5 days Ago By Preetika P
Chennai: The School Connect Programme of IIT Madras has seen a big spurt in enrolment, with participation growing from 11,098 students in Aug to 22,955 in Oct. Partnered with 127 schools across the city, the programme plans to introduce more short-term courses based on feedback from schools. "We aim to help Class XI and XII students explore various career options while they are still in school.
Currently, we are offering two key courses data science and artificial intelligence, and electronic systems. We plan to roll out more hands-on programmes in the coming months to cater to a broader range of interests," said Andrew Thangaraj, chair of Centre for Outreach and Digital Education, IIT-M. The curriculum spans four weeks of theory and four weeks of practical sessions, with students engaging in activities such as data analysis, K-means clustering, and building robots.
"We are incorporating project-based collaborative learning to encourage students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems through teamwork-oriented projects," said Vignesh Muthuvijayan, faculty coordinator for the BSc degree at IIT Madras. Students are assessed through auto-graded assignments, optional take-home projects, and a final exam, evaluating both their theoretical understanding and practical skills. While the programme received positive feedback, some students are looking for guidance in niche fields.
"I'm curious about biotechnology and its integration with AI. I'd like to understand how AI can drive advancements in medicine," said Shruti Narayan, a Class XII student at Velammal Vidyalaya. Anjali Menon, a Class XI student at P S Senior Secondary School, said, "I'm interested in agri-tech and how technology can improve farming practices, but most of the focus is on AI and data science.
It would be great to have more support for students with different career aspirations." Teachers have also suggested integrating the programme into school schedules to help students manage it alongside regular classes. "The programme is incredibly useful but incorporating it into the timetable would allow students to relate with what they are learning in school," said Sara Joseph, a teacher from a participating school.
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