Class on wheels:
Mobile van turns teacher for kids
MUMBAI:
Taking technology to the doorsteps of those who do not have access to the
latest channels in learning, a mobile learning van is doing the rounds of
Dharavi and its neighbourhood.
SATYABRATA
TRIPATHY/HT Students watch videos on the solarpowered
screen installed on the mobile van, on Friday.
Nawneet
Ranjan, the founder of Dharavi Diary, runs the STEM (science, technology,
engineering and mathematics) van to inculcate scientific temper among students.
The gadgets in the van run on solar power.
Dharavi
Diary is a study centre which aims in developing the overall personality of
underprivileged children. Ranjan believes that the current education system
should do away with rote learning, and focus on the overall development of
children.
Currently,
Ranjan is teaching students from the New English Secondary School in Pratiksha
Nagar the importance of solar energy. The students are taught on a screen
attached to the van, which runs on solar energy.
Aditya
Chaurasiya, a class eight student from the school, was amazed by the concept.
“This
technology will become rampant in the next two-three decades, because it is
environment-friendly. I am glad we are being made aware of it now,” said Chaurasiya.
Ranjan said
that through STEM, he wants to clear the basic concepts and inculcate
scientific mind-set.
“The problem
with our education system is that it believes in rote learning, which won’t
help children develop that insight. Also, there is no hands-on learning in the
schools they go to, which is why we have developed this concept, consisting
classroom, community and citizenship,” said Ranjan.
Having tried
this model in Pune for around a month, Ranjan now plans to reach out to around
400 students in the city in the low income areas of Dharavi, Versova, Kurla and
Ghatkopar. He intends to conduct classes in these areas twice a week, before
taking the van to other parts of the country.
As of now,
STEM is equipped with a screen and scientific games; Ranjan also plans to
introduce robotics and get computers installed in the van in the near future.
Terming STEM
to be a great initiative, Nikita Bansal, a teacher associated with Teach for
India said that the van focused on the thought process of children.
“These are 21st century kids; it is thus necessary that we bring
about a transformation in the way we teach, and adapt to the changing times,”
said Bansal.
Source | Hindustan Times | 13th February 2018
Regards
Prof. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library &
Information Science (NET Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge
Repository
Khaitan & Co
Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978
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