Atal Innovation Mission, an initiative by NITI Aayog and the Government of India, was launched with the vision to cultivate one million child innovators across India. This ambitious program led to the establishment of Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools nationwide. The goal was to create an ecosystem that promotes the development and use of technology to solve real-world problems. The program aimed to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds while inculcating skills such as design thinking, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing, digital fabrication, and collaboration.
Since its inception in 2016, the ATL program has been instrumental in encouraging technological innovation among school students. By establishing these laboratories, the Government of India sought to empower students with the tools and knowledge needed to develop feasible technological solutions to various challenges.
To evaluate the impact of ATLs on students, Athena Infonomics was commissioned to conduct a comprehensive assessment across schools in the country. The assessment involved an online survey to verify ATL dashboard data from 1,000 sample schools, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with ATL in-charges and school principals, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with groups like Mentors of Change (MoCs), ATL students, and their parents, as well as facility visits.
The assessment focused on several key performance indicators, including infrastructure, student engagement, ATL events, and innovations carried out in schools. It also evaluated the effective utilization and compliance with the ATL scheme by reviewing parameters such as fund utilization, operational compliance, and the database available at AIM for funded schools.
Additionally, the assessment tracked the education and career journeys of ATL students. It sought to understand the changes in the mindset of ATL in-charges, principals, and teachers working in ATL schools. The analysis also extended to the impact of ATLs on the community, particularly in terms of the students' affinity towards STEM, entrepreneurship skills, and career choices following the introduction of ATLs.
The findings from this assessment provided valuable insights into the scale of impact ATLs have had across the country. These insights were crucial in informing decisions about the scalability of ATLs within India, helping to shape the future direction of the program.
For more information about the project, reach out to Abison Paul and Priyanka Ohri.
Note: Image is for representational purposes only
