Fostering a Culture of Learning: TinkerHub’s Approach to Learning Stations
On September 21, 2014, Maker Party Kochi, an unconference hosted by a group of students with Mozilla Kerala community in association with CITTIC, took place. The event was a new concept in Kerala at that time, offering teaching stations where people could come and learn from the “makers” sitting there. Anyone with knowledge in any technical or non-technical skill could offer a station, and people came to stations that interested them, and the mentors explained the technology and how it could be learned. There were 30 stations in total, ranging from technical teaching stations like webmaker tools, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and Drupal to non-technical stations like origami and salsa dance. The event was a massive success, with over 4,000 attendees, making it the largest web maker party in the world.
But what made Maker Party Kochi truly magical was what happened after the event. The students who organized it were struck by the passion and enthusiasm of those who attended and wanted to keep the momentum going. They realized that there was a need for a place where people could come together to learn and share knowledge about new technologies. And so, TinkerHub was born, a community where anyone could come and learn and explore new technologies, free of cost!
With great pride, the TinkerHub Foundation impact report of 2021–22 announces that our community has grown to a staggering 12,927 members. Our collective efforts have led to the creation of an impressive 3,916 projects over the past year, engaging a remarkable 44,496 learners through our 70+ campus communities. The numbers themselves are a testament to our success, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue nurturing creativity and innovation among our members.
Empowering Through Digital Skills and Peer Learning
Digital skills are tools of empowerment. By 2030, 80% of the jobs will require some level of technical skills, and coding is a superpower that can open up new career pathways in this age of digital transformation. However, in India, there is still a significant skill shortage in the tech industry, with 40% of employers reporting that a lack of skills is the main reason for entry-level vacancies.
At TinkerHub, we believe in the power of peer learning and mentoring to help bridge this gap. While online courses are available for individuals to study alone, we’ve found that working in a group can help keep you motivated and engaged. Our community is made up of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and interests, all united by a shared desire to learn and grow together.
In the past, we’ve seen students hold certain events or activities, but often there is no continuity. This is why it can be challenging to build a proper tech talent pipeline in Kerala. At TinkerHub, we strive to provide a space where individuals can work together and bring out the best in each other, while also giving back to the wider community.
If you’re looking for a supportive and collaborative community to help you develop your coding skills, TinkerHub is the place for you!
Learning Stations: An Efficient Model for Peer Learning
Learning stations are a common feature at tech learning events. Designated spaces are set up, each dedicated to a particular tech stack, and experienced mentors are assigned to each station. They provide a flexible teaching and learning experience that is easily understood.
Individuals are encouraged to visit each learning station to learn about a specific tech stack. Mentors offer an overview of the stack, including its practical applications and how it can be learned. Real-world examples and sample projects are also shared to help learners better understand the tech stack.
To make the learning experience more interactive, mentors conclude each session with relevant questions for the group. Those who provide the correct answers are rewarded, which motivates and encourages learners to actively participate.
This process is repeated until the learners have visited and learned from all the learning stations. The learning station model offers an interactive approach to learning that promotes tech education and encourages individuals to develop new skills in an exciting and enjoyable way.
Internal structure
The entire team is divided into Mentors, Super Mentors, Super OpX.
Mentors: Mentors in the learning station model are carefully selected experts who conduct 10–15 minute sessions for small groups of 10–12 people in a specific learning station. They are provided with teaching materials and work closely with Super Mentors to prepare. Sessions run continuously without breaks, with an average of 4 sessions per hour. Mentors play a crucial role in providing participants with in-depth knowledge on specific tech stacks and helping them develop new skills.
Super Mentors: Are members of our community with extensive knowledge in specific domains, who assist mentors with their sessions. With one Super Mentor for every two stalls, they engage with learners and support both the learners and mentors throughout the process.
Super OpX: Refers to the individuals responsible for overseeing all operations at the learning stations. They are responsible for ensuring crowd control, effective time management, and providing necessary materials and supplies to mentors.
The Learning Station model, which was originally inspired by the Teaching Station and first used at Maker Party 2014, proved to be highly effective and was implemented again at the IEDC Summit 2019 held at Sahrdaya College of Engineering in Kodakara.
IEDC Summit 2019
IEDC Summit is an annual event hosted by Kerala Startup Mission, providing a platform for participants from various innovation and entrepreneurship development cells (IEDCs) across the state to showcase products, share success stories, and learn from each other’s failures. The event brings together young minds to gain knowledge about the startup ecosystem and build strong networks for developing sustainable enterprises.
