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 1. News
 2. Technology
 3. Artificial Intelligence
 4. ‘Makerspace lab aims to make students future-ready with AI and robotics’:
    Amazon’s Akshay Kashyap


‘MAKERSPACE LAB AIMS TO MAKE STUDENTS FUTURE-READY WITH AI AND ROBOTICS’:
AMAZON’S AKSHAY KASHYAP


AMAZON’S NEW MAKERSPACE LAB IN BENGALURU AIMS TO TRAIN OVER 4,000 YOUNG
INNOVATORS BY 2025.

Written by Bijin Jose
New Delhi | Updated: November 28, 2024 17:08 IST

5 min read
 * 
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 * 
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Left to Right - Akshay Kashyap, India Lead, Amazon Future Engineer Program;
Meenal Majumder, Founder & CEO, The Innovation Story and Abhinav Singh, VP of
Operations, Amazon India. (Express Image/Amazon)

“Our vision is to empower young people to realise their potential as creators,
thinkers, and builders,” said Akshay Kashyap, India Lead for the Amazon Future
Engineer programme. Earlier this month, the e-commerce giant introduced its
Amazon Future Makerspace Lab in Bengaluru. 

The newly launched lab is a state-of-the-art AI and robotics hub developed to
help students enhance their skills. With the Makerspace lab, Amazon aims to
expand hands-on learning of computer science for children from Class 5 to Class
12 in government schools.

Kashyap sat down with the indianexpress.com to discuss the programme and how it
focusses on children, especially those in government and rural schools that
typically lack access to quality computer science education. 

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“The Makerspace lab is an innovation hub where students can explore their
curiosity and work on projects that solve real-world problems. It’s designed to
teach hands-on skills like robotics, AI, 3D printing, and drone technology,
ensuring that children are future-ready,” Kashyap said, adding that over the
last three years, they have reached 2.9 million students and trained 16,000
teachers in eight states. 

Also Read | Banking and AI: AWS’s Kiran Jagannath explains how financial
services in India is undergoing transformation

Under the initiative, the schools are supported through government and
non-profit partnerships. Along with bringing computer science education to
classrooms, they are also offering training for teachers, scholarships and
internships for girls from low-income families. 


HOW CAN IT HELP STUDENTS?

When asked how the Makerspace lab can make students future-ready, Kashyap
enumerated that through their tiered programmes––beginner, intermediate, and
advanced levels––students can explore their creativity and work on projects that
revolve around solving real-world problems. Kashyap cited the example of
students creating an automated fence to protect crops from wild animals and
another instance of developing an alcohol detector for cars. “These projects
show problem-solving and technical application, key skills for navigating an
evolving workforce landscape,” he said.

One crucial lesson learnt during the pandemic was that it is important to equip
teachers with the right skills to help them impart lessons effectively. Amazon
Future Engineer Makerspace lab not only focuses on students; it is also working
towards training educators. “Our educator training programme focuses on
equipping teachers with computer science skills, even if they don’t have a
technical background.” 

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School Children learning 3D printing at the launch of Amazon Future Engineer
Makerspace. (Express Image/Amazon)

Kashyap said that the training is offered in collaboration with local
governments and it is voluntary. Once trained, the teachers use these skills
creatively in classrooms. “For instance, some teach photosynthesis through
coding platforms like Scratch, turning traditional lessons into interactive
projects,” he said. 


BRINGING AI AND ROBOTICS TO YOUNG LEARNERS

AI and robotics are domains that can be fairly complex for laypeople, and
educators around the world find it difficult to incorporate them in curricula
meant for children. When asked how the programme simplifies AI and robotics for
children, Kashyap said they focus on demystifying these and breaking them down
into simple, fun, and engaging modules.

“For example, kids may start by building a basic robot, like a butterfly with
flapping wings, to understand foundational concepts. We collaborate with
nonprofits like Code.org to create accessible curricula and use hands-on tools
in our Makerspace lab to make learning enjoyable,” he said. Besides, the content
is localised to align with the linguistic and cultural contexts of the
particular state, allowing students and teachers to connect with the material. 

Also Read | ‘AI is going to put knowledge at everyone’s fingertips’: Microsoft
AI’s Mustafa Suleyman

A programme of this scale is not easy to implement. When asked about challenges,
Kashyap said that localisation and contextualisation were among the biggest
hurdles they faced. “Each state has its own language and education context, so
we customise content and provide hands-on support through nonprofit partners.
This makes teachers feel confident and supported. While challenges remain, we
have seen enthusiastic participation from teachers, students, and government
authorities,” he said.

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In the long term, Kashyap said the initiative’s goal is to make computer science
accessible and an enjoyable skill for children, essentially preparing them for
future careers. “By fostering foundational skills like problem-solving and
teamwork, we hope to empower the next generation to succeed in a
technology-driven world,” he said. 



In the age of generative AI, professionals worldwide are expected to upskill to
advance their careers during this transitional phase. While industries continue
to harness the power of AI, educational institutions appear to lag behind in
most countries. Public schools are yet to fully equip their students with
essential skills in AI and robotics—fields poised to shape the industries of the
future.

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Bijin Jose



Bijin Jose, an Assistant Editor at Indian Express Online in New Delhi, is a
technology journalist with a portfolio spanning various prestigious
publications. Starting as a citizen journalist with The Times of India in 2013,
he transitioned through roles at India Today Digital and The Economic Times,
before finding his niche at The Indian Express. With a BA in English from
Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, and an MA in English Literature,
Bijin's expertise extends from crime reporting to cultural features. With a keen
interest in closely covering developments in artificial intelligence, Bijin
provides nuanced perspectives on its implications for society and beyond. ...
Read More


First uploaded on: 28-11-2024 at 17:06 IST
 * Tags:
 * Amazon
 * artificial intelligence


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