~ Poovizhi, Poonguzhali, Arunkumar, Soundhariya, Ilakya arasi, Preethi
On the 12th of October 2024, a group of teachers from Odisha came to visit STEMland. It was an exciting day filled with learning and fun activities.
STEMland is a place where children and adults can explore and learn science, technology, engineering, and math in creative ways. Here, we use different materials and activities to make learning interesting and hands-on.
First, we start with Stand and Fear in Radical Transformational Leadership. Through the STAND, teachers reflected on their identities, who they are, what they deeply care about, and the fears that keep them from reaching their full potential.
These sessions helped them break down challenges and work better as a team. Each teacher introduced themselves and shared their qualities in a special way. These are the qualities the teacher shared in this session.
After completing the RTL session, they explored some STEMland activities like Finch Robot using Snap, Games,3D printer, Maths materials and Craft work.
Finch Robots in Snap:
The teachers got to play with Finch robots, which can be programmed using Snap. Snap is a simple coding platform where we can move robots on the floor, but the code was used here to control the robots. They learned how to make the robots move, dance, and even follow a path using simple commands. Using the Pencil, we can draw the diagram using Finch Robots on the chart paper.
Games: Games are a fun way to learn different skills. The teachers saw how we use educational games at STEMland to teach math and problem-solving. These games make learning feel like play, which helps teachers understand concepts in different manner. While playing the games, we can notice how we are thinking in a logical way and its very fun activities.
Math Materials: In STEMland, we have special math tools that help children learn math through hands-on activities. Our guests explored these materials and saw how they make math more visual and understandable, instead of just solving sums on paper. We explained how multiplication is visualized using the Dienes blocks, and they also understood place value concepts like Ones, Tens, Hundreds, and Thousands through area models. Then, they explored algebraic tiles to understand expressions like (a+b)², (a+b+c)², and the Pythagorean theorem, which shows how c² = a² + b².
Craft Work: Besides learning science and math, STEMland also encourages creativity. Our visitors enjoyed seeing craft work like Kirigami. This Craft activities help improve hand skills, attention to detail, concentration, and allow to express their creativity, such as in the precise folding techniques used to make craft balls.
3D Printer:
It is a special machine that can take a digital design and turn it into a real object by building it layer by layer. Our guests had the chance to explore our 3D printer. This was an exciting part of their visit, where they learned about how 3D printing works and even created a small object themselves.
So, we showed them how it works. We selected a simple design—a small pyramid—and demonstrated the printing process. The printer carefully built the pyramid layer by layer, using a special plastic material. It was a slow and detailed process, but our guests were excited to watch as the small pyramid visually.
Watching the 3D printer was fun and a great learning experience. By creating a small object like a pyramid, they understood how 3D printing can be used in various fields like design, engineering, and art. The little pyramid they printed became a memorable part of their experience!
Conclusion
The visitors from Odisha left STEMland with a lot of new ideas and experiences. They were excited to take some of these ideas back home to share with others. It was a wonderful day of learning, exploring, and exchanging knowledge.
Visiting Teacher’s Reflection
The group observed the PCs and others in STEM Land have developed certain life skills which are integrated into each and every activity there. The STEM Land people are aware of their STAND or their universal values which connect them to the purpose of their lives. Each of them is aware of their socialized FEARs which makes them aware of what changes in themselves they would bring in and make necessary progress.
Thus, the whole STEM Land is a space for inner progress while dealing with the tools, machinery, games, activities and projects whether within Auroville or for external companies.
One discovers the purpose of life to pursue and the slough to clear in one’s life and makes necessary progress to realise the aim of life in STEM Land consciously. Activities and projects are media to realise these objectives. This was clearly felt by the group members while they were there whatever short time they had.
Their openness to learning and helping others to learn about themselves is something unique among STEM Land members. Some group members perceived as some STEM Land members are really sadhaks
Poovizhi
My name is Poovizhi and I stand for Equality and Equity for myself and others. When the teachers from Orrisa came to our campus Ramanarayana introduced me to the team and I welcomed them and introduced STEM land. I gave them a broad view of the B.Voc, Shifu program, C3STREAM land and went into STEM land and shared our core values and how we put them in action and shift system and cultural norms. I explained the ground rules and how we work with children. They were interested to hear that we also have provided trainings for teachers as STEM educators. I did the setup of sourcing our own inner capacity but they were more comfortable in doing the session in Hindi so Sanjeev anna came and supported the session. Later they explored STEM activities I had a good experience and it would have been a bit challenging if anna was not available. I got inspired that I need to learn more than two languages.
Poonguzhali
My name is Poonguzhali, and I stand for courage for myself and others. In this session, I realized my full potential while working with Odisa teachers. I explained one of the STEAM activities, Kirigami (Papercraft). Before we started making kirigami balls, the teachers were excited about how we would make a ball from pieces of paper. We began by coloring the paper, and some of them drew different patterns they liked, before finally cutting the paper with scissors. They were very focused and patient in their work, and when we finished, I could see the satisfaction and joy on their faces. I enjoyed the session and got to engage with new teachers.
Arun Kumar
My name is Arun Kumar i stand for Peace and Equity for myself and others, I learned that everyone love to learn and play. The Teachers showed great enthusiasm and a competitive spirit in games like Abalone, Tangram, Dobble, and Genius Square. Their eagerness to participate and win proves how important it is to keep learning and staying active, no matter how old we get. It also showed me that doing things together makes everyone happy and connected.