Ground-breaking prototypes addressing global issues that ranged from sustainability and disaster relief to healthcare and F1 racing, innovations spanning diverse fields were showcased by the students of ‘Our Lady Queen of the Missions School’ (QMS) as part of the ‘MuseVention’ tour in Kolkata, at the Press Club Kolkata on 20th April 2024.
Director of the American Centre, Ms. Elizabeth Lee, President of Press Club Kolkata, Mr. Snehasis Sur were present at the press conference along with many other eminent personalities and journalists. Being able to interact with such eminent personalities was an empowering experience for the students of QMS.
As modern technologies like drones, driverless cars, robotics, Al, continue to advance, the demand for STEAM skilled professionals have intensified.
In recent years, India has made significant strides in its journey towards a technology-centric environment. Initiatives such as Startup India and Digital India have played a pivotal role in propelling the nation toward becoming a major hub for STEAM skilled workforce.
In the past few years, the demand for STEAM skilled personnel in India has surged by almost 50%. Data indicates that 80% of jobs in the next decade will require essential STEAM skills. To sustain this growth trajectory and ensure a robust global economy, it is imperative to prepare students right from their schooling age.
ISR LIFE plays a significant role in promoting affordable and sustainable STEAM education and fostering holistic development of students by setting up and operating STEAM Labs within schools.
Hence, educational institutions, especially schools must help students have a holistic overall growth with a Heutagogical mind-set. Along with learning numbers and facts, students will have to be encouraged to develop the 4C’s of the 21st Century Work-Life Skills, i.e, Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration and Creativity, with a scientific and entrepreneurial attitude.
Many studies have shown that hands-on experiential learning helps learners perform better in academics and when faced with real-life challenges. STEAM Experiential learning with its flexibility helps learners have the ability to choose their learning trajectories and programmes, thereby choosing their own paths in life according to their talents and interests.
“The attitude and skill to consistently apply past knowledge and experience to new situations is what the future will demand. The future belongs to the Heutagogical and Versatile” expressed Dr. Panicker.
As part of a project-based learning process, ISR has been successfully running a unique competition for school students pan India since 2022. The championship is titled ‘DaVinci SoccerBot Championship’ (DSC). It is a unique event that blends sports with science, technology and arts, providing an exciting entertainment experience. Teams of students design, build, and program robots to compete in soccer matches. The integration of arts adds an extra dimension, allowing participants to showcase their talents and innovation. Besides technical and artistic aspects, students also develop teamwork, entrepreneurship, and project management skills while promoting STEAM appreciation in their communities, inspiring more young people to pursue STEAM-related fields. This provides a unique opportunity for the students to demonstrate their teamwork, skills, innovation, creativity, problem-solving abilities and strategies in a fun and engaging way. They will also learn how to manage the entire championship, from planning to execution.
DSC 2024 will be held in Kolkata for the first time and is hosted by Don Bosco School, Park Circus. The grand finale will be held on 4th May 2024.
