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CHENNAI, JULY 21, 2026: During the development of the “Out of the Box Thinking” (OOBT) via Mathematics Course, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation seeks to cultivate creativity, critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills among school and college students, teachers, working people, and people of all ages. The new OOBT batch enrollments are now open.
Mr. Sadagopan Rajesh, Mathematics Educator, Founder, and Director of Aryabhatta Institute of Mathematical Sciences, has designed and conducts the OOBT course.
Who Can Benefit from This Course?
The OOBT course is entirely free and available online. Thus, people who are able to enroll in the course include:
- School students
- College students
- Parents
- Teachers and educators
- Researchers
- Working people
- People of all ages
With this initiative, IITM Pravartak targets a broader audience of people with respect to the application of creative problem-solving and mathematical thinking.
Important Dates
The course application deadline is August 6, 2026. The course starts on August 7, 2026. Potential candidates may enroll on the IITM Pravartak OOBT portal. Here, they can also view the eligibility prerequisites for the various course tiers.
Prof. V. Kamakoti Invites Students to Enroll
During a recent talk, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, called for students nationwide to enroll in his program and said:
"Mathematics, when handled creatively, helps solve many difficult problems. Creative, non-standard, and unique solutions to problems can be developed using mathematical thinking."
He also mentioned:
"While working outside of standard practices, and while working outside standard practices, people learn to challenge assumptions and examine solutions from multiple viewpoints. Because of innovative mathematical thinking, many new technologies and sciences came into existence. The people of our country must think innovatively."
Course Design
The Out of the Box Thinking (OOBT) program has 4 levels of progressive learning, each of 10-week duration. The learning design incorporates:
- Regular assignments
- Practice exercises
- Learning modules
Multiple ways to construct and/or formulate a mathematical problem
The course has been designed by the IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, a Section 8 company of IIT Madras, and is a Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India initiative.
Accreditation
Participants may also choose to attend an in-person, extra, proctored test that will be held at a limited number of test sites, for a small test fee. Based on his performance in the test, the participant will receive a graded certificate from IITM Pravartak. Further details will be provided in due course regarding test sites and schedule.
Instructor’s Insights about the Programme Goals
Regarding the Programme, Shri Sadagopan Rajesh, OOBT Course Trainer, commented:
"The Out of the Box Thinking (OOBT) through Mathematics course focuses on helping learners develop logical reasoning and creativity as well as the confidence to solve problems using different methods. Finding the correct answer in Mathematics is only a small part of the entire picture. It is also about different ways of thinking and the understanding of concepts. Through this course, we aspire to reach as many learners as possible and provide the opportunity for quality mathematical learning. We hope that students across the country will be motivated to go beyond the conventional line of thought."
Schools Collaboration with IITM Pravartak
IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation aims to strengthen collaboration with schools throughout India. To this end, they are inviting schools to nominate teachers as Institute Coordinators (Single Point of Contact – SPOCs) for the OOBT programme.
To enhance collaboration and provide better services, IITM Pravartak has partnered with BodhBridge Education. The Institute Coordinator will serve the link between IITM Pravartak and the school by:
- Encouraging student participation.
- Coordinating registrations.
Offering learners support during the course/post-course and simplifying communication for students and parents.
According to IITM Pravartak, having a dedicated SPOC helps the school to achieve greater student participation and course completion. Any teacher can register as a School Coordinator with the consent of the Principal/Headmaster/Headmistress.
The Foundation also aims to acknowledge schools and School Coordinators for their efforts and support in achieving the goals of the initiative.
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