STEAM education can lead to innovation and creativity - education

There is a lot to talk about the unprecedented challenges and impacts the Covid-19 crisis has put in front of us. Almost every sector has been hit hard, including children’s education too. The schools have been closed and children are learning from home. With all the daily routines and activities disrupted, it is easy to feel like a victim of the Covid-19 crisis. But there’s a silent hero that is bringing a change in the mindset of students, parents as well the teachers.

Amidst the novel Corona Virus crisis, many students are coming up with innovative and creative solutions in order to bring a change in the mindset of the society and minimise the damage and turn the situation into an opportunity. Yes, students are leveraging the STEAM skills in order to provide solutions to real-world problems by making the best use of their logical mindset, analytical and computational skills, cognitive approach etc.

STEAM and Innovation – Future Ready

STEAM Education is an interdisciplinary fusion of multiple fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) that aims to strengthen the core skills of the students and help them recognize their inner potential. The number of schools incorporating STEAM principles has increased exponentially in the past few years. According to a joint survey conducted by NITI Aayog and AIM, more than 6 million students have access to STEAM education facilities in their schools in India alone.

Right from the invention of the Wheel, Man has been continuously thriving. The thirst for development and upliftment of technology has never been stopped, and mankind continues to flourish through the advancement in technologies. Our educational system is tasked with preparing the next-gen leaders to succeed in life. But somewhere, we had been failing in incorporating critical-thinking skills and an innovative mindset in our children.

STEAM Education supports students to understand the fundamental laws of nature in a multi-disciplined way, transforming the mind of the student in the form of centralized innovation, and fostering their ability to solve problems. It gives students the right tools and approaches to explore new and creative ways of problem-solving, tinkering, pattern recognitions, and adjoining multiple domains. Over the past few years, there has been a dramatic rise in the patents filed by the students. A joint venture by NITI Aayog and AIM is promoting students to file patents and providing a workspace in the schools to quench the thirsts of the students for Innovation and Tinkering.

To tackle the negative impacts of Covid-19, students are taking the charge to save the mankind. Many students have come up with “Automatic Hand Sanitizers”, to prevent the spread of Corona Virus. Young minds are also creating awareness through their coding skills, and developing animated stories and games to create awareness in the society.

Early age Entrepeneurs – All Thanks to STEAM education

STEAM education in India is promoting the culture of Start-ups and entrepreneurship right from the early age. The government is taking many initiatives, including the ATL Marathon contest, where the students have to come up with the solutions to tackle the existing problems in the society. In 2018, around 5000 students participated in the competition where more than 1400 submissions were received. The Top 50 teams were called in for a 15 day Internship at IBM Bengaluru Campus, where all the innovators learned the essentials of entrepreneurship using

STEAM education skills. STEAM education is motivating students to adapt an innovative mindset and come up with creative solutions. The industries are leaving no stone unturned and are providing platforms for students to showcase their innovative skills. Competitions, Online Hackathons and Challenges are being organized from time to time, where students participate and thrive to create something innovative. Even in this lockdown period, students are making the best use of the time and are coming up with innovative solutions. A student designed and developed a prototype of a 3D printed facial mask to combat the novel virus. Many students have even developed minimalistic designs of Automatic Hand Sanitizers, and industries are taking forward their innovations to make it available for the masses.

According to PWC’s Innovation Benchmark 2017, 54% of innovating companies struggle to bridge the gap between innovation strategy and business strategy. This is the reason why big giants like Cisco, PepsiCo, Microsoft, and Google own initiatives to encourage STEAM education and skills development globally. In a survey conducted by the Education Commission of the States, STEAM jobs are likely to grow up by 13%, whereas all the other jobs will grow only by 9%. The hike is certain because many industries are embracing the concept of STEAM education and the need for innovative programs is rapidly increasing. The industries are focusing on long-term strategies, by hiring candidates with potential STEAM skills, which is far better than training and educating the workforce on occupation-specific skills.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (C.B.S.E) is also taking measures in promoting skill-based subjects, realising the uncapped potential of STEAM education. The Board will offer a choice to the students to opt from nine subjects which cover a wide variety of 21 st century skills including Artificial Intelligence, Design Thinking etc. STEAM education will play a crucial role in building the right mindset and providing an ecosystem for students to hone their innovation and creativity skills.

