Kanpur, 18 September 2026: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), is expanding its Digital Literacy & Computational Thinking Concepts for Teachers (DLCCAI) programme to secondary education. The programme will train 900 participants, including secondary school teachers, lecturers from District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and officials from SCERT’s ancillary units, in digital literacy, computational thinking, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology-enabled teaching.

Implemented by the Office of Outreach (OOA) and the Department of Design at IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with SCERT, and led by the Office of Outreach (OOA) and the Department of Design, IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with SCERT, Government of Uttar Pradesh. Prof. Ramkumar J., Department of Mechanical Engineering & Design, IIT Kanpur, serves as Coordinator of the DLCCAI Programme; Prof. Satyaki Roy, Head, Department of Design, IIT Kanpur, serves as its Academic Head; and Prof. Vimal Kumar, Professor-in-Charge, Office of Outreach Activities (OOA), IIT Kanpur, oversees the programme on behalf of OOA.

The programme follows an eight-week blended-learning format that combines classroom training at IIT Kanpur with online learning, mentoring, and hands-on assignments. Participants who complete the required quizzes, assignments, projects, and final capstone presentation will receive a joint certificate from SCERT Uttar Pradesh and IIT Kanpur.

The programme will be conducted in six batches of 150 participants each, combining offline face-to-face training at IIT Kanpur with online learning and mentoring. The initial five-day residential training at IIT Kanpur will cover digital foundations, productivity tools, spreadsheets, creativity and Artificial Intelligence (AI), block-based programming and introductory Python. This will be followed by online learning during Weeks 2–7 through Google Classroom, supported by weekly mentor sessions and live doubt-clearing sessions. The programme will conclude with a two-day showcase at IIT Kanpur focused on peer learning, project presentations, and assessment.

Designed for participants with limited or no prior exposure to computers, coding, or AI, the programme follows a hands-on, application-oriented approach. Teachers will learn through tasks linked to their everyday academic and administrative responsibilities, including preparing notices and lessons, creating marksheets and presentations, conducting assessments and developing digital teaching resources.

The training will cover the fundamentals of computers and digital tools, including operating systems, MS Office, Google Workspace, digital communication, cybersecurity, and digital citizenship. It will also introduce them to block-based programming through Scratch, basic Python, Artificial Intelligence and EdTech tools, with a focus on how these can be applied in everyday teaching and academic work. Participants will get hands-on experience with tools such as ChatGPT, Google Classroom and Khan Academy to support lesson planning, content creation, assessment and professional productivity. The programme also includes a practical Robotics component that covers robot assembly and sensor-based activities, followed by a Robotics challenge designed to encourage problem-solving and inquiry-based learning.

The Inaugural Function was attended by distinguished representatives from IIT Kanpur, including Prof. Ramkumar J., Coordinator, DLCCAI Programme; Prof. Satyaki Roy, Head, Department of Design; and Prof. Vimal Kumar, Professor-in-Charge, Office of Outreach Activities (OOA).

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ramkumar J., Coordinator, DLCCAI Programme, IIT Kanpur, said, "Subjects like coding, computational thinking, and AI are no longer the preserve of engineering colleges — they belong in Secondary Education classrooms today, because the problems our students will face tomorrow rarely respect the boundaries of a single discipline. When young learners practise breaking down a problem, testing an idea, and refining it early, they grow into engineers and professionals equipped to solve holistic, real-world challenges rather than narrow technical ones. IIT Kanpur is proud to help teachers/lecturers of Secondary Education lay this foundation, nurturing a genuinely problem-solving and innovative mindset in students years before they ever enter a college classroom."

Prof. Satyaki Roy, Head, Department of Design, IIT Kanpur, and Academic Head of the DLCCAI Programme, said, "I am genuinely hopeful about the scope that digital literacy and technology hold for how we teach, but I firmly believe the role of the teacher remains paramount — technology can support and enrich the classroom, but it can never replace the teacher’s own judgement, care, and presence, which stay at the heart of good teaching."

Prof. Vimal Kumar, Professor-in-Charge, Office of Outreach Activities (OOA), IIT Kanpur, said, "IIT Kanpur has always believed in playing an active role in the dissemination of knowledge beyond its own campus, and this programme reflects that commitment in a very concrete way. We are taking this step with great effort and are delighted to collaborate with SCERT, Uttar Pradesh, on an initiative of this scale. We look forward to many more such collaborations in the years ahead."

The initiative previously trained 750 primary school teachers and helped enable technology-supported learning that reached more than 10,000 students. The programme now extends to secondary education, widening its reach across Uttar Pradesh’s school education system.

Aligned with the objectives of NEP 2020, DLCCAI is designed to help teachers integrate digital and computational concepts into classroom teaching. The curriculum has already been embedded in SCERT’s Class 6–8 textbooks, reaching an estimated 48 lakh students across Uttar Pradesh. Through its continued partnership with SCERT, IIT Kanpur aims to equip teachers with the skills and confidence to use technology more effectively in teaching, learning and academic activities.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialised schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in