BRiCSBRiCSBuild Robots Create ScienceBuild Robots Create Science

BRiCS team, IIT KanpurBRiCS team, IIT KanpurAmitabha MukerjeeAmitabha Mukerjee

with Vibhanshu Abhishek, Deepak Agarwal, Deepak with Vibhanshu Abhishek, Deepak Agarwal, Deepak Arzare , Avishek Banerjee, Manish Maheswari, Manu Arzare , Avishek Banerjee, Manish Maheswari, Manu Prakash, Gaurav Sharma, Nikhil Sinha, Sarala Verma, Prakash, Gaurav Sharma, Nikhil Sinha, Sarala Verma, and about 30 other BRiCSters worldwideand about 30 other BRiCSters worldwide

An IIT Kanpur / Media Lab Asia initiative

Learning through DesignLearning through Design

Solar robot, Aditi Mallya School Bangalore, December 2001

• Moving away from Rote Learning

• Problem Solving : DESIGN

• Manipulatives / Functioning Models

MYTH: disembodied mindMYTH: disembodied mind

The Myth:The Myth: Learning takes place in the mindLearning takes place in the mind The body is the placid hostThe body is the placid host

Digital ConsequencesDigital Consequences Computers are boxes containing Computers are boxes containing

disembodied mindsdisembodied minds Learning in the mind by direct interaction Learning in the mind by direct interaction

with the computerwith the computer

PhilosophyPhilosophy

Western tradition Western tradition Rudolf Carnap’s “remembering as similar” – Rudolf Carnap’s “remembering as similar” –

sensory models to language – ideas = public sensory models to language – ideas = public language.language.

Indian traditionIndian tradition Perception as Perception as pratyakSha-pramANapratyakSha-pramANa Advaita – Advaita – sat sat as indeterminate perception, as indeterminate perception,

abstracted in abstracted in citcit as ideas as ideas

Premise – pre-linguistic perception as Premise – pre-linguistic perception as source of learningsource of learning

PsychologyPsychology

Child stores sensory perceptions in totoChild stores sensory perceptions in toto Similarity - cluster similar notionsSimilarity - cluster similar notions Cotemporaneous occurences – causalityCotemporaneous occurences – causality

Ball is round to the touchBall is round to the touch Ball image has darker areas near the edgesBall image has darker areas near the edges Abstraction – shape from shading (3D)Abstraction – shape from shading (3D)

Sensory-Motor loops are the fundamental Sensory-Motor loops are the fundamental mechanism in learning (Piaget, Papert)mechanism in learning (Piaget, Papert)

BRiCS WorkshopsBRiCS Workshops

Ideation Ideation

Anchoring Anchoring on a on a themetheme

Functional Functional PrototypesPrototypes

Theme: Waking up in the morning

BRiCS ObjectivesBRiCS Objectives

Set in the developing world contextSet in the developing world context Child’s sense of identity lost in the crush of Child’s sense of identity lost in the crush of

inadequate resourcesinadequate resources Rote-oriented educational practices - Rote-oriented educational practices -

inorganic growth - imported19inorganic growth - imported19 thth c. c. Primal jolt needed to re-think practices.Primal jolt needed to re-think practices.

Constructivist features Constructivist features Use of Robots / Constructions Use of Robots / Constructions

BRiCS ModelBRiCS Model

Initial workshop in schoolInitial workshop in school Hands-on theme-anchored Problem SolvingHands-on theme-anchored Problem Solving

Draw in like-minded teachersDraw in like-minded teachers Further interaction in curricular contextsFurther interaction in curricular contexts Propagate through already exposed Propagate through already exposed

studentsstudents Future workshops with local resourcesFuture workshops with local resources

Enable local colleges / franchiseesEnable local colleges / franchisees

Toys from JunkToys from Junk

Use of Use of junk junk materials materials

Themes Themes related to related to own livesown lives

Robots from JunkRobots from Junk

• Straw Connectors

• Ballpen refill bearings

• Used sandals

• Wire Gears

• Paper

Robots from KitsRobots from Kits

• Fully functional• Easy to use

Sensors• Programmable

using visual icons

• Expensive

Robots in imaginationRobots in imagination

HauntedHouse

(Vidya Devi Jindal Girls

SchoolHissar

Feb 2002)

Chakka RobotsChakka Robots

• Simple Electronics

• Do-it-yourself sensors• Material Preparation,

Soldering

• Common components• Spring switches as sensors

• Wall-hugging robot • b.o.m. cost Rs. 100

Toy DivergencesToy Divergences

Junk toys,Village toys

Spr

ead

(in

vers

ely

to c

ost)

Functionality

Kit robots (LEGO, FisherTechnik,

Knex)

Holy Grail

Digital KathputliDigital Kathputli

TechkritiIIT KanpurFeb 2002

Programmable BlocksProgrammable Blocks

• Outside the Box programming

• Blocks with analog circuits

• Stack them, Run them

Programmable BlocksProgrammable Blocks

Sustaining BRiCSSustaining BRiCS

• BRiCS chapters in other Colleges• BHU-IT (Varanasi) (Nov 2002)• VJTI Mumbai (planned March 2003)

• Franchise / NGO Model• Calcutta (opening Jan 2003)

• Pedagogic Ownership at school level – teacher exposure

• School – to – school • V.V. School Delhi, August 2002

Scaling upScaling up 2000 Indian students exposed to BRiCS 2000 Indian students exposed to BRiCS 71 million to go:71 million to go:

Middle School – 43 mnMiddle School – 43 mn High School – 28 mnHigh School – 28 mn

Tighter curricular integrationTighter curricular integration Others:Others:

Colleges – 12 mnColleges – 12 mn Primary School – 114 mnPrimary School – 114 mn

Scaling up - GloballyScaling up - Globally Many groups working with Mechatronics for education (IEEE, Open Society Institute, ICICI) Many groups working with Mechatronics for education (IEEE, Open Society Institute, ICICI) Tasks:Tasks:

Curricular emphasisCurricular emphasis Teacher Resources and CreativityTeacher Resources and Creativity

Major Regions:Major Regions: China?China?

Scaling up - TechnologyScaling up - Technology

Cost per 10 students, US$

Programmable kits

Toys from Junk

1 10010 1000

Price Sensitivity : Percentage of schools vs. price point

100%

0.1%

Electronics

Expanding BRiCSExpanding BRiCS

• Professional Design Workshops• Rapid functional prototyping

• Executive Creativity Workshops• SIDBI (February 2003)

• College curricula– mechatronics

• Permanent BRiCS labs – National Science Museums

Future AgendaFuture Agenda

• Learning Assessment • within curricular context

• Low-cost programmable models

• Deployment through mainstream educational channels • State Governments, • Other nations