MiniGuruWhere it began
MiniGuru grew out of T-LAB, which started in 2015 in a room in Trilanga, Bhopal, with some shelves, a collection of salvaged materials and one question: what do children do when you give them time and real things, and do not tell them what to make? In a T-LAB, children choose their own projects. They plan them, budget for the materials, build them and present the results, including the unfinished and the failed ones. Students elect their own planning, bank and material teams, and use a lab currency to buy materials and sell finished work. The adult in the room acts as a facilitator and co-worker, not a boss.
T-LAB across India
32+ T-LABs
Child-led labs in private schools, government schools and NGO programmes.
10,000+ students
Children who have learned by making, in more than ten years of work.
200+ workshops
Tinkering workshops from one to fifteen days.
Five states
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar.
Partners include Jinglebell School and TinyTods School in Faizabad, Sunbeam School in Mugalsarai, Sahyadri School (KFI) in Pune, Divine International School in Surat, and the Aga Khan Foundation, with 17 government schools in Bihar.
The Natural Learning Model
T-LAB and MiniGuru are built on the Natural Learning Model, developed over 20 years of observing children. Children learn most powerfully when five conditions are present together: freedom to explore without a fixed outcome, real materials that give real feedback, time that follows the learner's pace, a community of other learners at different stages, and work that genuinely matters to them. At the centre is happiness: the state of a child completely absorbed in something they have chosen. T-LAB creates these conditions in a physical space. MiniGuru extends them into a connected community.
What we offer
T-LAB in schools
A self-governing tinkering lab where children run their own space, economy and projects with a trained facilitator. Learn about T-LAB setup
Tinkering workshops
Immersive workshops of 1 to 15 days where every participant makes a real project from idea to sharing. No kits, no instructions. See workshops
Home Tinkering Corner
A personal making space at home, designed around your child's own curiosity. Set one up at home
Why MiniGuru
A lab is powerful, but it is limited by walls and timetables. MiniGuru takes the same belief online. Children plan a build, choose the materials it needs, film the finished project and share it with young makers in other labs and other states. Children learn from each other, and every child can become a guru to another.
What we believe
- Believe in children. Given real choices, children take real responsibility.
- Failure is evidence, not embarrassment. A project that did not work still teaches how to think, try and improve.
- Every child can become a guru to another. Helping a friend and explaining an idea are part of learning.
- Hands-on learning builds future skills. Creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, empathy and confidence grow by making things.
Who is behind MiniGuru
MiniGuru is built by MiniGuru Innovation Pvt Ltd, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India. It was founded by Pramod Maithil, an educator with over 24 years in elementary education and more than ten years building T-LAB across India. He created the T-LAB model, spoke about it in a TEDx talk and wrote the book School for My Child. Read more on the T-LAB blog and watch project videos on our YouTube channel.
Recognition
- Rex Karamveer Global Fellowship (ICONGO and the United Nations), for impact in education through tinkering pedagogy
- India's Top 100 Educators (India Prime Awards 2022)
- CII-YI Award (Confederation of Indian Industry, Young Indians, Bhopal), for a community-driven model of education
- Published research: "T-LAB: Learning Through Tinkering", Learning Curve magazine, Azim Premji Foundation (Issue 4)
Work with us
Are you a school, a teacher, an NGO or a parent group? See how a child-led innovation lab can work in your school, or write to connect@miniguru.in.