water to drink.

Our old cement bowl, once lonely and forgotten, is now a mini-pond wonderland. It serves as a reminder that even the dullest things can transform into something magical with a little love, care, and sunshine. So, the next time you encounter a neglected old thing or a dusty pot, remember: a bit of imagination and some friendly plants can turn it into a joyful oasis!

New way of Decimal Multiplication

The Mathegramming team at Vasavi International School taught new ways of decimal multiplication using graph sheets. Before we started the session, we introduced what is decimal multiplication and students said it’s regular multiplication but with numbers that have dots (decimal)in them. We just have to multiply the numbers like normal and then figure out where to put the dot in our answer. We believe that learning should be fun and interactive.

Graph sheets provide visual ideas that make an understanding of decimal multiplication and the grid lines help to understand the placement of whole number and decimal values. The graph sheet has horizontal and vertical lines, creating boxes for each digit. Use different colors to mark them as 1,1/10, and 1/100 on the graph sheet.

Draw the first whole number with a decimal value on the horizontal side and another with a decimal value on the vertical side. Now extend both decimal values and make it as an area.

 Add the total number of decimal places in both numbers. This will determine the placement of the decimal point in your final answer.

1/10 – 1 means the whole part is divided into ten equal parts on the graph sheet. It means 1/10 moves the dot one place to the left.

1/100 – Now combine all ten pieces and each piece as one part. (i.e.) 1/100 moves the dot two places to the left.

In the normal way of teaching decimal multiplication, students feel like overwhelmed and disconnected. Our Mathegramming team filled the gap by combining the principles of mathematics with the creativity and logic of programming. Through the collaborative efforts of the Mathegramming team, the process of teaching decimal multiplication to Vasavi students using graph sheets has more to be highly effective.

Smart vacuum cleaner robot

Introduction:

                        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 the student started working on the project. At first, We started to create the basic structure of the robot with 4 wheels and a gear motor for each wheel and we fixed an Arduino Uno board for the programming of the robot and they have also fixed Arduino motor shield for controlling the motors and then they have fixed the wires correctly to make it work and they have also used Ultrasonic sensor to identify the objects or barriers in front of the robot along with Ultrasonic sensor we have used Servo motor to rotate the Ultrasonic sensor left and right. We have used Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for the power. We have used a 6V DC motor for the vacuum cleaner to suck the waste from the floor using a water bottle and some PVC pipes to make some shape so that could suck the waste. The design of the vacuum cleaner is very simple and easily arrangeable by anyone and also the circuit is also easy to fix so anyone with required materials can make this vacuum cleaner robot. The Robot design was taken from YouTube and we have got the information of required components from the same. We have changed something according to our needs and we have made it in our own style.

Coding:

               The Arduino board has been programmed with some code to make the robot work. We are using the Arduino IDE for programming the Arduino board so that it could do the things we code in it.

The shift in the education system:

                                                                Normally most of the schools don’t really emphasize on the practical education of the children they only focus on theory and the marks, STEM Land a place of Unending Learning and a place of co-creation we are making so many efforts to bring a change in students life as we are more concerned about what they like instead of what the school likes to do so we have a place where students come and learn by themselves we do have many games over here in STEM Land to increase the critical thinking of the children and we also do some electronics with children to make them apply what they have leant. The shift from theoretical to practical way of learning makes STEM Land a Unique place in Auroville for people who want to learn new things. Stem land also emphasize on Equality so that everyone gets a chance to learn what they want and its open for everyone who truly wants to learn something. Nowadays, the technology is getting too much updated so the students should be skilled enough to abide with the technology so we have the sophisticated environment here in stem land to help children to get in line with the modern technology.


Emphasis on skills:

                                     Stem Land emphasizing on mastering skills rather than marks-based learning like most of the schools doing we ensure creativity, critical thinking, Communication and adaptability in students who is coming to stem land and we also give flexibility on fields so that children can choose to learn what they want to learn. Stem Land stands as a place of openness so that the children can learn many things and they also teach other people. To master the skills the children, need to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Conclusion:                        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

String Game with BVOC Students

On November 8, 2023, For the first year BVOC students we (Second year’s and C3streamland) conducted Fresher’s Day and the second-year students spoke to Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan and he suggested them the system game (String game) which they learned from the Integral Education workshop and the game involves better understanding of themself and their fellow mates  it results in teamwork and creativity.

At first Sanjeev joined them online to explain the rules and give some introduction to the game and the game organizers were Durai, Ajay, Sandhiya, Premkumar and Sanjeev. The game had three rounds at the beginning of the game they were confused and stuck with some common shapes like circle, square, like that.  at the end of the first round, they were asked to see the score and shapes they were disappointed and got low score and in the second round they started with the same but ended with some shapes like trees, mountains and at the end they were able to see the difference between the first and second game and some of them were able to identify why they got these differences and they discussed. At the third round they were able to see the creativity and team coordination and communication among themself was improved much more than the beginning of the game.

Once they completed the string games and they were asked to share their reflections about the game with Sanjeev and how they can relate it to the real world.

Overall reflections and learnings from students:

  • The importance of deep listening.
  • Importance of adaptability.
  • Value of collaboration and coordination.
  • Acting over my background conversation.
  • They felt the essence of teamwork and the fun it gives when they work together.
  • Full potential
  • Observation and focus.
  • Problem solving.
  • Valuing others’ ideas.