Theme/Objective:

• To focus on experiential learning for improving the teaching-learning process
• To make the process of learning enjoyable for all students.
• To make teachers aware of the correlation of various subjects with each other, hence stressing upon the multi-disciplinary approach using examples.
• To equip teachers with the necessary skills and expertise to implement STEM activities in its true spirit.

Education has always been synonymous with empowerment, be it economic or social. If India wants to be successful in the 21 century, it has to look for ways for making the system robust, accessible and equitable.

With the aim of including STEM activities in the transaction of school curriculum, incorporating experiential learning in schools and giving a glimpse of the same to our teachers, a workshop was organized by STEM Academy, USA .

The workshop began with sharing the reasons for including such activities and conducting them for the students of the current generation and the importance of developing creative and critical thinking in learners.

The participant teachers were given hands on experience through various activities in the form of problem solving in real life situations. The following tasks were performed:

TASK 1: To save a group of people from a flood using the available materials. The task ignited the minds of the participants  to construct a structure for escape and rescue. Materials were provided and prototypes were made and tested by different groups. Concepts like buoyancy, density, surface area, measurement, etc were reinforced using the result of the activity.

TASK 2: Developing a parachute , which covered concepts of air resistance, surface area, weight, gravity etc.

TASK 3: Constructing a knee structure and knee braces too understand the structure of knee and its related parts. A goniometer was also constructed to measure the related angles.

Outcome/Result: In a nutshell, the workshop was a true learning experience for all the teachers and gave them useful insights over the activities which can be introduced for incorporating experiential learning. It helped them realise the need for cooperative learning and the aspects of group dynamics, which imparts the essential social skills to the participants, be it teachers or students. 

Report by: Ms. Sneha Malik

Photo Link: http://photos.app.goo.gl/KZn95ePhBi51PnVJ6