KL Students Advocates to 'Be a Maker' Empowering Digital Integration
A Techno Social Club of KL Deemed to be University popularly known as KL GLUG collaborates with NGO-Swecha AP and conducts the 'Be a Maker' initiative in government schools. Around 15 student teams of KL GLUG from ECE, CSE, EEE, and AI&DS departments had worked with 70 students of 8th standard from the Zilla Parishad High School, Tadepalli. The school students who were part of this initiative brainstormed and submitted 10 problems they have seen in their village and its surroundings.
These school students were formed into teams with mentors from KLU GNU LINUX USERS GROUP (KL GLUG). Taking up their creativity to another level, they used hardware, electronics, and crafts and applied design thinking principles to build a working prototype for the solutions to the problems they have seen. They presented these prototypes at Samyak 2022, a National Level Techno Management Fest organized by the students of KL Deemed to be University, which was held from 18th -21st October in the campus.
The "Be a Maker" initiative bridges the digital divide as part of the Balaswecha Initiative by Swecha AP for children studying in government schools, where the instructional environment and digital infrastructure are less accessible. It also enables the student to understand the application of science and technology in real life and conducts various interactive sessions, creative skills, design thinking skills, and problem-solving techniques. The initiative concentrates on helping the children to innovate, explore their creativity and hone important life skills.
Since 2005, Swecha AP, a not-for-profit organization, has been working towards digital integration and promoting the free software model for people of all communities. Swecha AP believes that knowledge should be accessible to everybody and strives to create technology for society. Swecha AP seeks to create a community by bringing together students, academics, software developers, and freelancers to the forefront of social development through digital literacy.
Phases of 'Be a Maker'
1. Problem Identification: Children were asked to identify the problems in their vicinity and recognize why they were of concern to them or those around them.
2. Problem Ideation: Children were tasked with problem definition and had to come up with possible solutions. This will be carried out in teams through brainstorming sessions. All the possible solutions will be listed in worksheets.
3. Prototype Creation: Feasible solutions will be picked out. Swecha AP will supply hardware and other resources to build a prototype of the solutions.
4. Exhibition of Prototypes: Prototypes will be tested and implemented wherever the issue is documented. Children will present their prototypes.
The first two days of scheduled events took place in the Zilla Parishad High school. On the third and final day, students traveled to KL Deemed to be University to attend the Samyak Fest 2022 and displayed their prototype at the project expo.
Desired Outcomes
- Students will be aware of social, political, and geographical issues surrounding them.
- Students will explore, brainstorm, and ideate.
- Students will be able to articulate their issues clearly.
- Students will grasp the fundamentals of technology and realize its potential in solving real-life problems.
- The prototypes will be useful for the school and other recipients.
