We are delighted to share that the Young Tinker Space (YTS) successfully hosted an 8-day Teachers’ Training Program at YTA Bhubaneswar, held from 15th to 23rd September 2025.
This intensive program was thoughtfully designed to equip educators with practical skills, design thinking practices, and creative teaching methodologies that can be directly applied in classrooms. By combining hands-on learning with problem-solving approaches, the training aimed to spark curiosity and build confidence among teachers to foster innovation in their students.
A highlight of the program was the active participation of teachers from the Cheers Foundation. We were honored to have Mr. Naveen Kumar Mangali and Mr. K. Surya Prakash join us for this journey of learning and collaboration. Their enthusiasm and openness to new ideas enriched the sessions and created a dynamic exchange of perspectives.
Through activities, discussions, and tinkering exercises, the program emphasized how educators play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of thinkers, makers, and innovators. At Young Tinker Foundation, we believe that empowering teachers is the first step toward transforming the learning ecosystem, and this training was yet another step in that direction.
Day -I
The opening day of the Teachers’ Training Program at YTS Bhubaneswar set the stage for an exciting journey of collaboration, creativity, and discovery.
The day began with introductions and ice-breaking activities, helping participants connect with each other and build the foundation of a supportive learning community. This was followed by an overview of the Young Tinker principles, where educators were introduced to the vision and philosophy behind YTS—placing innovation, problem-solving, and curiosity at the heart of education.
Teachers then had the opportunity to take a welcome tour of the Young Tinker Space (YTS) and Tinker on Wheels (ToW). This immersive experience gave them a firsthand look at the tools, resources, and creative setups that empower young learners to experiment, build, and innovate. The sessions that followed encouraged educators to think beyond conventional approaches. Activities like “Think Outside the Box” and “Discovering Myself” challenged participants to embrace creativity, reflect on their own strengths, and reimagine the role of a teacher as a facilitator of exploration. A particularly engaging exercise involved mapping their own village or city—identifying pressing local challenges and brainstorming potential solutions. This activity not only anchored the training in real-world contexts but also helped teachers recognize how design thinking can be applied to address issues that matter most to their communities.
The day concluded with the setup of the YTS Wall Organizer, a collaborative space that would serve as both a visual record and a motivational tool throughout the training. With curiosity sparked and a spirit of teamwork in place, Day 1 laid a strong foundation for the days to come.
Day -2
The second day of the Teachers’ Training Program at YTS Bhubaneswar was all about hands-on exploration and creative problem-solving.
The day began with the reflective activity “Growing My Plant Sapling,” symbolizing how ideas, like saplings, need nurturing to grow into impactful innovations. Teachers then explored “My Tinker Station,” learning the importance of thoughtful station placement in fostering an organized and inspiring maker environment.
They proceeded to assemble their own Tinker Boxes, equipping themselves with essential tools for creativity and experimentation. Putting these tools to use, participants engaged in a problem-solving challenge by designing and creating a functional wrench, an exercise that tested both ingenuity and collaboration. A key highlight of the day was the introduction to the F.A.T.A.C Design Thinking Process, which provided educators with a structured approach to guide students from identifying challenges to creating solutions. Teachers also received their first hands-on exposure to CAD and 3D printing, opening up new possibilities for bringing student ideas to life.
In the second half, the roles were reversed—teachers stepped into the shoes of facilitators as they practiced teaching these activities to students, preparing themselves to translate their learning into real classroom impact. Day two not only deepened their technical skills but also strengthened their confidence as mentors of innovation.
Day -3
Day three of the Teachers’ Training Program at YTS Bhubaneswar blended hands-on prototyping with a moment of cultural celebration.
The morning sessions focused on building technical confidence as teachers worked on creating a wrench prototype and practiced 3D designing and slicing using Creality software. They continued with the assembly of their Tinker Boxes, gradually mastering the use of tools and materials essential for a maker space.
The excitement grew as participants explored working circuits with LEDs and even tried their hands at designing simple circuit models in CAD, bridging the gap between digital design and real-world functionality.
