ThinQ

ThinQ like a Mathematician with Dr. Madhav Kaushish

On Tuesday, 18th August 2026, students of Grades 7 to 9 participated in an insightful session titled “ThinQ like a Mathematician” from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. 

 

The session was facilitated by Dr. Madhav Kaushish, who holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Arizona. With twelve years at ThinQ (https://thinq.education) – a collective working on what it means to teach people to construct and evaluate knowledge rather than consume it – Dr. Kaushish builds curriculum at Inquire on the thinking skills academics actually use: careful defining, questioning assumptions, and reasoning from first principles. He is also the founder of 5A Ventures, an AI-native venture studio. 

 

The session began with a deceptively simple idea — a “world with 6 points.” What followed was confusion, and that was exactly the point. It was challenging for students to step out of the geometry they have learned in school for so many years. But as the session unfolded, the confusion turned into curiosity. 

 

Students began to unlearn, redefine, and modify definitions on their own. They realized that thinking differently, questioning what we “know,” and sitting with uncertainty is not wasting time — it’s investing time. 

 

By the end, they discovered the beauty in the confusion. “ThinQ like a Mathematician” is about exactly this — moving beyond formulas to think, explore, and create mathematics. 

 

A powerful reminder that real learning often begins where comfort ends.

AI Assisted ThinQ 2

KHSG was honoured to host the ‘AI-Assisted ThinQ’ Session 2 on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, for our Grade 7 and 8 students. The session was led by the distinguished facilitator Rayn Samson.

 

Rayn has a remarkable academic background. He holds an undergraduate degree in Physics and Mathematics from Reed College, USA, contributed to the computational physics curriculum at Grinnell College, and has research experience in quantum computing from St. Olaf College. He is set to pursue his Master’s at Imperial College London. He has been associated with ThinQ since 2017 and has successfully facilitated several programs for Grades 7–12 across the Kaveri Group of Institutions.

 

The session was both engaging and thought-provoking. Students began by exploring examples of logical inference through simple claims and Venn diagrams. As patterns emerged, they discovered that sound inference is drawn from the relationship between claims, rather than from their content alone. Building on this foundation, students then used an interactive web app developed by Rayn to construct increasingly complex arguments by arranging claims logically. To conclude, each student explained their reasoning to an AI system, which evaluated their responses and provided personalized feedback.

 

This enriching session encouraged critical thinking, clarity of reasoning, and meaningful engagement with AI.

AI Assisted ThinQ

KHSG hosted the ‘AI-Assisted ThinQ’ session on Reasoning on Thursday, 2nd July 2026, led by facilitator Rayn Samson. Rayn holds an undergraduate degree in Physics and Mathematics from Reed College, USA, has contributed to the computational physics curriculum at Grinnell College, conducted quantum computing research at St. Olaf College, and is an incoming Master’s student at Imperial College London. He has been associated with ThinQ since 2017 and has facilitated several programs for Grades 7–12 at Kaveri group of institutions.

 

During the session, students used a web app developed by Rayn to think critically and apply logical reasoning. The hands-on use of AI tools helped them understand how technology can extend reasoning beyond the classroom. Teachers also participated actively, gaining ideas to integrate AI-assisted methods for more inquiry-driven and collaborative learning.

Online engaging math session: Think like a Mathematician (Session 2)

Presenter: Madhav Koushish

Date: 7th November 2025 | Day: Friday

This ThinQ session was a game-changer for students, opening their eyes to geometries beyond Euclidean – we’re talking Discrete, Projective, Affine, and Hyperbolic geometry! It was tough for them to wrap their heads around these new concepts, challenging their traditional thinking. They’re used to learning about straight lines and circles, but applying those concepts to, say, Discrete geometry, where spaces are made up of distinct points – it’s a whole different game! This exposure is helping them think outside the box, questioning what they thought they knew about geometry and math.

Presenter: Dr. Tara Mohanan and Dr. K.P. Mohanan

Date: 11th and 12th November 2025 | Day: Tuesday, Wednesday

ThinQ session conducted on 11th and 12th November 2025, by Dr. Tara Mohanan and Dr. K. P. Mohanan was a mind-bending exploration of geometry and epistemology, leaving students pondering the very nature of knowledge. The resource people guided them through intriguing questions: What is the basis of knowledge? How does knowledge evolve? What is knowledge, anyway?

Through interactive discussions and examples, students gained insights into the different facets of knowledge. For instance, they explored how Euclidean geometry is based on axioms like “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line,” whereas non-Euclidean geometries, like spherical geometry, redefine these concepts, showing how knowledge can be context-dependent.

They also discussed how our understanding of knowledge evolves – just like how our understanding of the universe shifted from Ptolemy’s geocentric model to Copernicus’ heliocentric model. The session highlighted how various ‘worlds’ or disciplines, such as art, science, and philosophy, operate on distinct fundamentals.

This eye-opening experience had students reflecting, “What we’re learning… is it really knowledge?” They’re now curious about the diverse forms of knowledge and how they shape our understanding.

ThinQ - Discovering Patterns, Unlocking Potential

Online Session was Conducted on 16th September 2025 for Std 7, 8, 9 Graders (ThinQ Group) by Dr. Madhav Koushish.

