To increase the STEM quotient among the the Vl community and to advocate the public about the STEM abilities of those with visual impairment, Vividha conducts Curious Minds annually. The 7th edition of the same was held on November 25th and 26th this year at the National Association for the Blind, Karnataka campus. The Event was done in collaboration with See-A-million and National Association for the Blind, Karnataka.
Teachers training – Prayogalaya in Science and Math
When the passion in the teacher’s heart ignites the students’ minds, STEM learning happens holistically. Prayogalaya was an effort towards making the teachers enthusiastic and curious through hands-on experimentation. The 35 teachers from various organizations across India, who attended the workshop were exposed to 42 science and 36 math experiments and activities. The materials were all organized, lab instructors were provided, and the audio described videos were in place, for them to perform the experiments.
This had many zones, all focused on how a person with Visual Impairment can experience and understand STEM.
About 45 students with visual impairment performed STEM activities covering over 60 experiments and activities. 15 organizations other than Vividha participated.
Student volunteers from a mainstream school were trained to demonstrate and make audience experience accessible to STEM.
Accessible DIY’s and games were part of this.
7 organizations that support STEM learning were invited to show their solutions.
Vividha, a knowledge partner in orientation and mobility training designed and conducted a session to the ToT participants at Enable India. About 17 candidates including those with total blindness and low vision were first trained at their own orientation and mobility skills and then a chosen few were trained to be the trainers. The curriculum, and best practices were shared.
The workshop’s primary goal was to equip teachers with innovative and practical teaching strategies tailored for visually impaired students. it focused in fostering interactive learning techniques and addressing the specific challenges faced by blind students. 20 teachers from various schools for the blind across Karnataka were taken through story building activity in English, exploring fractions in Math and understanding compass directions in Social Studies.