Thiruvananthapuram: Ever wondered what the difference between alternative and direct current is, or or what the lines of force of a magnet are, how gears in a car shift, how any substance can catch fire if it reaches a particular temperature, how hydropower is created or how a fuse goes off.
Making the study of science simple and interesting for high school students and providing an opportunity to conduct hands-on experiments to reinforce various concepts is the Tesla (Total Empowerment in Science Learning Activities) Pedagogy Park at Koottapara, Karakulam, here.
Run by K. Suresh Kumar, a winner of the President’s award, NCERT award, and many State awards, the park’s name was inspired by Nikola Tesla, inventor and physicist.
The centre, with three buildings totalling 5,000 sq ft and designed by Costford, aims at providing a space for students from classes 8 to 10 to conduct the experiments that form part of their syllabi but are often limited to plain theory or at the most demonstrations. Doing experiments ensures that students grasp various concepts well. It helps that the nearly 220 experiments here, including those for physics and chemistry and Mathematics puzzles, are arranged in a sequential manner, from simple to complex.
There are five instructors on hand to help, but only if the students need help. No oral instructions are given. Whatever the students need to do during the day-long programme is written, in English and in Malayalam, near each experiment. There are no automated machines either, so children get to see and experience every small action and reaction.
So, if a student has to understand the functioning of a motor, s/he will, through various experiments, be get to know elementary things such as how a magnetic field is created when electricity is passed through a wire, or through a coil, and the result when the number of coils is increased. So, along with an experiment in the textbook, a few more that aid in the study of that particular topic are conducted.
The experiments are divided into various halls – for mechanical, electrical, light-based experiments, so that groups of children can take turns visiting each and trying them out.
Chemistry experiements owing to their hazardous nature and involving the use of chemicals that are not environment-firiendly are demonstrated to the students.
Mr. Suresh Kumar has help from two of his former students Jithin Jayakumar and Nishad and a relative in running the park. Most of the experiments have been designed by them after years of trials and errors. A few have been imported.
Besides the one-day programme, the park is planning to start a one-year membership programme that allows high school students to conduct experiments for 10 whole days in a year. New experiments will be introduced for higher secondary students, Mr. Suresh Kumar said. By taking membership, they can also conduct experiments for 20 whole days.
Situated in 15 cents of greenery, the park which became functional August last also has some fun experiments to make learning a joyful experience. “There are no lectures for the students. All experiments are aimed at kindling their interest in science and mathematics.”
For inquiries, call 9207607666
