Rama Krishna Sangem
The Cognizant Foundation, in collaboration with Educational Initiatives (EI) and the Telangana state government, is implementing Ei Mindspark, an artificial intelligence-enabled personalized and adaptive learning tool, across 24 government schools in Telangana under their flagship Cognizant STEAM4ALL program.
On July 30, B. Saidulu, IFS, Secretary of Telangana BC Welfare Residential Schools, along with Ratna Sarma V. Kolachana, Head of Industrial Operations at Cognizant, inaugurated the Cognizant Mindspark Lab at the MJPTBCWRS Miyapur school in Telangana.
The inauguration was virtually attended by principals from 23 other schools under the program. During the inauguration celebrations, leaders from the Cognizant Foundation and EI addressed the students and encouraged them to fully take advantage of the program to learn and succeed in their lives.
Saidulu (IFS) thanked the Cognizant Foundation and Educational Initiatives for bringing echnology closer to students. He said, “Our students already have competency and basic skills, and through this powerful tool, their skills will be enhanced, leading to better learning experiences. This program will further support our teachers in understanding their students’ needs better. It is a step towards a brighter future for our students.”
Ratna Kolachana said, “Cognizant Foundation and Educational Initiatives are working together to provide students with the best technology for learning. I encourage students to put in efforts and learn both through Mindspark and from their teachers in the classroom. I am confident that if this tool is used effectively, we will see many high achievers like APJ Abdul Kalam emerge from this school.”
Customized learning paths
The Cognizant Mindspark Labs integrate pedagogy, teacher instruction, and a learning management system to assess and develop customized learning paths for children. The aim is to address learning gaps identified in students, improve their foundational literacy and numeracy skills, and enhance overall educational outcomes. Through the collective efforts of the Cognizant Foundation and EI Mindspark, the initiative aims to empower students from underserved communities and contribute to their holistic and sustainable development in the long run.
Ritesh Agarwal, Vice President of Ei Shiksha, said, “Everything we do at Ei is for the betterment of our students. We want students from BC Welfare Residential Schools to overcome their fear of learning, particulary mathematics. We are delighted to introduce a tool like Mindspark here and hope it will lead to greater learning outcomes for the students.” He further emphasized the instrumental role of teachers in making the program successful and encouraged them to leverage it to enhance their teaching practices.
The Cognizant Foundation’s STEAM4ALL program promotes digital literacy, science, technology, ngineering, arts, math, and inclusive education. The partnership between EI and the Cognizant Foundation aims to reach over 8,000 students in 24 government schools in Telangana.
