This article was written in collaboration with Stem Learning and Brillio
As the world becomes increasingly digital, artificial intelligence (AI) takes over tasks traditionally performed by humans, from manual labor to intellectually demanding ones. The US National Science Foundation (NSF) estimates that 80 percent of jobs created in the next decade will require skills in math and science.
This demands that our education system, especially in government schools, prioritize STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills in children. This requires teachers to emphasize practical learning through experiments rather than focusing on memorization.
Brillio, a digital transformation services and solutions provider, is running a national STEM program in collaboration with STEM Learning, a social enterprise dedicated to promoting STEM education among school students.
Since 2019, they have been organizing the National STEM Challenge, a national competition open to students of government and government-aided schools nationwide as part of their CSR initiative ‘Bringing Smiles’.
What makes this program different is the fact that it is not just a one-time competition, but works with students throughout the year. They achieve this by setting up science and math labs for hands-on learning and providing students with science kits to enhance their understanding of key concepts.
Arousing curiosity in young minds
The work for the National STEM Challenge starts at the beginning of the school year, explains Abhishek Ranjan, Global Head – Sustainability, ESG, Brillio.
“We have set up science labs in government/government-aided schools with STEM learning. Then, we set up a science club under the supervision of a science teacher. We also have Brillio volunteers and STEM learning staff who visit schools and teach children,” says Abhishek. Uttam India.
Throughout the year, students participate in various engagement programs. They attend weekly sessions led by STEM Ambassadors who share their passion for STEM, offer practical tips and ideas, and demonstrate how these subjects can make a difference.
Experts from four disciplines give lectures highlighting the use of science in their respective careers. In addition, more than 100 Brillio volunteers also engage with students each week through stories and quizzes, and help them build STEM models using Brillio Science DIY kits.
The idea, adds Abhishek, is to foster curiosity, innovation and critical thinking skills among students from classes 6 to 10.
Ashutosh Pandit, founder of STEM Learning, says government school students should have access to the same resources as private school students so they can excel in these fields.
“We work at the grassroots level to enable students to pursue a career in science. Many have a phobia of science due to lack of conceptual clarity. So we enable teachers to better connect with students through our teaching aids. We help them learn through experiments. Our science labs facilitate the learning process. are innovative and interactive with a hands-on approach,” he says.
STEM Learning sets up mini science centers, which include 80 plug-and-play science and math models. Students can understand concepts through observation. They also set up tinkering labs, which help them develop skills and build solutions.
“Instead of teachers explaining concepts on the blackboard, learning through practical applications helps students learn better. Science should not be taught on a rote basis, it should be hands-on learning,” adds Ashutosh.
Building millions of future STEM leaders
Once the science labs are set up and the concepts are taught in the first six months of the academic year, the cluster-level competitions of the National STEM Challenge begin. This is followed by the regional level and the finals. Competitions include science and math model competitions, technology and math quizzes, and engineering tinkering.
According to Brilio, over 130 students and 40 teachers from 20 schools in 13 states participated in the finals held in Pune on September 9, 2023.
“These students competed in more than 70 cluster, regional and state-level rounds. More than 100 students from 13 states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Assam, Delhi, UP, Haryana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, MP, Telangana, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu The top 50 participating teams made it to the national finals, says Abhishek.
Over the years, he says, they have reached 1,50,000 children in more than 900 schools.
Yasin Ansari, a teacher at Netaji Hindi Vidyapith ME School, Bongaigaon, Assam, says that the standard of education has improved because of these STEM mini-science centers. “Even during the lockdown, I was able to teach students online through the materials at the science center. I also used to teach students in their homes on Sundays with these practical kits,” he added.
For many students and teachers, it was their first time out of state and their first flight!
Suchitra K, a student of Government High School, Konappana Agrahara, Karnataka, says, “Participating in the National STEM Challenge has been an incredible journey for me and my friends. It showed us that no dream is too big when it comes to solving real-world problems. This competition has not only broadened our horizons but also ignited a lifelong passion for innovation and learning. We are deeply grateful to Brillio, STEM Learning, and our mentors for this experience. With the skills and knowledge gained here, we feel ready to take on the world and contribute to the ever-evolving field of science and technology.
Bridging the gap between government schools and private schools
Brillio hopes to reach 1 million students by 2030 and equip them with STEM education.
“Our primary focus is to develop conceptual understanding and help children acquire skills that will prepare them for global careers and life. STEM is the future and most careers will be in these fields. We want to equip government school students and bridge the learning gap, ” says Abhishek.
Brillio is also running a STEM program for girls in which they provide a tablet-based education program for girls – to work on gender disparities in STEM careers. “Women’s enrollment in STEM programs in colleges is low. To help more women join these courses, we are giving them scholarships and tablets. We gave this tablet-based learning program to over 200 female students last year,” adds Abhishek.
Brillio also offers scholarships and mentorship to eligible government school students for coaching for IIT JEE/CET/NEET etc. Around 21 Brillio leaders advise students one-on-one to prepare for the exam.
“We want to bridge the gap between government and private school students. It will help the students to grow up and become self-sustainable, and help them lead a better life. Two-thirds of students in our country study in government schools and should be given the same platform to grow,” he added.
The two students who received the Brilio Shiksha Scholarship were the top scorers in the board exams in Karnataka in 2020 and 2021. Brillo also states that their initiative has improved school attendance, active classroom and co-curricular participation, increased learning outcomes, and improved digital literacy. , and conceptual clarity on grade-specific topics.
For students and teachers, this is an opportunity for a better tomorrow. “Kids are really motivated to learn now. Seeing the achievements of our winners this year, other students from the school are now ready to participate next year. The standard of education has increased a lot,’ says Yasin Ansari.
Edited by Pranita Bhat