In this rapidly changing world, we need more innovators, tinkerers, and creators to provide sustainable development and better future alternatives. STEAM education is a proven model of accelerating the mindset right in the direction of crucial skills like Logical thinking, Computational thinking, Analytical skills, Critical thinking, and Creativity. All these skills put together will lead towards an innovative mindset, which will help students to have a better understanding of past and present cultures and aesthetics, moral values, and human nature, which in turn lead to progressive social development also. STEAM education teaching is not to impart content-based knowledge, but to develop students’ problem-solving ability and looking up for innovative solutions as an end goal.

(Author Anurag Gupta and Rajeev Tiwari are Co-founders at STEMROBO Technologies. Views expressed here are personal.)

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Question in Goa Board’s Class 10 English exam stokes row - education

A question in the Goa Board’s Class 10 English exam paper has stirred a controversy as it allegedly portrays the state government in poor light and refers to corruption in recruitment.

The ruling BJP has demanded action in the matter, while the opposition Congress said the question reflects the “reality of the state government”.

In the English exam held last week, the controversial question described a conversation between two persons, wherein one says he has to opt for a job in Portugal because of jobs being scarce here, and that one needs to have influence and money to get a job.

Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary School Education Chairman Ramakrishna Samant on Monday said an inquiry would be initiated into how such a question was included in the English paper of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam.

“We will conduct an inquiry into it immediately, Samant said.

Goa is a former Portuguese colony. It was liberated from the Portuguese rule in 1961.

State BJP general secretary Narendra Sawaikar also demanded strict action in the matter.

“The Goa Board should immediately initiate strict action against the paper setter, moderator and whosoever is involved in the process of this paper setting. This act has to be punished,” he tweeted on Sunday.

Former Goa BJP chief Rajendra Arlekar said the question provokes an “anti-Goa and anti-India feeling”.

Portuguese stooges in Goa Board? Look at question D of English paper of SSCE. Provoking anti-Goa and anti-India feeling. Paper setter must be punished,” he tweeted.

Goa Surakasha Manch (GSM) president Subhash Velingkar said the question “smacks of pro-Portuguese mentality”.

Velingkar, who is the former Goa RSS chief, demanded that the name of the paper setter and the board of studies which approved the question paper be made public.

He also demanded an inquiry into the matter and action against those found guilty.

However, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar said the question reflects current reality of the state government.

No need to change the voice. Message is loud and clear in this question of SSC exam paper. The @BJP4Goa Government under @goacm @DrPramodPSawant is corrupt. Now the ‘Defects’ are visible even in Education System,” he tweeted.

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JAC board: Over 9,500 teachers to evaluate Class 10, 12 papers from May 28, results likely in July first week - education

Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) is all set to begin the evaluation of examination papers for Class-10 (matriculation) and Class-12 (intermediate) from May 28, with a target to declare the results by first week of July, officials said.

The evaluation is beginning after more than two months from its schedule. With aim to declare the results by May, JAC had earlier fixed March 20 for evaluation of examination papers. However, Corona spread followed by lockdown from March 25 spoiled the JAC’s plan. JAC deferred evaluation till April 1 but it was also deferred due to another lockdown.

JAC secretary Mahip Kumar Singh said, “The evaluation of papers will be conducted in 67 centres of 19 districts in Jharkhand from May 28. More than 9,500 evaluators are being engaged in the task.”

Singh said, “If evaluation goes as per our plan, it will take 25 days to complete. If it happens, we may declare the results by July first week. We cannot fix a date for declaration of results right now due to prevailing situation of Covid-19.”

He said that the evaluation would be conducted under surveillance of CCTV cameras. “Earlier, we had planned to broadcast live evaluation process through JAC portal. But, it will not be possible right now due to shortage of human resource.”

Singh further added standard protocol, which has been designed to contain the spread of Coronavirus, would be followed. “The evaluators will have to maintain social distancing and they have to follow the sanitization protocol. A detailed guideline in this regard has been forwarded to all evaluators,” he said.

JAC conducted the matriculation (Class-10) and intermediate (Class-12) examinations in February. Over 6.21 students wrote the matriculation and intermediate papers across 1410 centres..

Both the examinations started from February 10 and concluded on February 28. Over 3.87 lakh students wrote the papers in matriculation (Class-10) examination at 940 centres, while 2.34 lakh students took the intermediate examinations in 470 centres.

