Aghaaz Labs
Objectives
Introducing concepts through play-way method concepts related to Astronomy, Mathematics, Science, Engineering, and Technology at the school level in a playful and heuristic manner.
Capacity Building of Teachers: Enhance the capacity of teachers through training sessions conducted by academicians, scientists, and subject matter experts from prestigious institutions like IITs, ISRO, and IISER.
Target Audience
Aghaaz Labs targets school and undergraduate students interested in astrophysics, as well as science teachers, university professors, researchers, and industry professionals in aerospace and technology. It also caters to astronomy enthusiasts, hobbyists, and parents seeking educational opportunities for their children.
Aghaaz Labs partners with schools, colleges, educational NGOs, and policy makers to promote STEM education. the general public eager to learn about the universe through lectures and observational sessions.
Scope
The Aghaaz Initiative inspires students to pursue careers in astronomy and STEM with a play-based curriculum and Celestial Jamboree Clubs in schools, featuring teaching materials and engaging displays. It organizes teacher training workshops to promote interactive teaching methods and hosts student activities like reading sessions and night telescope observations.
Model-making competitions lead to state-level exhibitions, while collaborations with experts from IITs, ISRO, and IISER offer valuable sessions and workshops. These efforts create a comprehensive and stimulating educational experience for both students and teachers.
Impact/Outcomes
Under the 'Padhe Bharat-Badhe Bharat' campaign, schools have started a 100-day reading initiative as part of the Aghaaz Initiative to promote literacy and consistent reading among students. The Aghaaz Initiative's night sessions have engaged over 500 students, demonstrating the practical use of telescopes provided by Aghaaz Labs.
The program reaches over 30,000 students through mentoring sessions, approximately 4,500 teachers in capacity-building workshops, and over 4,560 students in reading sessions, significantly impacting both students and educators.
Aghaaz Initiative
During the financial year 2023-24, Samagra Shiksha, Jammu and Kashmir, in collaboration with the IFACET-Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, established a total of 376 Astrophysics labs (Aghaaz Labs). This unique initiative addresses diverse learning needs and has a wide scope of activities, including enhancing students' performance in subjects like Mathematics, Science, and Geography; fostering aptitude in engineering and technology; improving reading and observational skills related to celestial objects; promoting active learning through quiz competitions; and nurturing imagination and creativity through model-making competitions. For instance, in science education, students can be encouraged to observe their surroundings and explore visible celestial bodies such as the moon, stars, and planets. By directly observing these objects, students can gain a deeper understanding of scientific concepts like the movements of celestial bodies, the phases of the moon, and star patterns in the night sky. Similarly, observation-based learning can be utilized in teaching mathematics.
The phase of establishment
A total of 376 astrophysics laboratories under AGHAAZ Initiative have been established across Jammu & Kashmir for achieving the goals envisaged in NEP 2020 in the field of science education.
Our Pedagogy- moving from concrete to abstract
Children learn more effectively when exposed to concepts through Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs). In our curriculum, we discuss and present all concepts in the classroom using a concrete-to-abstract learning approach, supported by the innovative TLMs provided in the Aghaaz Labs.
Our Approach for mentorship: enquiry based learning
Children consistently have an array of endless questions. Under our mentoring sessions, our approach is to foster an environment where they feel encouraged to ask increasingly relevant questions. As famous educationist Shri. Jiddu Krishnamurti says, “To ask the 'right' question is far more important than to receive the answer.” Hence, it's not solely about providing correct answers but rather about the significance of asking the right questions. As educators, it is our responsibility to cultivate this culture.
Celebration of Astronomy week at school level
Each school has established Celestial Jamboree Clubs, led by student leaders to promote leadership among peers. These clubs are encouraged to observe Astronomy Week at the school level, presenting fascinating facts about the Universe and Astronomy through diverse forms of communication such as poster making, wall decorations, speeches, and demonstrations.
Observing Night Sky
An exceptional feature of the Aghaaz Initiative is the manner in which night sessions are conducted. Students experience unparalleled wonder as they observe celestial objects up close, facilitated by cutting-edge telescopes provided in each lab under the Aghaaz Initiative.
Padhe Bharat, Badhe Bharat- 100 days reading campaign
In alignment with the Government of India’s 'Padhe Bharat, Badhe Bharat' 100-day reading campaign, we are conducting thematic reading sessions in Aghaaz Labs. The Celestial Jamboree Club leads these sessions, with support from the school's nodal teacher. Regular activities include reading, discussions, and Q&A rounds, fostering an engaging and interactive learning environment.
Aghaaz: making it a community centered program
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and a society is only as strong as its weakest member. With this principle in mind, our goal extends beyond empowering schools to include the surrounding community. Through the Aghaaz Initiative, we organize various interaction platforms where community members, nearby schools (students, teachers, and principals), educators, and administrators can visit, learn, and engage with the wealth of knowledge we provide.
Learn-Evaluate your Learning- Learn again
A key aspect of progressive education is periodic assessment of learning with a constructive mindset. Monthly quiz competitions in every school ensure that students' learning is evaluated in a fun and interactive manner. This approach fosters a positive mindset towards assessments and helps maintain continuous engagement and improvement in students' educational journey.