Amidst the learning, the day took on a festive spirit as everyone came together to celebrate Bishwakarma Puja at YTA. This moment of joy and togetherness made the day not only productive but also truly memorable—reminding us that innovation thrives when learning is balanced with community and culture.
Day -4
Day four of the Teachers’ Training Program at YTS Bhubaneswar focused on building both technical skills and teaching confidence.
The sessions began with an introduction to Tinker CAD and slicing software, where teachers explored the basics of 3D design and gained a deeper understanding of different axes in design modelling. To reinforce learning, participants engaged in knowledge checks and worked through a Tinker Box checklist, ensuring they were confident with the tools at hand. The training also introduced the 5S methodology—a structured approach to organization and efficiency that is essential in maintaining a productive tinkering environment. Putting theory into practice, teachers then conducted a hands-on activity of glowing an LED, connecting concepts of circuits with real-world application.
In the second half of the day, educators once again stepped into the role of facilitators, practicing how to teach these concepts and activities to students. This exercise helped them translate their learning into effective classroom delivery, strengthening their readiness as mentors of innovation.
Day -5
The fifth day of the Teachers’ Training Program at YTS Bhubaneswar marked an exciting shift from prototyping to coding and automation.
The day began with the basics of TinkerCAD coding, where teachers explored how simple lines of code could bring ideas to life. Building on this, they created an automated traffic light system, gaining an understanding of how logic flows through real-world junctions. The highlight of the day was building their first bot, which introduced them to essential wiring concepts and the design of a remote-controlled bot. These hands-on exercises gave educators firsthand experience in blending electronics, mechanics, and coding to create functional prototypes.
In the second half, teachers once again stepped into a facilitator’s role, practicing how to teach these coding and robotics activities to students—ensuring that they could confidently translate their learning into engaging classroom experiences.
Day -6
Day six of the Teachers’ Training Program at YTS Bhubaneswar introduced educators to the exciting world of wireless and sensor-based robotics. The sessions began with an exploration of wireless technology, followed by hands-on practice in blinking LEDs through voice commands—a simple yet powerful way to demonstrate the connection between coding, electronics, and real-world applications.
Building on this, teachers created their own Bluetooth-controlled bot and experimented with an obstacle-avoidance bot using ultrasonic sensors, gaining confidence in integrating hardware with intelligent design. The day concluded with a fun and engaging activity, “My Robo Friend,” where participants brought together creativity and technical skills to design robots with personality and purpose.
The sixth day highlighted how robotics can make learning interactive, playful, and deeply inspiring for students.
Day -7
Day seven of the Teachers’ Training Program at YTS Bhubaneswar brought together creativity, problem-solving, and meaningful reflection.
The day began with the activity “My Next Big Solution,” encouraging teachers to think boldly about innovative ideas that could address real-world challenges. This was followed by an exercise in mapping plant growth and revisiting the principles of the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, emphasizing sustainability as an integral part of innovation. Participants also explored how to organize “My Tinker Day”—a framework for conducting hands-on, student-centered tinkering sessions in their own schools. On the technical side, they engaged in problem-solving with a Bluetooth cover design in Tinker CAD, applying design thinking to practical challenges.
A special highlight of the day was the visit to Baral Campus, the place where the Young Tinker journey first began. This visit served as both an inspiration and a reminder of how small beginnings can grow into impactful movements.
Day -8
The final day of the Teachers’ Training Program at YTS Bhubaneswar was dedicated to reflection, sharing, and celebration.
The morning began with a practical session on 3D printing assembly and troubleshooting, allowing participants to revisit their technical learnings and strengthen their confidence in handling real-world challenges. This was followed by the much-awaited final presentations, where teachers showcased their projects, ideas, and the skills they had gained over the eight days. Their creativity and problem-solving approaches reflected how far they had come on their journey as innovators and facilitators.
The program concluded with a certification ceremony, celebrating not just the successful completion of the training but also the collective spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and commitment that defined the entire experience.
This training marks not just an end, but a new beginning. In their Young Tinker Spaces, these educators are now equipped to ignite curiosity, foster creativity, and nurture problem-solving skills in their students. The true impact will be seen in classrooms where learning goes beyond textbooks—cultivating innovators, thinkers, and changemakers of tomorrow.