At the IEDC Summit 2019 held at Sahrdaya College of Engineering, TinkerHub set up a stall featuring learning stations. Over 750 students participated and learned something new within just six hours, demonstrating the effectiveness and appeal of the learning station model.
Check out this tweet from one of our co-founders, who played a crucial role behind the scenes:
After the success of the Learning Station Model at IEDC Summit 2019, the concept was widely embraced by students all over Kerala, who started incorporating it into their own campuses and tech events. Learning stations became a hub for peer learning and personal growth.
IEDC Summit 2022
This offline event marked our return to in-person gatherings after COVID-19. At the IEDC Summit’22 at SJCET Palai, we hosted our Learning Stations and introduced the LowCode Space, featuring 30+ tools handled by 30 Mentors, and experienced by over 2500 students in a single day. From non-design tools like Notion and Pitch to design tools like Figma, Canva, and BlushDesign, as well as learning platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Udacity, we helped students explore a variety of resources to fuel their learning journey. We introduced many new tools like Polywork, biodotlink, BuyMeACoffee, ProductHunt, Google Suite Tools and more.
TinkerHub: Empowering Communities
Community is at the heart of everything we do at TinkerHub Foundation.
TinkerHub community comprises of two kinds of members — campus communities and outside enthusiasts. Campus communities focus on improving students within their specific campus, while TinkerHub community is open to everyone, including school students, professionals and entrepreneurs.
Our campus communities serve as the first touchpoint for many technology learners, who get to know the possibilities that TinkerHub opens up and see their peers building and learning new things. This inspires them to believe that they too can do the same. As they start learning with the help of peers and gain an overview of the fundamentals of technology and programming, they begin to seek out mentorship programs and activities offered by TinkerHub for all campuses.
The above graph displays the number of campus community programs conducted each year. Last year, there were 292 events, indicating a steady growth in community engagement. The report also highlights an increase in campus community chapters, with 66 campuses onboarded at the time of publication. (2021–2022)
Our successful Learning Station model, first introduced at Maker Party 2014 and IEDC Summit 2019 and 2022, has inspired various TinkerHub campus communities and other campus communities to adopt this model and conduct their own programs.
Here are some notable programs that have implemented the Learning Station model:
College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET)
On June 29th, 2022, TinkerHub CET organized an event where 27 mentors conducted learning stations on 10 different stacks including Python, JavaScript, Flutter, Open Source, Machine Learning, UI/UX Design, Product Management, Web Development, Robotics, and IoT. The event saw more than 150 people actively engaged and learning from the experts in their respective fields.
Toc H Institute of Science & Technology (TIST)
On July 15th, TinkerHub TocH held learning stations with about 14 technical stacks, four of which were low code stations, including figma, canva, calendly, product management, flutter, Python, JavaScript, etc. 60+ students learned each stack.
Institute of Engineering and Technology, Calicut University (IECTU)
On August 26, 2022, TinkerHub IECTU, hosted a remarkable learning event with about 7 technical stacks. The participants engaged in hands-on learning of technologies such as AI/ML, Cybersecurity, Web Development, AR, and UI/UX.
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)
TinkerHub CUSAT conducted learning stations with about 7 techincal stacks, during Medha — The Knowledge Fest of CUSAT on August 2–4 2022, covering topics like Python, JavaScript, Flutter, IoT, DevOps, and UI/UX.
College of Engineering Vadakara (CEV)
On December 2022, TinkerHub CEV hosted a successful learning station event with 10 mentors handling 12 different stacks. Over 250–300 students attended and interacted with the topics, including Flutter, Professional Communication, Web Development, Robotics, and more.
Future Scope
By prioritizing peer learning, we have established a strong network of Learning Station models throughout Kerala. From our humble beginnings to the present, our focus has been on empowering young minds by providing the resources they need to thrive in the dynamic tech landscape. Our learning stations have become vibrant hubs of learning, networking, and discovery, attracting students, mentors, and industry leaders alike. With a continued commitment to excellence, we strive to push the boundaries of what is possible and create a better future for generations to come.
If you’re intrigued by this approach and want to implement it in your own spaces, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll be thrilled to guide you and support you throughout your journey.
As we wrap up this blog on the success of our Learning Stations model, we are delighted to announce that the TinkerHub team is already hard at work developing an upcoming iteration of this program. We invite all of you to join us on this exciting journey and collaborate to make it an even greater success. Keep an eye out for more updates on this initiative that’s pushing the boundaries of tech education and empowering the next generation of innovators!
