Aavishkaar - Center for Science, Math, Arts & Technology

Vision:

To nurture curious, creative & critical thinking citizens of tomorrow.

Mission:

To transform the landscape of STEM education in the country by

- Educating, equipping & enabling teachers to teach for concept understanding using student centered pedagogy & a growth mindset.

- Take latest research in STEM education around the world to classrooms.

- Support in building visual, relevant, contextual & justification-based STEM in simple language.

Core Values:

- Curiosity

- Creativity

- Clarity

- Excellence

The roles and responsibilities include but are not limited to

• Designing an annual strategy that includes goals, priorities and timelines to advance progress and build culture for scale in partnership with Founders.

• Designing a robust Program Implementation Plan that includes Scope & Sequence of training, M&E and Managerial support.

• Building sustainable funding, talent, and operations by assembling founders, advisory boards and mentors.

• Supporting Founders in our expansion to new states and regions.

• Partnering with new organizations to take our impact beyond our current reach.

• Leading cross functional projects across the organization, focused on ensuring that Project Leads are equipped to drive transformational capacity building for teachers

The team lead plays a key role in any decision making regarding the organization. The lead along with the supporting members are responsible for designing the interventions for different programs in the organization end to end. They are also responsible for mentoring the team and cascading the same to the bottom most level. 

The lead has a rich working experience in the past and will be able to contribute and learn from the experience with LEAP the most.

Providing equitable opportunities for excellent STEM education to all children in the country.

According to the 2018 report by ASER, more than 75% of government and 60% private school 5th graders were not able to solve division problems. A CENTA report on Subject Expertise of teachers shows the average score across all subjects to be around 30% to 40%. This lack of subject expertise combined with rote-learning system, outdated pedagogical practices and procedural teaching methods translates to student outcomes in different ways. Systematically our students fear the subjects of Math and Science, and have stayed disconnected from their real world application and visualization. This was validated by a CueMath survey which showed that 82% of our students are fearful of Math and do not want to engage with the subject.

The country’s National Science Foundation predicts that 80% of jobs in the next decade will require some form of Math & Science skills, and IBM estimates that STEM careers will offer 24% higher pay and longevity in the future. STEM education fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities and plays a significant role in any country’s development & economic progress. Our kids will never be able to access these. 

As revolutionaries of STEM education in the country, we find ourselves thinking about how we can empower ALL our children for the careers of the future. 

Established in 2014, Aavishkaar is a center where motivated teachers and young thinkers find a platform to discover the creative, curious and critical thinking side of themselves while exploring the world of Math and Science. We aim at making high - quality Science and Math education accessible to all.

Our Belief:

The classroom experience must be made interesting and exciting with content that shows relevance, context and history, bringing out the big picture in the concepts and small details too. We strongly believe that this can lead to shattering the fear of math and science and generating a love for learning of the subject!

How do we bring this alive?/

We 

• Make everything simple by developing quality content in a language that our community understands. 

• Build conceptual understanding through visual, contextual, relevant, engaging content and pedagogical practices.

• Reimagine classrooms as a space to safely express, freely explore, ask questions, make mistakes and learn by failing while thinking like mathematicians and scientists.

We work with

Students, Experienced & Aspiring Teachers & Educators. As of today, we have worked with more than 8000 teachers and more than 1 lakh students across 17 states in India including some of the remotest regions.

Ensuring Accounting for Learning Variability in Our Approach so far:

Our interventions are designed for children across groups - low, middle and high income groups, different learning styles. As a part of all our research & development, we have been keenly working on and promoting breakthrough scientific research on learning variability to all the teacher groups we work with, thereby unlocking the potential of new pedagogies and technologies that embrace children’s individual differences and preferences. In so doing, to enable more children to access the learning experiences they need to reach their full learning potential.  

A large part of our work is working directly with teachers to capacity building in them for conceptual understanding and equitable instruction in their classrooms. Processes that are put in place already and we have consistently worked on in the past for all interventions are - 

• Pre and post intervention assessments

• Classroom Observations & debriefs

• Self Evaluation/Reflection forms

• Regular interval interviews/qualitative data collection during & after the intervention to check for behavior level shifts and impact of the intervention

With students also we have similar structures put in place like pre & post intervention assessments, self-evaluation/reflection forms and collecting qualitative data.

What we have learnt about solution

• Our solution is uniquely packaged to cater for concept understanding and mindset shifts for all kinds of students and teachers. In most solutions, there is focus on knowledge and may be skill building, but we have strong evidence that our interventions have shifted knowledge, skills and mindsets for students and teachers.

• Because at the core of our approach is making quality STEM education simple & accessible for all, the solution in its different forms and categories (which are our different programs) caters to ALL kinds of students and teachers with different contexts and learning variability. 

• Our solution can be customized/tailor made for all kinds of needs.

How has it helped us

• Designing interventions with deep impact

• Consistently work on refining the content we create, because there will always be different kinds of users & hence how can we make it accessible for all

• In accordance with the above, capacity building of the team to facilitate for the same for teachers & students.

Aavishkaar is working to address complex challenges in the field of STEM education in the country and on the mission is developing innovative solutions. In doing so, we want to rely on evidence-based practices. Strengthening the evidence base of a solution will help us to ensure its effectiveness, efficiency, and long-term success.

Engaging in a LEAP Project offers will offer several things to Aavishkaar:

1. Evidence-based decision-making: The project will focus on leveraging existing research and generating new evidence to inform decision-making processes. By engaging in such a project, we will be able to enhance our understanding of the problem that we are trying to solve and make more informed choices about potential solutions.

