This innovation was developed through Learning Links Foundation’s partnership with NITI Aayog to strengthen the implementation of ATLs in select schools across India. While ATLs have created unprecedented access to STEM tools and innovation spaces at scale, there was a need to ensure these ATLs translate into meaningful, sustained learning experiences for students. Through on-ground engagement, LLF & the AIM, NITI Aayog observed that teachers often require support to confidently facilitate hands-on, experiential STEM learning, and students benefit from structured pathways that guide them from exploration to problem-solving to prototyping and solution-building. The innovation was therefore designed to build a robust ecosystem around ATLs, one that empowers teachers as facilitators and enables students to move beyond tinkering to creating solutions for real-world challenges.
It addresses three key needs:
1. Strengthening teacher capacity for experiential STEM learning
2. Enabling sustained student engagement through structured innovation pathways
3. Connecting classroom learning with real-life problem-solving
By focusing on these areas, the initiative ensures that ATLs become dynamic innovation spaces where students actively explore, experiment, innovate and develop an entrepreneurial mindset, supported by confident, trained educators and a clear framework for learning.
Strengthening ATL implementation model as part of the larger ATL initiative by AIM, NITI Aayog works across four integrated components:
1. Teacher Capacity Building: We hire and train Innovation Coaches who work closely with the teachers throughout the project cycle. We train teachers through structured modules on design thinking, STEM pedagogy, and hands-on learning facilitation. Continuous mentoring ensures sustained implementation.
2. Student Engagement Pathways: Students participate in structured activities, from basic tinkering to advanced project-based learning. ATL clubs, ATL hackathons and innovation challenges encourage them to identify local problems and design innovative solutions.
3. Curriculum & Resources: We provide activity-based learning modules, project toolkits, and guides aligned with ATL objectives. These resources help standardize quality while allowing contextual adaptation.
4. Portfolio & Showcase: Students document their projects, creating portfolios that capture their learning journey. Exhibitions and competitions reinforce innovation and peer learning.
The initiative integrates design thinking, experiential learning, and prototyping using ATL kits (electronics, robotics, IoT). Over time, schools have demonstrated increased ATL usage, improved teacher confidence, and higher student participation in innovation challenges. Students have showed enhanced problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity skills, with projects addressing real community issues.
Over the last few years, LLF has implemented the innovation across select multiple ATL schools across India, strengthening utilization and engagement. Key achievements include:
• Increased frequency and quality of ATL sessions
• Capacity building of teachers as confident facilitators of STEM
• Formation of active ATL clubs driving student participation
• Development of student-led projects addressing local challenges
• Participation in exhibitions, competitions, and innovation showcases
The initiative has demonstrated that structured and consistent support significantly improves ATL outcomes, even in resource-constrained settings. The approach is designed to be scalable and adaptable across geographies, including government, low-resource, and private schools.
The goals for the next 2 to 3 years are:
• Expand the implementation of the initiative to UAE
• Build a strong pipeline of student innovators working on real-world problems
• Integrate deeper community engagement and problem identification
• Create replication toolkits for wider adoption by education stakeholders
Our long-term vision is to institutionalize experiential STEM learning within mainstream schooling ecosystem.
To adopt this model, schools or education systems can begin by engaging with the AIM, NITI Aayog to establish or gain access to an ATL. Once the ATL is in place, the next critical step is strengthening implementation. Schools can partner with Learning Links Foundation to build teacher capacity through structured training in experiential STEM learning, design thinking, and facilitation. Continuous mentoring and handholding support ensure that teachers are able to sustain engagement and effectively utilize ATL resources. Further implementation typically includes launching regular ATL sessions, forming STEM/innovation clubs, and gradually progressing students from guided activities to problem-solving and project-based learning. This is complemented by curated toolkits, activity modules, and clearly defined student engagement pathways.
For collaboration, interested schools, NGOs, or education departments can connect with AIM, NITI Aayog for ATL access and with Learning Links Foundation for implementation support, training, and scale-up partnerships.
