Thiruvananthapuram Dec 27 (IANS) Nearly 15,000 students across Kerala are gaining hands-on exposure to modern weather science and forecasting techniques as the Little KITEs Sub-District Camps got underway across the state.
A total of 14,804 students, selected from more than 2.08 lakh members spread across 2,248 Little KITEs units, are participating in the two-day camps being held at 225 centres.
The students were shortlisted following preliminary school-level camps and are now receiving intensive training in programming, electronics, and digital content creation.
The camps focus on enabling students to develop functional prototypes of weather monitoring instruments and understand the scientific principles behind the operation of professional weather forecasting centres.
Using robotic kits earlier supplied to schools by the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), participants are designing systems that analyse inputs such as temperature, air pressure, wind speed, and humidity to predict weather conditions.
As part of the programming sessions, students are building working models of essential weather station equipment, including temperature gauges using LDR sensor modules, servo motors, and Arduino components.
They are also constructing digital anemometers to measure wind speed and wind vanes to determine wind direction, translating classroom concepts into real-world applications.
Little KITEs, an initiative of KITE, the technology arm of the Kerala General Education Department, is recognised as India’s largest Student ICT Network, with a membership exceeding two lakh.
The programme aims to cultivate innovation and technical excellence among students in public schools, equipping them with skills in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and Animation, and encouraging them to become creators rather than mere users of technology.
In the animation segment of the camp, students are producing digital content using OpenToonz, a free and open-source 2D animation software.
They are being trained in advanced techniques such as rotate animation, in-betweening, lip-syncing, tweening and visual effects, while also creating 3D models using Blender.
KITE Chief Executive Officer, K. Anvar Sadath, said that advanced robotic kits capable of building sophisticated systems—from mobile robots to smart weather stations—will be introduced in all schools from January 2026.
–IANS
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