STEM Land (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics)

History and today’s organisation.

Aura Auro Design started as a research project of SAIIER (Sri Aurobindo Institute of International Educational Research) in Jan 2015. Later that year STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics)  Land and resource center as a space for children to learn and explore.

STEM Land- Aura Auro Design became a sub-unit of SAIIER in May 2017.

For more information please click www.auraauro.com

STEM Land – AAD are resource centers in two outreach schools of Auroville – Udavi School and Isai Ambalam School. The centers work on Math and Science education through creating and building rather than didactic classes. Through this constructivist approach children have become responsible for their learning, work with peers and have created many projects that demonstrate concepts they learn.

The centers primarily work with village children and provide a platform /resource, offering amazing opportunities to learn. The activities chosen by children and youth include programming, electronics, Math materials, strategy games, puzzles, robotics, DIY cameras, etc.

The centers are run by engineering graduates in and around Auroville who volunteer 3 hrs a day at schools and work on engineering 5 hrs a day with their mentor.

Vision and Missions

AAD started with a simple concept of a learning organization that skilled youth to work with children. STEM Land was born out of a meaningful way to engage with children and has given us focus and direction. The tagline – learn, grow, work, teach is reflected in our goals as an organization:

– Exploring self-directed learning and research the use of technology in effective learning and learning environments

– Exploring a learning organization. How an organization, where learning (unending education) and growth (constant progress) of its members and those they interact with is the primary goal, can still be effective in engaging in a real world context.

– To provide opportunity (and mentoring) to youth in and around AV to become skilled e.g. in electronics, programming and teaching.

– To provide an opportunity for skilled youth to engage with children in schools and move beyond simple procedural learning into application, problem solving and self-mastery.

– To explore alternatives to examinations as a way for children to demonstrate mastery.

– To support those who want to see similar changes in their schools and organizations e.g. modules in specific topics, teacher training.