Building Innovators and Creators: Tod-Mod-Jod

Gwynne Shotwell, the President and Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX, states, “You can't be on the cusp of innovation and at the forefront of technology if you're wearing blinders. If you don't have an exploration program where you're exploring your world here on Earth, underwater, and in space, then you're wearing blinders and handicapping yourself”.

Many of the programs at Dayalbagh and DEI are designed to get children to be early explorers. Our post today is on “Tod-Mod-Jod”, a program to build curiosity in children and help them become innovators, creators and inventors.

Happy Exploring,

Anurag

तोD-मोD-जोD

Education is the crucible in which innovations and creativity are nurtured. Promoting creativity and originality through our educational institutions is a first step towards broadening and deepening the impact of innovation in our society and economy. To foster creativity at an early stage and to encourage an innovative mindset in the learners, it is necessary to provide a hands-on learning environment where students can de-construct, re-construct or re-purpose everyday objects that they see or use.

Rationale

The innovative skilling initiative in Dayalbagh Educational Institutions is based on the concept of, “Tod-Mod-Jod” or “तोD-मोD-जोD”, i.e. learning through dismantling, joining, adding, assembling, shaping, designing, redesigning, reshaping. This method of learning is in contrast to the conventional training. तोD-मोD-जोD (TMJ) not only allows students to understand the scientific principles behind the everyday products they use, but also helps the students to expand their horizons to larger concepts and applications so as to enable them to solve real world problems. For instance, students typically do not know the inside of a ceiling fan, तोD-मोD-जोD (TMJ) session would help them to understand how mechanical airflow and electric concepts and components are used.

Description

Dayalbagh Educational Institute introduced तोD-मोD-जोD at middle school level for innovative and self-motivated students who want to create a new product out of those used in daily life. The teacher as mentor encourages students to follow their creative instincts. The feedback from students shows a complete change in their perception towards machines and devices. Curiosity and inquisitiveness are encouraged. These are critical for nurturing an innovative mindset. It is hoped that तोD-मोD-जोD centres will develop a way to excite and challenge young minds in a fun learning environment.

Impact

• तोD-मोD-जोD centre provides a hands-on learning environment where students can de-construct, re-construct or re-purpose everyday objects that they see or use.

• Helpful in establishing the concept of learning through “Tinkering”, “Discovery”, and Experimentation”.

• Early Start towards building a nation of creators not just consumers of products.

• Make education relevant, real and fun

Student Testimonials

• “Will always be curious on how what I use actually works”.

• “Connects multi-disciplinary concepts learnt in textbooks to real life applications”.

• “We want तोD-मोD-जोD classes every day”.