Maharashtra Innovation Champions (ICs) kit based Workshops – Pune and Nagpur

The iRISE Innovation Champions (ICs) Refresher Workshops were organised at IISER Pune on 24 August 2026 and SISE Nagpur on 25 August 2026 as one-day professional development programmes for Innovation Champions and DIET Officers. The workshops were organised in collaboration with iRISE, IISER Pune, SCERT Maharashtra, SISE Nagpur, and the participating DIETs to strengthen the implementation of inquiry-based, hands-on, and experiential learning approaches in school classrooms.

Across the two workshops, 171 participants, 144 Innovation Champions and 27 DIET Officers. Female-21 ,Male-82

The workshops were designed for Innovation Champions who had previously undergone iRISE training. The key objectives were to refresh their understanding of inquiry-based and activity-oriented teaching, strengthen practical skills, familiarise participants with the effective use of the Innovation Champion (IC) Kit, and build their capacity to support other teachers through the cascade model.

The workshops featured engaging and hands-on sessions on classroom microscopy using the Foldscope and microscale chemistry. Participants explored how low-cost microscopy can introduce students to the microscopic world and practised preparing slides and making observations using the Foldscope. The microscale chemistry sessions provided opportunities to perform chemical reactions using small quantities of materials and discuss their classroom applications. Participants also reflected on their experiences of classroom implementation and cascade facilitation, shared challenges, and explored strategies for strengthening hands-on STEM teaching.

The workshop for the inauguration program  interaction with SCERT Maharashtra officials, Dr. Kamladevi Awate (Joint Director SCERT), Dr. Ibrahim Nadaf (Deputy Director SCERT), Smt. Saraswati Suryawanshi (HOD of science department), and Smt. Manisha Tate. Innovation Champion Kits were distributed to participants.

The workshops concluded with reflections and a Way Forward, encouraging Innovation Champions to apply their learning in classrooms and support the wider adoption of innovative STEM practices through the cascade model.