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Think-Out-of-The-Box

place India + 2 more

A Creative Computing Tool For All

In regions like India, K-12 computing education faces barriers like cost, device scarcity, and inaccessible labs, limiting future skill development. Think-Out-of-The-Box is a $10 creative maker box facilitating PS and creativity, making it the most affordable computing kit globally. It strives to democratize 21st-century skills, ensuring access for every child irrespective of socioeconomic status.

HundrED 2025

Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

HundrED Global Collection 2025

Web presence

2022

Established

10.4K

Children

2

Countries
Target group
Students upper
Updated
October 2024
Through our innovation, we aim to see a transformation in education by fostering accessibility, CT, and empowerment. Students will evaluate their access to tech, apply CT in real-life problem-solving, and use tech to address community needs. Our micro-assessment tool enhances PS and creative thinking skills, empowering students to innovate and excel in today's rapidly evolving world.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

TOTB is an equitable tool invented to tackle device unavailability and limited lab access in Indian computing education. Unlike existing kits requiring PCs, it's affordable and runs on Android phones, reducing entry barriers and cognitive load for underprivileged communities, and fostering problem-solving and creativity.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

In practice, our innovation, the Think-Out-of-The-Box tool, breaks barriers to computing access with two key components. Firstly, a mobile-based modular electronics Kit offers a DIY experience with sensors, actuators, and an embedded micro-controller board, enabling collaborative tech-enabled problem-solving at a low cost of $10-12 per kit. Secondly, a Block-Based Programming App utilizes tangible paper blocks, scanned into mobile devices to create code blocks, fostering tangible collaborative play and motivating learners. This contextualised app features tutorial videos guiding students through problem statements, solutions, circuit connections, and programming, serving as a cost-effective alternative to high-cost programming tools during classroom sessions or student boot camps.

How has it been spreading?

TOTB scales through leveraging partnerships with state and central Government education bodies and aids in activating schemes on innovation and 21st-century skills, especially in schools/ regions that face access barriers. It also focuses on teacher capacity building and fosters community use cases in centres, spreading through student-led initiatives.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Reach out to us through our website- https://www.thinkoutofbox.org/.
Our team is happy to help and guide you through the process.

Impact & scalability

HundrED Academy Reviews

It provides cost effective alternative to high cost programming tools thereby directly addresses the lack of access to technology and computer education in underprivileged communities. The tool foster essential skills for the future of the students.

Think-Out-of-The-Box's high scalability score is due to its affordability, low-cost use of Android phones without internet, and paper-based programming. Its adaptability and inclusivity enable widespread adoption in diverse educational contexts.

- Academy member
Academy review results
Impact
Scalability
Exceptional
High
Moderate
Limited
Insufficient
Exceptional
High
Moderate
Limited
Insufficient
Read more about our selection process

Implementation steps

Partnerships
Why?
We target 70% of public school-going students in India and the most efficient way to reach them is through Government schools and teachers.
Through our existing partnerships with state & central governments and education bodies, we:
i) Identify teachers based on access and need.
ii) Conduct training boot camps with teachers
iii) Building Teacher Communities of Practice by supporting, incentivising and providing access to innovation platforms/opportunities.
Website
Anyone can reach out to us through the Think Out of the Box Website.
We're in the process of distributing 100+ kits to interested and passionate educators across the world to further help us with diverse inputs across different geographies.

Spread of the innovation

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