“Build and Fly” – in India
I taught our “Build and Fly” session for 6th, 7th and 8th grade at Chiragh Grammar School. I started off by asking how many of them knew what an engineer did. We always ask this question when doing sessions in the US and usually we get 1 or 2 children (regardless of age) saying that an engineer fixes cars. In this class no one said anything. I started prompting and asking if they had heard the word engineer and everyone said yes. I think its indicative of the general Indian 
education system (which is changing though) that doesn’t encourage too much analysis. I also think that maybe the drive to become engineers and doctors is not as prevalent in the lower income levels as in the middle class.
Anyway I explained that all engineering is redesign (Paul Yarin’s definition) and we moved on. The average designs were pretty similar to what we see in the US and students were just as scared of trying new methods and making mistakes. We had roughly the same percentage of students with unique airplane models. The only difference was that they 
were all way more docile, innocent and respectful. This enabled the learning and teaching to be really easy and meaningful.
I wonder if there is a way to make children analytical, give them the ability and freedom to question and still have them be respectful and innocent. Maybe there is some middle ground.