The class-10 board exams began with the home science paper and conclude with the Sanskrit paper on February 28, while the inter exams started with vocational papers and conclude with biology, geography, and business mathematics on the same date.

The examinations held under CCTVs surveillance. The cameras had been installed largely this year across the centres to stop unfair means practices during the examination.

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JEE mains 2020 admit card release date to be announced 15 days prior to exam - education

National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a notice saying that the dates for the admit card for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains 2020 will be released 15 days prior to the exam.

Earlier, JEE Mains was scheduled to be held from April 5 to 9, 2020, but the examinations were postponed due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The JEE Mains 2020 examination is scheduled to be conducted from July 18 to 23, 2020, at various centres spread across the country. As per the notice, the release date for the JEE Mains admit card will be notified on the agency’s website.

The examination is being held for admission to Bachelor of Engineering and Technology in IITs, NITs, and various other engineering colleges throughout the country.

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Academic session in Tripura schools to resume from June 15: Education Minister - education

Tripura Education minister Ratan Lal Nath on Sunday said the state government was planning resume academic sessions in schools from June 15.

He said all schools would be properly sanitized before classes resume.

“We are planning to open schools from June 1 and resume classes from June 15. Before we start academic sessions all schools would be sanitized properly and supply of drinking water would be ensured. We would also announce their results before resuming the classes,” Nath told reporters.

Evaluations of the answer-scripts of Madhyamik (class 10) and Higher Secondary (class 12) papers which were held before lockdown had already started, Nath said.

Nath said, altogether Rs 1.35 crore would be spent to sanitize the schools.

He said government has also instructed all school authorities to arrange for sanitizers, gloves and masks for the cooks of the Mid Day meal and soaps and sanitizers for students.

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Kerala SSLC, Plus Two exams: Minister urges parents not to get tensed, says safety measures in place - education

Kerala government on Saturday assured parents that the children will be safe in schools as proper sanitization process is being conducted in schools ahead of SSLC, Plus Two exams.

“The Education Department is making all arrangements to bring schools back to normalcy. Schools are being sanitized with the help of local bodies, people’s representatives and Parent Teachers Association. It will be completed in two days. Fire force will conduct disinfection in all schools,” Kerala education minister Professor C Raveendranath told ANI.

Urging parents to not get tensed about the coronavirus situation, the Education Minister said, “Facilities like sanitization of the schools, thermal scanning are being done as per the directions of Union Health Department. Students will be safe here like they are in their homes.”

He further said that the schools can even use buses of neighbouring schools or rent out vehicles. “The Education Department will bear the cost borne by schools for hiring buses on rent for transporting students,” he said.

“The SSLC, Plus one, Plus two and Vocational higher secondary exams will commence from May 26. They will be conducted in five days from May 26 to May 30,” the Education Minister said while adding, “Those who are unable to attend the upcoming exams can attend the exams along with Save A Year (SAY) exams which are usually for the students who could not pass earlier but they will be considered as regular students.”

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MAH MBA CET 2020 Toppers: Here’s what top scorers say - education

After a two month delay, the Maharashtra common entrance test (CET) cell on Saturday announced results of the MBA entrance exam which was held in March this year.

A 34-year-old Mumbai-based coaching institute teacher and mentor Shashank Prabhu and 24-year-old engineering graduate Ankit Thakker bagged the top two ranks in the state, announced the CET cell.

While Shashank scored 159 out of 200, Ankit scored 155 and bagged the second rank. They both, however, scored 99.99 percentile. “This is my second attempt at CET as I wanted to better my score and be eligible for a seat in one of the top B-Schools in Mumbai,” said Ankit, a resident of Chembur, who cleared his engineering degree from Institute of Chemical Technology two years ago.

For Shashank, this is his third time bagging the first rank in the entrance test. He scored a 99.99 percentile for the sixth time.

According to the test results announced by the entrance testing body, 16 students with scores between 159 and 146 scored 99.99 percentile while only seven students scored 99.98 percentile in the exam this year. 1041 students scored 99 percentile and above while over 1,200 candidates scored less than 1 percentile in their test.

Around 1.1 lakh students appeared for the exam on March 14 and 15 in a fully computer based test this year. The qualified candidates can now register themselves for the online counseling session, following which, students will get to choose the institutes they want to seek admission in.

The CET cell, however, is yet to announce an admission schedule.

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