IKKI

IKKI is a WhatsApp-based chatbot designed to introduce computational thinking to students in Grades 7–10 across government schools in India. Piloted for the first time in  Orissa in 2023, IKKI was scaled to 3 states between 2023 and 2024, namely, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. 

Data showed us that despite constraints of availability, affordability, and access, 62% of children in rural India could access a smartphone for at-home learning, and used WhatsApp and textbooks as their primary tools to learn. IKKI was then built as an extension to Whatsapp; a pre-existing companion for learners. 

Through a five week, self-paced module, learners were eased into the basics of computational thinking. They broke down problems, read and debugged simple code, applied conditional logic to decision-making, and put their newfound skills to use in practical contexts. 

Venkata Durga, a student at KGBV Vangara, Srikakulam, is one of over 1,00,000 learners for whom IKKI became an inseparable part of their learning journey. Her favourite activity on IKKI, Fish Capturing, introduced her to block-based coding. To catch the fish on screen, she had to arrange blocks of code in the right sequence. Seeing it work encouraged her to think differently and approach problems with more confidence.

Durga is still figuring out her career path, but she has begun to explore how technology can make everyday life easier, including for her family. She is now interested in building technology-powered solutions to address agricultural challenges at her grandparents’ farm; a shift in thinking that IKKI set out to enable while it was being developed. 

Like Durga, many learners found connections between their lived realities and the content available on IKKI. Activities were set in familiar contexts — farming and distributing medicine in a village — making sequencing, logic, and coding feel like an everyday activity. Learners were able to recall content and understand it, whether they had gone through it a month or a week ago. ___% of learners who completed the course found alignment with their career aspirations, such as robotics and engineering. They demonstrated problem-solving skills and navigated a way out when they felt challenged or stuck. 

Teachers, too, played a key role in driving engagement on the IKKI bot. They eased concerns parents had about phone usage and about excessive screen time. Parents, motivated by not wanting their children to fall behind, supported digital learning when recommended by teachers. 

What’s Next?

Our learnings from IKKI such as stronger teacher-parent engagement and on-ground support, creating spaces for peer learning and collaboration, and building the team’s capacity on Computational Thinking, are directly shaping the design and development of MasterCoach; our newest technology-enabled solution for learners across India.

Read about the IKKI journey below (case stories) and click here (link to Schools page) to learn more about the Schools Program. 

Case Stories 

• https://www.roeq.in/ikki-chatbot 
• https://www.questalliance.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Capgemini-Case-Story-Booklet-Digital_compressed.pdf