New eight-part online series will use everyday objects such as matchboxes to make AI, machine learning and computational thinking accessible to students and teachers
Gandhinagar | Aug 13: Following the remarkable success of its earlier STEM programmes, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in collaboration with IIT Gandhinagar’s Centre for Creative Learning (CCL), is bringing back 3030 Eklavya with an all-new season on Computational Thinking (CT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and STEM. The eight-part online series begins August 15, 2026, and aims to make AI and computational thinking accessible through simple hands-on activities using everyday materials. The initiative is part of the CBSE’s national drive to promote AI literacy and computational thinking among teachers and students.
The new season follows the remarkable response to previous editions of 3030 Eklavya. One of its most widely discussed episodes, ‘Computing with Soap’, used an ordinary bar of soap to demonstrate ideas related to how computers work. This episode received a lot of public attention and was widely shared over the Internet, successfully demonstrating the appeal of experiential science education to audiences beyond the traditional classroom.
The journey of 3030 began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the programme emerged as an online STEM learning initiative at a time when schools were closed. Over time, it developed into a weekly learning experience that brought together teachers, students and families, with participants carrying out activities at home while exploring scientific concepts through observation, discussion and experimentation.
Across its publicly available 3030 STEM and 3030 Eklavya broadcasts, the series has accumulated nearly 50 lakh views on YouTube, reflecting the growing interest in accessible and engaging science education.
The new season will open with an episode titled ‘Computational Thinking and AI with Matchboxes’ on August 15 at 4:00 p.m. The episode explores how something as simple as a matchbox can be used to explain fundamental ideas behind modern computing and artificial intelligence.
Through games, matchboxes, cards and puzzles, participants will explore concepts such as algorithms, searching, pattern recognition, reinforcement learning, image recognition, AI bias and ethics. By making, playing, testing and reflecting, learners will gain an intuitive understanding of machine learning without the need for expensive equipment or sophisticated labs.
This is in line with the core philosophy of 3030 Eklavya that complex scientific and technological ideas can be made accessible to learners if they can engage with them actively through simple materials and hands-on experiences.
Eight Sundays of STEM, AI and Creative Exploration
Across the eight live sessions, participants will explore interdisciplinary themes connecting Computational Thinking and AI with wider areas of STEM. The sessions will cover topics including:
● Climate action through solar cookers and natural water purification
● Mathematical patterns in sunflowers and tiling
● Electrochemistry and hydrogen
● String art and weaving
● Biodiversity
● DIY computers and logic gates
● Cameras, microscopes and optics
The programme will encourage learners to build models, solve puzzles, conduct activities and investigate scientific phenomena using materials that are easily available at home or in schools. The objective is not only to strengthen conceptual understanding but also to foster creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Open to Teachers and Students
The programme is open to teachers and students of Class VI and above. Registration is free and compulsory. Live sessions will take place every Sunday at 4:00 p.m. starting with the first session on August 15, 2026. The sessions will be in Hindi and will have English subtitles available after publishing.
If you’re a participant who wants to learn more, you can do assignments and projects and seek certification. CBSE affiliated schoolteachers, who complete the required certification, shall be awarded three Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours per episode, total 24 CPD hours for the entire series of eight episodes.
3030 Eklavya is making STEM learning more engaging, accessible and meaningful by bringing powerful scientific ideas to life through familiar objects and hands-on activities. The new season builds on a simple premise: curiosity, rather than costly equipment, can be the starting point for understanding technology and innovation.
Programme at a Glance
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Programme |
3030 Eklavya: Computational Thinking, AI and STEM |
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Organised by |
CBSE in collaboration with Centre for Creative Learning, IIT Gandhinagar |
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First episode |
August 15, 2026, 4:00 p.m. |
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Thereafter |
Every Sunday, 4:00–5:00 p.m. |
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Audience |
Teachers and students of Class VI and above |
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Registration |
Free and compulsory – eklavya.iitgandhinagar.ac.in |
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CPD recognition |
3 hours per certified episode; 24 hours across eight episodes |
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Queries |
eklavya@iitgn.ac.in |