Latest news with #SanjeevRanganathan
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Auroville researchers aim to ignite global interest in traditional mathematics education at Seoul meet
An Auroville research team will present a paper on the time-honoured mathematics pedagogy at the 9th East Asia Regional Conference on Mathematics Education (EARCOME 9) that is under way in Seoul, South Korea. A press note from Auroville said this marked the first time India was participating in this regional conference (July 18-22) and also represented 'a milestone in the global recognition of Indian mathematical pedagogy'. Sanjeev Ranganathan, Head of SAIIER (Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research) and IIT-Madras alumnus and Poovizhi, a mathematics teacher at Auroville School, will present a research paper on 'Indian Knowledge Systems and the Impact on Teachers When They Learn Indian Knowledge Systems and How They Interact with Children.' According to Mr. Ranganathan, the research revealed that most mathematical concepts taught in schools today originated in India but became distorted through centuries of cultural transmission. 'Functions on mathematics education: that is a mix of normal and formal mathematics. And the primary purpose of formal mathematics was that during colonial times, the work that was done by earlier mathematics was sort of discredited.' Among key discoveries that suffered from translation flaws were the mathematical concepts like 'sine theta' that originally described tangible concepts (the bending of a bow) but became abstract through Arabic-Latin translations, he said. Formal mathematics was also elevated over practical, observable mathematics during colonial periods. As a cumulative result, students today learn mathematics disconnected from real-world applications, leading to widespread math anxiety, Mr. Ranganathan added. The authors say there is compelling evidence from Auroville classrooms that support their findings on the effectiveness of traditional models, most demonstrably so, when mathematical concepts are taught through native languages. Imparting mathematical knowledge in the Indian knowledge tradition went beyond the pedagogical to represent a method, an approach, said Jayanti S. Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat and Secretary of Auroville Foundation, who, the press note said, held a sustaining interest in supporting the research project. Referring to the 'worldwide crisis in mathematics education' and widely prevalent math phobia, Ms. Ravi noted that a number of students wound up completely alienated from the branch mid-way into schooling. 'So, we lose out on the STEM constituency'. The Auroville Secretary mooted exploring alternative ways to popularise traditional educational models at a scale across India, potentially to the level of a mass movement, and also evoke global curiosity. The implementation plan includes conducting a series of teacher training workshops across India, curriculum integration with existing educational standards and certification programmes in collaboration with international universities.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- The Hindu
Auroville's summer workshops train youth in new technologies
The Auroville Institute of Applied Technology (AIAT), which offers Bachelor of Vocation ( in future technologies, has concluded a round of free short-term summer internships for young students in cutting-edge domains. A press note from Auroville said the workshops that attracted over 50 students from in and around Puducherry and the Auroville bioregion are an initiative supported by the Auroville Foundation under the Ministry of Education, seeking to level up technological knowledge and contribute to a smarter nation. The courses were aimed at students aged 13 years and above and provided hands-on exposure in fields, such as 3D printing, robotics and drones. Each workshop was of one-week duration and imparted practical learning with the aim to equip the participants with future-ready skills. The sessions also focused on grooming them as ethical leaders with tools and templates of transformational leadership, so that technology is turned into a force of good. The short course on 3D Printing and Modelling led participants to explore additive manufacturing, design and create their own 3D models using software like TinkerCAD, and learn how 3D printers function. Apart from initiation into slicing software (Cura) and various printing materials and techniques, the workshop covered the fascinating process of converting real-world objects into digital models and back again. The electronics workshop equipped students with the fundamental principles of electronics and their practical applications. They learned to calculate and design simple circuits and gained valuable hands-on experience in practical electronics and soldering, culminating in building a custom board to charge their own phones. The Robotics and Drones course explored the core components and logic behind robotics. Participants were taught basic programming for robots that enabled them to control robots for various tasks, such as driving, path following, obstacle detection, maze escaping, and even colour sorting, using Mindstorm robots and robotic arms. The workshop also introduced students to the world of drones, including the principles of autonomous flight, and provided an introduction to using Computer Vision to analyse and understand the surrounding environment. According to Sanjeev Ranganathan, an alumnus of IIT Madras who heads AIAT and SAIIER, these workshops, which align with the National Education Policy, reflect AIAT's philosophy of providing quality education and bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. The courses offered by AIAT combine 40% theoretical education with 60% practical training across four specialised streams — Software Development and Machine Learning, Applied Electronics and Chip Design, Green Energy and Electrical Systems, and Production Technology. Students who have been part of previous workshops and training at AIAT and its partner, Auroville-based C3STREAM Land Designs had found that the workshop filled gaps in the regular engineering courses, the press note said.
