The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A win-win programme for students, teachers

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Thursday, Aug 21, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A win-win programme for students, teachers

Meera Srinivasan

Ashok Leyland sponsors ‘A World in Motion’ programme for Class VI students

— Photo: Special Arrangement

EXPERIMENTING: Students of Port Trust Higher Secondary School with a vehicle that they designed.

CHENNAI: Their vehicles are unconventional. They come in fascinating colours and radically different shapes. Despite a few possible mechanical or technical glitches, they serve the purpose — that of nurturing children’s interest for design and passion for science.

Students of Class VI from 15 city schools have been part of ‘A World in Motion (AWIN),’ a programme aimed at bringing together teachers, students and industry volunteers in an exploration of physical science, while addressing essential mathematic and scientific concepts and skills.

The curriculum is provided by Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) international, a professional organisation for mobility engineering professionals. The SAE believes in life-long education in automotive engineering and to achieve that, offers different programmes for practising engineers, students of engineering and schoolchildren.

“AWIN was started in the U.S. first and India is the second country that the programme is being implemented in,” says S. Selvamani, chairman, SAE India (Southern section).

It is a step in SAE’s sustained effort towards enriching knowledge, networking and training, he adds. “SAE India designed the programme to suit the Indian context.” The organisation also proposes to work with the Tamil Nadu School Education Department to cover more government and local body schools.

In Chennai, Ashok Leyland is sponsoring this programme and facilitating its implementation. J.N. Amrolia, Executive Director (Construction and Allied Businesses) of Ashok Leyland, says there is need for a much more rigorous awareness of science and technology among students.

“I think this programme is very relevant for four main reasons. It helps instigate a sense of curiosity in children when they are young. When students are in their tenth or twelfth, it often proves to be late,” he says.

“Moreover, studying scientific principles or concepts with the help of practical examples helps in easy understanding. It will stand them in good stead throughout their education,” he says.

“It also encourages children to think independently,” Mr. Amrolia says, adding that the programme gives students an opportunity to work in teams. Since the launch of the programme over a year ago 1,700 students have been covered. Ashok Leyland proposes to scale it up to have 50 master trainers trained in the next one year. SAE and Ashok Leyland plan to cover more government and municipal schools this year.

R. Srinivas, Executive Assistant to Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, says the exercise helps engineering professionals and teachers to network better. “Children learn concepts such as inertia, friction and laws of motion effortlessly.” Teachers from participating schools undergo training so that they can guide students. Heads and teachers of schools which have been part of this programme say children enjoy the sessions thoroughly.

“It promotes both, individual enquiry as well as team effort. Children are given a kit with items such as paper wheels, and cardboard axles,” says Subala Ananthanarayan, principal, Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School.

“Children design a vehicle using their creativity and in the process, learn concepts in physical and mechanical sciences, she says. “It will certainly enhance classroom learning,” she adds.

D. Jayashree, science teacher at the Port Trust Higher Secondary School in Tondiarpet, says children come out with very interesting models. While children enjoy making their dream vehicles, for teachers, the exercise offers scope for meaningful interaction with the industry, she points out.

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