Design and Programming Workshop

In fall 2018, I had this fantastic opportunity to conduct a two-day workshop on 'problem-solving using Arduino programming, PLC, and SCADA' in affiliation with Pratham Education Foundation, Mumbai, India. Pratham is an innovative learning organization created to improve the quality of education in India. As one of the largest non-governmental organizations in the country, Pratham focuses on high-quality, low-cost, and replicable interventions to address gaps in the education system and unattended communities. Established in 1995 to provide education to children in Mumbai's slums, Pratham has grown both in scope and geographical coverage. It was a medium-scale hands-on type training program for students pursuing a diploma in Electrical, Automobile engineering, and their teaching staff. (40-45 students and 3-4 staff members.)

The core focus of this Workshop was on problem-solving using these systems in Industrial automation. We introduced the students to the knowledge base required for physically implementing these systems. It mainly included computational logic, basics of programming, solving problems through design thinking, Introduction to 3D printing, multidisciplinary tech-integration, some programming challenges, support resources, etc. We taught them Arduino programming with few hands-on activities such as an LED blinking game, motor speed and direction control, etc.

While explaining the wide range of possibilities with 3D printing and how design thinking can solve their daily problems, we demonstrated this theory with a quick demonstration. Let me give you some context. On the first day of a workshop, during a break, I went to the washroom. I saw that the flap of the commode was misplaced. I inspected that the adjuster, which holds the flap against the commode's ceramic body using plastic bolts, was broken. I informed their cleaning staff about the problem, but they already knew. They told me that the commode company does not sell spares- adjuster, so they have to buy the replacement flap, which costs around 800-900₹. I had to solve this problem! After day one, I took the broken adjuster with me; I quickly 3D modeled it and printed it the next morning with the necessary permissions to use my department's 3D printer. Then I went to the workshop venue; with some fine flat file adjustments, the commode flap was fixed. The part was made of PLA and cost just 10-15₹. Students at the Pratham were amazed by the scope of 3D printing. It was fun!

We also communicated the importance of adapting to the new industrial revolution, the skill sets required to mitigate the risk of unemployment in this revolution, and the directions for developing those skill sets. It was challenging for us to communicate the relatively complex terms of Industry 4.0 and programming in the native language. Another challenge we faced was the active participation of students. As these students come from communities that are relatively poor and unattended, they have an inferiority complex. We enjoyed these two days spreading the creative problem solving and empowering the transition into the era of Industry 4.0.

At the end of the Workshop, we donated some sets of Arduino kits to Pratham for students to experiment with. Mihir and I offered them 3D printing access and support as we had access to our lab printers. The students and staff well received the workshop teachings. Later we were offered to design the syllabus for 'Industrial automation,' which was supposed to be incorporated from Fall 2019 in their curriculum for the batches taught throughout India.