2. Improved outcomes: Strengthening the evidence base increases the likelihood of achieving desired outcomes. Conducting rigorous evaluations, collecting data, and analyzing results can help us identify the most effective strategies and interventions. This will lead to better-informed decisions, resulting in improved outcomes for the organization and our stakeholders.

3. Increased credibility and accountability: By engaging in a LEAP Project, we will commit to a rigorous evaluation to assess and improve their practices. This will build trust with stakeholders, and ensure accountability for the impact of their solutions.

4. Adaptability and innovation: The world is constantly evolving, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Engaging in a LEAP Project will enable us to stay ahead of the curve by continuously evaluating our solutions and adapting to changing circumstances. This will foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, which is crucial for long-term success.

Why now is the right time to engage in a LEAP Project - 

a. Emerging challenges: Engaging in a LEAP Project will allow us to systematically assess the evidence and develop effective responses to these challenges.

b. Technological advancements: The advancement in technology, such as improved data collection methods, advanced analytics, and AI-driven tools, have made it easier and more cost-effective to gather, analyze, and interpret data will provide us with unprecedented opportunities to strengthen our evidence base.

There are several research questions that we would like to explore to strengthen the evidence base of our solutions. Sharing the top 3:

1. How does the implementation of AI-driven tools and technologies impact productivity and efficiency in our context? 

2. What will be the best tools that we can use for our context to gather and analyze data effectively?

3. How effective are personalized learning approaches in improving educational outcomes for diverse teacher needs and student populations?

• Research plan and methodology: A well-defined research plan outlining the objectives, research questions, and methodology for the project would be an essential output. This plan would detail the specific research methods, data collection techniques, and analysis approaches to be employed.

• Literature review: A comprehensive review of existing literature related to the research questions would be conducted. This review would identify gaps in the current knowledge, summarize key findings from previous studies, and provide a foundation for the research.

• Data collection instruments: The development of data collection instruments, such as surveys, interview guides, or observation protocols, would be an important output. These instruments would be designed to collect relevant data aligned with the research questions and objectives.

• Data collection and analysis: The LEAP Project would involve collecting data through various methods, such as surveys, experiments, case studies, or interviews, depending on the research questions. The collected data would then be analyzed using appropriate statistical or qualitative analysis techniques to generate meaningful insights.

1. Decision-making and strategy development: The research findings, recommendations, and implications generated from the LEAP Project would inform decision-making processes within the organization. The leadership and relevant stakeholders would review the outputs and use them to guide strategic planning, policy development, and resource allocation. The insights gained from the project would contribute to evidence-based decision-making and help shape the organization's future actions.

2. Implementation and intervention design: The outputs of the LEAP Project can be used to design and refine interventions, initiatives, or solutions within the organization. For example, if the project explored the impact of AI-driven tools on productivity, the organization could use the findings to identify areas for implementation, select appropriate tools, and design strategies to optimize their effectiveness. The research outputs would serve as a foundation for evidence-informed interventions and guide their implementation.

3. Organizational improvements and adjustments: The research findings and analysis report would provide valuable insights into areas where the organization can make improvements or adjustments.

4. External dissemination and sharing: The organization may choose to disseminate the outputs of the LEAP Project externally to contribute to the broader knowledge base and engage with relevant stakeholders. This could involve publishing research papers in academic journals, presenting findings at conferences or industry events, or sharing reports with partners, policymakers, or funding agencies. By sharing the outputs, the organization can showcase its commitment to evidence-based practices, enhance its reputation, and foster collaborations and partnerships.

5. Continuous learning and future research: The outputs of the LEAP Project would provide a foundation for continuous learning and future research within the organization. They would serve as a starting point for further investigations, refinements, or iterations of interventions or strategies. The organization can build upon the project's outputs to conduct follow-up studies, monitor the impact of implemented changes, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the respective field.

Short-term outcomes (within the 12-week sprint):

1. Enhanced evidence base: The LEAP Project aims to strengthen the evidence base of the organization's solution. The short-term outcome would be a significant improvement in the quantity and quality of evidence available, achieved through literature reviews, data collection, and rigorous analysis. This enhanced evidence base would provide a more solid foundation for decision-making and action.

2. Actionable insights: The research outputs generated during the LEAP Project would provide valuable insights and recommendations that can be immediately implemented. These insights would be based on a thorough analysis of the data and literature, helping the organization make informed decisions and take targeted actions to address challenges, improve practices, or refine strategies.

3. Increased organizational capacity: Engaging in a LEAP Project requires dedicated resources and expertise. A short-term outcome would be the development and enhancement of the organization's capacity to conduct evidence-based research and evaluation. This could include building a team with research skills, establishing data collection and analysis protocols, and adopting best practices for conducting research studies.

Long-term outcomes (beyond the 12-week sprint):

1. Improved effectiveness and impact: The ultimate goal of the LEAP Project is to improve the effectiveness and impact of the organization's solution. By strengthening the evidence base, the organization can make more informed decisions and implement evidence-based practices. This, in turn, would lead to improved outcomes, such as increased productivity, enhanced user satisfaction, better customer service, or more efficient operations.

2. Enhanced credibility and reputation: Conducting a LEAP Project demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based practices and rigorous evaluation. Over the long term, this can enhance the organization's credibility and reputation within its field or industry. By consistently employing evidence-based decision-making and sharing the results of the LEAP Project, the organization can build trust with stakeholders, attract potential partners or clients, and establish itself as a leader in the domain.

3. Scalability and sustainability: A successful LEAP Project can provide the organization with insights on scalability and sustainability. By understanding the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of their solution, the organization can identify opportunities for expansion or replication in new contexts. The evidence generated through the LEAP Project can guide the organization in making informed decisions about scaling their solution while maintaining its impact and sustainability.

4. Continuous learning and improvement: Engaging in a LEAP Project fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the organization.