Atal Tinkering Labs to ignite innovation among students in Thiruvananthapuram schools; what are these labs and what is their objective?

In less than 24 hours of Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar announcing setting up of 10 Atal Tinkering labs (ATLs) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, six schools have already signed up for it.

During an interactive programme with the students of NIMS Medicity, the Minister in response to a question posed by students on fostering innovation at school level, announced the establishment of ATLs in 10 schools within the city, as a starting point. 

“This initiative is part of our broader effort to foster a spirit of curiosity and innovation at the school level, preparing students in Thiruvananthapuram for a rapidly evolving future,” said the Minister. 

Additionally, four more schools are slated to receive ATLs in the near future that are being set up under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).

The schools set to receive ATLs include Chinmaya Vidyalaya Attukal, St Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Alan Feldman Public School, Victory VHSS Olathanni, GHSS Balaramapuram, and Sree Chithira Thirunal Residential Central School. These ATLs will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to support a hands-on learning environment.

Labs will act as incubators for ideas

“The labs will act as incubators for ideas, equipping students with the necessary tools and space to build, tinker, and explore. The Government’s commitment to this initiative highlights the importance of integrating practical, innovative learning methods into our educational curriculum,” said the Minister.

In next 5 years, no panchayat in the city will be left out without an ATL

The Minister also issued a statement saying, “In next five years, no panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram will be left out without an Atal Tinkering Lab”. The initiative invites the remaining schools to join this exciting journey towards fostering a brighter and more innovative future for students.

What is ATL

With a vision to ‘Cultivate one Million children in India as Modern Innovators’, Atal Innovation Mission is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India. The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.

ATL is a workspace where young minds can give shape to their ideas

ATL is a workspace where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode; and learn innovation skills. Young children will get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand the concepts of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). 

ATL would contain educational and learning ‘do it yourself’ kits and equipment on – science, electronics, robotics, open-source micro controller boards, sensors and 3D printers and computers. Other desirable facilities include meeting rooms and video conferencing facility.

In order to foster inventiveness among students, ATL can conduct different activities ranging from regional and national level competitions, exhibitions, workshops on problem solving, designing and fabrication of products, lecture series etc. at periodic intervals.

ATL Objectives

To create work spaces where young minds can learn innovation skills, sculpt ideas through hands-on activities, work and learn in a flexible environment.

To empower our youth with the 21 century skills of creativity, innovation, critical thinking, design thinking, social and cross-cultural collaboration, ethical leadership and so on.

To help build innovative solutions for India’s unique problems and thereby support India’s efforts to grow as a knowledge economy.