Orientation Cum Mentoring Session

At M D Senior Secondary School, Mankrola, Gurugram

25th February 2023

Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), Ministry of Education (MoE), Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurugram organized an orientation session for Atal Tinkering Lab for students of classes VIII- XI and for teachers of Science, Math and Computer departments on Saturday, 25^th February 2023 at M D Senior Secondary School. Two faculty members of DCE, Gurugram Prof. Pooja Sharma along with Prof. (Dr.) Ashok, were the resource person of the session. 

Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar enlightened students about ATL, its need and origin, Innovation council, innovation and entrepreneurship. In the session, the objectives of Niti Aayog, Government of India for setting up ATL-a space for creation rather than observation and its utilization were discussed. Students were sensitized about the need for non-curricular based experimentation and integration of idea and theories which students generally face during their day to day interaction with science and its inventions. 

Prof. Pooja Sharma expressed need to focus on making products which have significance in everyday life and therefore are relevant to the industry. This will allow young children to get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand the concepts of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). ATL contains educational and learning ‘do it yourself’ kits and equipment on – science, electronics, robotics, open-source microcontroller boards, sensors, 3D printers and computers. ATL lab is available for both teachers and students to do hands on experiments to test their innovative and creative ideas. 

The initiative will foster the culture of ideation, innovation, entrepreneurship, creative thinking, design thinking, prototyping, out-of-box thinking, and IP commercialization by facilitating the training (for teachers), field visits, leadership talks, awareness, orientation sessions, boot camps, national-level exhibitions, hackathons, skill modules, new courses for students, linking of school innovation ecosystem with higher educational institutions (HEIs), etc. at schools. 

The sessions were enriching, informative and educational leaving everyone excited and inspired.