Dehradun, Uttarakhand - In a significant move to promote innovation and design thinking among school students, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Government of Uttarakhand, and Navam Innovation Foundation, Bangalore, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This non-financial partnership aims to broadcast a design thinking video series for middle and high school students across Uttarakhand.
The MoU was signed by Ajay Naudiyal, Additional Director of SCERT, and Nitin Desai, CEO of Navam Innovation Foundation. The project, titled "Broadcasting Innovation and Design Thinking Sessions for Government Middle and High School Students in Uttarakhand," will run for 24 weeks, with each week featuring a new episode. The entire project duration is set for three years.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Director of Academic Research and Training, Bandana Garbyal, aims to integrate innovative educational practices across Uttarakhand. The signing ceremony also saw the presence of Joint Director Kanchan Devradi and Assistant Director Dr. K. N. Bijalwan, underscoring the collaborative effort to enhance educational quality.
The primary goal of this collaboration is to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among students. The project will broadcast 24 episodes, each lasting 45-60 minutes, on the state government’s education channel. These episodes will serve as a feeder program for the INSPIRE Awards and other innovation contests in Uttarakhand.
Key features of the program include:
- Structured Curriculum: The sessions are based on Stanford University's design thinking framework and are designed to enhance 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and digital literacy.
- Interactive Sessions: Each episode will feature presentations, interactive discussions, Q&A sessions, and DIY activities, involving students, teachers, and Navam’s trainers.
- Teacher Training: Navam Innovation Foundation will train 20-25 master trainers from each district to incorporate design thinking into their teaching methods.
- Accessibility and Engagement: The program ensures that both urban and rural students in Uttarakhand have access to these innovative educational sessions through satellite broadcasts and digital platforms.
The initiative is expected to enhance the overall educational experience for government school students in Uttarakhand, fostering a culture of innovation and preparing students to tackle real-world problems creatively. Regular evaluations and feedback mechanisms will be in place to ensure the program's effectiveness and continual improvement.
This partnership marks a significant step towards bridging the educational gap and equipping Uttarakhand's students with the skills necessary to thrive in a dynamic and evolving world.
Summary
The SCERT and Navam Innovation Foundation have signed an MoU to run a design thinking video series for Uttarakhand's government middle and high school students. The project will broadcast 24 episodes over 24 weeks, aiming to enhance creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This initiative, running for three years and led by Director of Academic Research and Training Bandana Garbyal, includes teacher training and ensures access to quality education for students in both urban and rural areas of Uttarakhand. Joint Director Kanchan Devradi and Assistant Director Dr. K. N. Bijalwan were also present at the MoU signing, highlighting the collaborative effort to enhance educational quality.