IIT Kanpur Expands Digital Literacy and AI Training for 900 Uttar Pradesh Teachers

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has officially expanded its Digital Literacy and Computational Thinking Concepts for Teachers (DLCCAI) programme to include secondary school educators across Uttar Pradesh. This initiative aims to equip 900 teachers from all 75 districts of the state with advanced skills in artificial intelligence, digital literacy, and technology-integrated pedagogy.

The project is being executed in partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). By focusing on secondary education, the institute seeks to build upon the foundation laid by its previous training efforts for primary school educators, ensuring that teachers are well-prepared to navigate and teach in an increasingly technology-driven academic environment.

Programme Structure and Curriculum Focus

The eight-week blended learning programme is designed to be comprehensive, split into six distinct batches of 150 participants each. The training methodology incorporates a mix of in-person classroom sessions held at the IIT Kanpur campus, supported by online learning modules, dedicated mentoring, and hands-on practical assignments. This structure is intended to ensure that participants can effectively translate theoretical knowledge into classroom practice.

The curriculum covers a wide array of technical subjects, including cybersecurity, robotics, Python programming, and the use of Scratch for computational thinking. Furthermore, the programme introduces teachers to various EdTech tools and Artificial Intelligence applications. The primary objective is to provide educators with the practical expertise necessary to enhance their daily teaching methods and streamline their administrative academic tasks.

Alignment with National Education Policy 2020

This expansion is closely aligned with the goals set forth in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the integration of technology in the classroom to improve learning outcomes. The initiative follows a successful pilot phase that trained 750 primary school teachers, an effort that reportedly benefited over 10,000 students across the state.

Beyond direct teacher training, the impact of the DLCCAI programme is being scaled through the integration of its curriculum into SCERT textbooks for Classes 6 to 8. It is estimated that this curriculum will reach approximately 48 lakh students throughout Uttar Pradesh. The programme is currently being led by a team of experts from IIT Kanpur, including Prof. Ramkumar J., Prof. Satyaki Roy, and Prof. Vimal Kumar, who are overseeing the implementation of these digital competencies across the state's secondary school system.