FAQ

Who can participate?

City as Lab is open to students studying in grades VI- XI

Do we register each student?

No. You have to register as a school. One person from the school can complete the registration form.

How much work will it involve for our teachers?

To churn out a high quality project, teachers need to invest about two hours a week.

Why is there no prize?

City as Lab is NOT a competition. There are no 1st, 2nd or 3rd prizes. It is VERY important that teachers communicate this to students before they begin. 

However, selected HIGH-QUALITY projects that meet all of our criteria will be showcased during the CaL conference, on our website or through blogs, books, YouTube, etc.

So why should our students participate?
  1. Because we doubt they will get an opportunity like this to engage with real stories, real issues plaguing their cities, real-life applications of theoretical knowledge or real opportunities to serve others.


  2. Because the PROCESS of selecting a project and a topic that interests them, working collaboratively, taking initiative, problem-solving and creating a high-quality end product is incredibly empowering for students.


  3. Because this is a great way to develop key 21st century skills among your students and bring forth their voices on a public platform.


  4. And lastly, because, “What we learn with pleasure, we never forget” – Alfred Mercier
How can we pay the registration fees?

Once you register, you will receive an automated email informing you of the amount payable and instructions for making the payment online. Please check your registered email address.

Can a student do this project alone?

No. This is a collaborative project. Students must work in groups of 2-5.  We do not allow groups of more than 5 students.

Will any Cal team member visit the school? How many times and when?

Almost all of our support is via phone or Zoom. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime.

What support will we get from the CaL team?
We will provide the following:

  1. An initial online orientation with teachers and students. We strongly recommend this before you begin the projects.


  2. A “phase-wise” guiding document that informs teachers what is due and when. Teachers must ensure that submissions made to City as Lab FOLLOW these guidelines.


  3. A rubric that we will use to assess the final product submitted by students. Teachers should also use the same rubric to guide students to create high-quality products. Following the rubric leads to a higher possibility of the project getting selected for public sharing.


  4. On-going support to teachers as needed.
What is the minimum number of students required for registration per school?

Four

What benefits will the school get if they register more than 20 students?

There is a 10% discount for schools that register more than twenty students.In addition, our team will assign an official coach to your school to support the teachers through the process.

Can teachers decide the project topics?

No.

This is very important. The students must decide the type of projects they want to do as well as the project topics. Teachers can facilitate this process but in order to maintain student motivation, their voices have to be at the center.

Is there a registration fee?

Yes. There is a registration fee. Our registration fee depends on your school fees as we have a sliding scale to accommodate all students and ensure equity in access to the programme. The fee ranges from INR 300-1000.

Which schools have previously participated in CaL?

Please find the list of schools that have participated previously in CaL here