ArdorComm Media Group

Innovation in Education

Elon Musk Launches Ad Astra Preschool: A $100M Vision to Redefine Early Education

Tech mogul Elon Musk is venturing into education with the launch of Ad Astra, a preschool designed to revolutionize early learning. Located in Bastrop County, Texas, near Musk’s company facilities, the school aims to blend exploration-based learning with a STEM-focused curriculum. Backed by Musk’s X Foundation, Ad Astra is the first phase of a $100 million plan to expand into K-12 education and establish a university in Texas. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission recently granted the school its state permit, enabling operations to begin for up to 24 children aged three to six. The preschool, whose name translates to “to the stars,” reflects Musk’s ambition to foster curiosity and foundational skills in young learners through innovative methods. The curriculum draws inspiration from Montessori principles and the psychological theories of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs, emphasizing responsibility, respect, and resourcefulness. Activities range from hands-on STEM projects to geography lessons, alongside outdoor amenities like a basketball court and tricycles. According to permit documents, the school’s mission is to cultivate curiosity and life skills from an early age. “We’re creating an environment where exploration and critical thinking are at the forefront,” said an official close to the project. Musk’s X Foundation has allocated nearly $100 million to this initiative, with plans to scale Ad Astra into a statewide K-12 network and eventually a university. If successful, the program could set new standards for how education systems approach early childhood development and STEM readiness. For now, the school operates out of a white farmhouse in Bastrop County, marking the beginning of Musk’s ambitious journey to redefine the future of education. Source: mint Photo Credit: Reuters

ShikshaLokam Hosts Third Edition of InvokED: Global Dialogue on Education Leadership

ShikshaLokam, an NGO based in Bengaluru, organized the third edition of InvokED, a Global Dialogue on Education Leadership, on March 1 and 2, 2024. The event brought together education leaders, practitioners, academicians, market players, teachers, and students from around the world. The focus of InvokED 3.0 was on collective leadership and efforts to drive India’s journey towards equity in education, aligning with the goal of establishing a world-class Indian education system. During the inaugural session, S.D. Shibulal, Co-Founder of Infosys and Founder of ShikshaLokam, stressed the crucial role of education leaders in enhancing public schools, ensuring every child’s access to quality education as a fundamental right. He emphasized the need for collective action to achieve this vision, highlighting ShikshaLokam’s nationwide efforts in over 27 Indian states and UTs, engaging more than 570,000 education leaders in improving over a million schools across the nation. Khushboo Awasthi, Co-founder of ShikshaLokam, highlighted the event’s objective of reimagining education leadership by fostering interactions, ideas, and actions that lead to development opportunities for individuals and institutions involved in K-12 education systems. She underscored the importance of participants coming together to devise solutions and strategies for driving sustainable change in their respective ecosystems, ultimately uplifting the entire education system. The second day of InvokED 3.0 featured the Shikshāgraha Utsav, celebrating innovation and micro-improvement stories in classrooms from across the country. This segment aimed to showcase initiatives driving positive changes at the grassroots level, contributing to the overall enhancement of the education landscape.

Prof. (Dr.) Chattar Singh, Vice Chancellor, Rai Technology University, Emphasizes on Importance of Skill Development for the Present Generation of Students

“Students need hands-on experience through workshops, laboratories, and fieldwork,” says Prof. (Dr.) Chattar Singh, Vice Chancellor, Rai Technology University, in an interview with Pratik Ghosh, Content Writer, ArdorComm Media at the ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2023’ #ELSABengaluru #ELSAKarnataka How are you feeling to witness the New Normal Education Leadership Summit and Awards in Bangalore? It’s a great thing that ArdorComm has come to South India, and there’s a lot happening here. This time there’s a special feature where school education and higher education are combined, which is a good beginning. It allows for the exchange of ideas and sharing of similarities, including admissions and syllabus. It’s important for higher education to understand the challenges in school education and vice versa. What’s your take on skill development for this present generation of students? The government of India, through NEP 2020, has increased the focus on skill education. Industry 4.0 emphasizes practical learning from theory to practice, including digital learning, machine learning, and more. Students need hands-on experience through workshops, laboratories, and fieldwork. Collaboration between universities and industries is essential to equip students with skills to become entrepreneurs or secure good jobs. How do forums like this benefit the education sector? Such forums enhance the capabilities of the education sector by promoting collaboration between various stakeholders. Government, private institutions, and industry players should come together to focus on skilled education, improving employability and entrepreneurship. Any message for ArdorComm Media Group, which has completed 2 years of its existence? I wish ArdorComm continues its progressive approach, bringing together government, private players, and all stakeholders in education. They should align their efforts with the goals of NEP 2020. Congratulations to ArdorComm for completing two years, and I hope they continue their good work for many more years to come.

Dr. Vinay S, Director, Seshadripuram Institute of Management Studies, Shares Insights on Technology Implementation in Education

“We’re transitioning from traditional coaching to modern technology, including MOOCs and ERP-related systems,” says Dr. Vinay S, Director, Seshadripuram Institute of Management Studies, in an interview with Pratik Ghosh, Content Writer, ArdorComm Media at the ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2023’ #ELSABengaluru #ELSAKarnataka How was your experience to witness this New Normal Education Leadership Summit and Awards in Bengaluru? This is the second time I am coming. ArdorComm organized it beautifully to connect institutions and leaders. We interacted to discuss the state of the education system, its link with companies, new technologies, and what we can adopt to enhance knowledge from both institutional and student perspectives. It’s a great platform for self-improvement. How are you implementing technology in your institution? Our institution, Seshadripuram Institute of Management Studies, part of an educational trust, is 93 years old. I head the Management Studies department, which is 23 years old. We’re transitioning from traditional coaching to modern technology, including MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and ERP-related systems. We’re also using the Learning Management System (LMS) model. How does this kind of forum benefit the education sector at large? It’s definitely beneficial, but the challenge is in how we adopt these changes and show interest. If we show interest, the next generation of students will benefit. If not, they might miss out on opportunities. ArdorComm Media Group has completed two years of its journey, any messages or good wishes for us? I’m very happy; this is the second time I am coming. They’ve beautifully arranged it, and they keep updating us with information. I congratulate ArdorComm and wish them all the best. We expect more from them in the future.