पञ्चकन्या माध्यामिक विद्यालय

Panchakannya wants to create a special place for making things, with a focus on Robotics and Coding. But it wasn't just about robots and coding. Rupa Mam(principal), wanted all teachers, no matter what they taught, to be able to use this space to teach different subjects.

Teacher that are involved in this project

      Rupa Manandhar 
       (Principal)

          Madhab Sanjel 
        (Science Teacher)

            Sharada KC 
          (Math Teacher)

Visit 1 [Space Observation Visit]

During the first visit to the Panchakannya School's dedicated Making Space, we observed the space and identified areas for improvement. The visit included:

• Observation of dedicated Making Space: We noted that the space was around 9x9 sq. ft or slightly larger and had some clutter that needed to be removed. Additionally, we saw that two water tanks were in the room, which would be kept on a metal base inside the space.
• Theme Enquiry for the Makerspace: The school is still deciding on the theme for the Makerspace and intends to create a club for students to help distribute the responsibility of the Makerspace. They will also provide a limited fund to purchase used up items as the Makerspace activities go on.
• Taking Updates related to Makerspace Setup and relevant discussions: During the visit, the school raised concerns about the total investment needed to set up the Makerspace and integrating math-based activities/lessons with the Makerspace.
• Questions/ Concerns from the school side: Further visits are planned to cover floor planning, figuring out requirements, and planning for furniture and materials.

Dedicated Making Space (~99 sq. ft or slightly more), clutters to be removed soon*

Making Space room, two Water tanks in the picture will be kept on a metal base (as shown in the bottom left portion) inside the space

Furniture for Making Space

Visit 2 [Floor planning and figuring out requirements]

During our second visit, we noticed significant improvements in the space. The old storages had been reorganized, and the water tank was moved to a corner, freeing up more usable area. This enhanced environment provided us with a clearer vision for planning and constructing the Making space. Collaborating with architect Nisha Rana for interior and 3D design, we took detailed measurements, including existing furniture dimensions and the room's layout. However, the presence of two large water tanks limited usable space, especially for children.

Following the measurements, we engaged in discussions on designing a robotics-themed workspace. Our aim was to not only optimize the space for functionality but also to make it visually appealing to attract other teachers. To achieve this, our primary task involved a comprehensive room repaint and decor. Given the water tanks, we considered involving students from Kathmandu University's art school to assist with the painting process. Existing furniture, such as racks, would be repurposed for storing robotics materials. A central circular table would facilitate round-table discussions and collaborative work, while additional tables would be placed along the windows for focused tasks.

In anticipation of using the room for presentations, we requested three computers from Rupa Mam. However, her concern was that the available computers were outdated and slow in performance. We also reserved space for a mobile projector to address her presentation needs.

Upcoming tasks include: