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Jugaad Thinking: Contextualized Innovative Thinking in India Through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education?

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Abstract

This chapter briefly explicates the cultural, social, and historical ideas related to the term Jugaad in Indian society and its integration with contemporary innovation conversations. A distinction is made between Jugaad Solutions and Jugaad thinking in the context of business and technological innovations. The author argues for integrating Jugaad thinking within formal education, specially in the STEM learning experiences of K-16 students in India, since Jugaad conversations are an integral part of living (and being) in Indian Society. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education provides affordances to integrate Jugaad thinking and may contribute to the existing cultural and social capital of school-age children. The chapter highlights implicit ideas underlying Jugaad thinking and interfaces them with the practices of science. Overlapping ideas such as creativity, innovation, and imaginative ways of thinking between Jugaad thinking and scientific practices are highlighted. Finally, the author discusses alternative and inclusive spaces for STEM learning in order to integrate Jugaad thinking into STEM education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Colorado Denver, Denver, USA

    Geeta Verma

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  1. Geeta Verma
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Correspondence to Geeta Verma .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Rekha Koul

  2. School of Education and Human Development, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA

    Geeta Verma

  3. College of Education, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ, USA

    Vanashri Nargund-Joshi

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Verma, G. (2019). Jugaad Thinking: Contextualized Innovative Thinking in India Through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education?. In: Koul, R., Verma, G., Nargund-Joshi, V. (eds) Science Education in India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9593-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9593-2_11

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-9593-2

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