The 'academic' component of the EE Program covers multiple pillars of the GenWise Curriculum. These curricular elements will be covered over 2 weeks (4-5 hrs/ day), as follows:
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Week 1: Mathematics, Science, Design and Technology (STEM Focus)
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Week 2: Nature, Society &Individual; Tools for Thinking & Communication (Humanities Focus)
Please click on each week to know (MUCH) more...
While children are free to pick either week, we strongly recommend a balanced exposure to the content over both weeks.

Learn to Solve Cryptic Crosswords

Here’s one more course from the GenWise stables that has been shown to exercise a wide range of cognitive faculties. Learn the basics of unraveling cryptic crosswords, and end with creating your own that other participants try and solve!
Starts
25 September 2021
Time
1000 - 1115h IST
On Days
Fee (₹, incl taxes)
Audience
Sat/ Sun/ Sat/ Sun
3540 (Individual)
5310 (Couple)
5900 (3+ participants)
Families
About the Course
This course is open to all above the ages of 14.
Families are welcome to join in as a group.
Cryptic crossword puzzle solving is a workout for the brain using a combination of both creativity and logic. It is both an art, and a science!
Solving cryptic crossword puzzles have been shown to exercise a range of cognitive faculties, including:
The general capacity to analyze, reason, problem-solve and think ‘on one’s feet’
A specific aptitude for cryptographic or mathematical thinking
The visuospatial ability to mentally manipulate algebraic components of wordplay ‘fodder’
The ability to pattern-match and, most specifically, complete word fragments provided by cross-checking letters
The ability to break free from familiar patterns of thought (particularly red herrings deliberately supplied by the setter) using new and unusual interpretations of clue components
The ability to retrieve words from long-term memory to match synonym definitions.
"The endorphins spike and the cortisol and the adrenaline drops - so there is this real general and genuine wave of pleasure."– From the book “Rewording the Brain”, by David Astle.
In this course, participants will be taken through the various strategies for cracking crossword clues, as well as clue composition. On the final day, participants will have a crack at crosswords compiled by their fellow participants!
We hope this course can start the participant on a lifelong journey towards loving wordplay and crossword puzzles!!
References:
1. Cryptic Crossword Creator, David Astle, on The Brain Effects of Puzzles
2. The Grounded Expertise Components Approach in the Novel Area of Cryptic Crossword Solving
About our Facilitator:
B Ashok
B. Ashok (also known as Bash) is Director of Applied Sciences and Engineering at Microsoft Research in Bangalore. He is also co-founder of a holistic school in North Bangalore called Creative School.
Bash was exposed to cryptic crosswords via Indian Express when in high school, but really got into it more when he was doing his undergraduate degree. At that time, he and his friends would attempt the Hindu crossword every day. For the past few years, he has been setting cryptic clues in an online group that he is part of. One of his favourite setters is Araucaria of the Guardian who is known for his witty clues.
Bash has an undergrad degree (IIT Madras) and a MS (Univ of Wisconsin, Madison), both in Computer Science.