Guwahati: As part of its strong commitment to elevate the educational landscape of the Northeast, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has been setting a benchmark for integrating technology and hands-on learning into school curriculums.
As the only IIT in Northeastern India, the premier institute has undertaken several innovative projects aimed at enhancing education in Meghalaya, focusing on advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning and teacher development.
These initiatives are designed to foster a hands-on, experiential learning environment, benefiting both students and teachers.
Under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Education’s ‘Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan’ projects, IIT Guwahati in collaboration with ‘Samagra Shiksha Meghalaya’ has undertaken multiple state-level initiatives to enhance STEM education, foster innovation, and build capacity among students and teachers in the hill state.
Establishing 50 Tinkering Labs in Secondary Schools
IIT Guwahati set up 50 tinkering labs and trained over 70 teachers that impacting over 2,500 students. High-quality equipment has been installed based on a specially curated curriculum.
A five-day residential training programme for teachers was also conducted. Each school has received 30-40 hands-on sessions in coding, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and soft skills.
Year-long activities, monitored by IIT Guwahati mentors, will culminate in a centralised fest showcasing student innovations.
Robotics Kit For 750 Schools Across The State
The robotics kit project is aimed to supply kits to 750 primary and secondary schools. The kits, packed with tutorial materials, were delivered to 750 schools.
These kits, selected by IIT Guwahati experts, are modular, plug-and-play materials suitable for various age groups and developed content around five themes – gardening, battery-operated cars and robots, machines and automation, sound play and fun with light.
Excursion Trip – MEGHQUEST
MEGHQUEST exposed over 4,000 students from more than 2,000 schools to advanced scientific research and technology at IIT Guwahati.
A three-day visit was hosted for students in seven batches. Over 10 events, including technical workshops, soft-skills development sessions and sports activities were organised.
Hands-on activities in labs and workshops, and soft-skills workshops covering communication, stress management and leadership were conducted.
School Mentoring
The school mentoring project enhanced the pedagogical skills of over 2,000 teachers. A two-day mentoring programme, focused on science and mathematics was organised, with faculty and researchers providing guidance on curriculum implementation and teaching methods.
Workshops on advanced pedagogical techniques were conducted and online support through WhatsApp groups was established.
Science Kits
IIT Guwahati-designed kits, containing over 40 experiments aligned with the school curriculum were distributed. Training sessions were conducted for more than 2,000 teachers on using the kits and live demonstrations of experiments were provided, along with instructional materials for conducting experiments.
Science & Maths Club Formation
Dedicated science and mathematics clubs were established in schools to foster experiential learning. The IIT Guwahati developed comprehensive guidelines for club formation and conducted a training programme for teachers on managing clubs and engaging students.
Each school was provided with activity lists and science kits for club activities and expert webinars with national-level STEM experts were organised for year-long support.
Science & Maths Olympiad
The Science & Maths Olympiad fostered a competitive mindset and evaluated knowledge in 390 schools, engaging over 11,000 students. District and state toppers were awarded, with logistical support ensuring the smooth conduct of the competition.
Quiz Competition
The quiz competition aimed to enhance general knowledge and foster a competitive spirit among the students. IIT Guwahati faculty created detailed question papers covering science, mathematics and general trivia, ensuring a balanced assessment of knowledge and problem-solving skills.
The event was managed efficiently, with logistics including travel, registration and venue setup, and rigorous monitoring to uphold fair competition standards. An evaluation process ensured fairness and accuracy in scoring.