Providing students with ways to be exposed to STEM ideas in their daily lives is a great way to get them engaged and interested in learning more. Project Vidhya was created as a means by which students can learn more about STEM and the technologies we have available in this world.
The virtual program was launched in Tamil, Nadu India and focused on providing hands-on opportunities to students ages 5-10 from 6 schools over the course of 10 weeks. Notably, the program took in over 100 students from underprivileged backgrounds. The education efforts were led by the TFI fellow and 28 student volunteers. Students engaged in project-based applications including traffic light circuits, cycle horns, fan and light models, and water level indicators with simple circuits. Some students even expanded their work into more complex applications such as earthquake detectors, air coolers, drones, and projects involving recycling. The students were provided with all of the materials needed for their hands-on work. On a weekly basis they presented their projects to a STEM professional via a virtual ceremony.
The program resulted in a range of positive outcomes, including developing students’ skills and honing in on their passions. It served to be a means by which students could pursue their passions and develop critical thinking skills around them. Students performed experiments and applied their knowledge of what they learned in a hands-on way. They also engaged with STEM professionals in related fields for insights into pursuing a career in these areas.
Project Vidhya was funded by the IEEE Pre-University STEM Portal Grant Program in 2021.