IIT Madras trains Tamil Nadu rural students in scientific, engineering principles

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras) faculty and students are providing hands-on training in advanced scientific and engineering concepts to students of rural schools in Tamil Nadu.

Initiated by the ‘Teach to Learn’ project of IIT Madras the campaign ‘Device engineering lab’ teaches school students scientific concepts behind devices used during day-to-day life. It also teaches using 3D-printing to make or fabricate toys and other household items. The university said the campaign is aimed at capacity building among students.

The initiative has a three-year curriculum prepared for targeting students of Classes 8, 9, 10 and 11. A laboratory under the projects hosts various inexpensive devices that are used in day-to-day life. Also, the devices such as cycle bells, calling bells, electric irons and motors of geysers, microwaves and ovens are based on principles that are taught in the school syllabus.

By connecting IIT Madras students with students of rural schools, the students and faculty of IIT Madras aim at imbibing a ‘culture of making’ at the school level and thus enhance design and fabrication skills. Another objective is to develop an entrepreneurial mind set as these classes could even provide possible livelihood options in future.

Curriculum components

The campaign is employing two components to train the students. One component ‘device engineering concept’ teaches dismantle and assembly, working principle and science behind the device. The second component 3D printing equips students in designing, basic programming and printing of toys and household items.

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IIT Madras said it is looking to partner with other institutes, NGOs and corporates to set up more such labs and take the campaign to remote and rural areas, particularly to the northeast states. Industries and philanthropists can support the scaling up of this project to benefit rural school students by contributing at the direct link.

Pijush Ghosh, department of applied mechanics and biomedical engineering, IIT Madras, said, “We believe that culture of ‘making in India’ should begin at the school level. IIT Madras is reaching out to rural schools to build this culture together. In the process of making or fabricating something, students understand the concepts and principle involved better and thus gain more confidence and find learning lot more interesting.”