 

“Learning to think like a mathematician was an exciting experience! Madhav’s guidance helped students unlock complex concepts, making them more interesting. The session was engaging, captivating students’ attention through explorations of lines, points of intersection, and more. Students loved the interactive approach and took away valuable skills, including exploring possibilities, critical thinking, and pattern recognition. With all doubts cleared, they’re now excited to dive into more formulae and problems. A great experience that activated their ThinQ-ing – can’t wait for more!”

Exploring Brainy Adventures

Arnav Purandare

Class VI

In class VI, we were introduced to the novel world of brainy adventures. It was like this super smart journey that charged up our neurons to think in different directions!

Our brain blast-off started with ThinQ – this crazy land like Hogwarts where questions ruled, and answers were like missing puzzle pieces waiting to be found. Our curiosity made us ask more questions to our teacher, and we got to dive deep into logical stuff like figuring out patterns, solving tricky contradictions, and conquering challenging quests like Percy Jackson!

Then, we went even deeper into brain town with critical thinking – where we got to play detective in this super thrilling ‘thief case.’ We had to be Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, piecing together clues and making smart guesses until we cracked the case with our super sharp minds!

Numbers turned into secret codes revealing patterns like stars in the night sky, and we got to crack their code language. And we had this tricky challenge of decoding an alien language! It was like something out of a sci-fi movie and made our imaginations run wild, exploring new worlds right from our classrooms!

Every week, we eagerly awaited this class, where exams were absent, and no answer was stupid answer. This incredible journey wasn’t just about learning random stuff. It was like this mega mix of smart ideas and hands-on fun that enriched us, making our ‘ThinQ’ ability razor-sharp.

Aadya Sapre

Class VI

ThinQ program is introduced to us in Std 6. It is one of my favourite.

ThinQ is an acronym for Think, Inquire, and Question.

So, what exactly is ThinQ?

It encourages the learner to think laterally and look for alternative possibilities. At first the questions asked seemed to have obvious answers but on deeper introspection there appeared to be remarkable intricacies in the questions. ThinQ is like exercise for our mind. We are given time for independent thinking, then group discussion. We never rush to find the answer, we work on it slowly and steadily. We go step by step to reach the answer, keeping in mind that every question need not be answered immediately, some questions may take long time to answer. Our teacher never tells us the answer directly. It allows us to use own thinking to reach the answer and that’s what makes ThinQ unique.

Rohan Didmishe

KHS Alumnus Studying in Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata

I believe that some experiences at the right time in one’s life shape the destiny of an individual. I’d like to believe that the same was true of the first workshop I attended on ‘Inquiry-Oriented’ learning organized by ThinQ. I was always naturally curious about everything, but as time passed a certain disillusionment had set in regards to my future, as I could see no further than the dreaded engineering/medical paths one is expected to walk on. It may be an exaggeration, but it was as though I was in a dark cave my whole life and someone struck a tiny match, with enough brilliance to eclipse the sun- that is how I felt about those workshops. I loved them so much I demanded more of them. Science had been a process of memorization, mathematics a dull walk through formulae upto that point- it all changed that fateful day. The process of Inquiry, albeit difficult, was incredibly rewarding and satisfying, due to which one felt as an actual scientist, or historian or someone who mattered because you were discovering it for yourself, rather than being told. They remain some of my fondest memories of childhood.

I am extremely grateful to my school for giving me an opportunity to participate in this experience- due to which I myself aspire to be a scientist one day. Needless to say, my greatest love and gratitude to Tara and Mo, for their words have affected me more than anyone’s ever since.

Oaj Bidnurkar

Class X(2019-20 batch)

The ThinQ program taught me to analyze any problem critically and go beyond what might seem as the solution at the surface to the deepest complexities and nuances of the problem while generalizing it to be helpful in solving similar problems.

Siddhant Pai

Class X C

My first ThinQ session was in 6th Standard. That session taught me to ask questions. “Why?”, “How” and “What for” were the most commonly used. The sessions that succeeded from there made me think – Why is stuff the way it is?

ThinQ was about not just taking whatever textbook statements were given for granted but wondering and ThinQing why that is. To ask. To inquire. ThinQ sessions were really engrossing as there was nothing given to you and everything to find out. It gave a new meaning to the sentence “ThinQ and Answer.” It has helped me a lot and will continue to improve my thinking in the future.

Aarya Deshpande

Std. X A

I am really grateful to our school, our school principal Pallavi Naik ma’am and our mentor Anjali Gulanikar ma’am for giving me this opportunity to explore my ability in critical thinking, research and creativity. I always look forward to my interactions with ThinQ, which have always been such a wonderful experience. Ever since ThinQ was introduced to me in class 6, the objective of the sessions was never to find answers quickly, but to understand the problem entirely, and ‘think’ about the possible solutions.

I am really fortunate to get a chance to attend various discussions with Mo, Tara and Madhav. During the last few sessions, I learnt that while doing research, a meaningful debate can happen only after the relevant concepts have been clarified, the concepts that the words refer to are agreed on: and the proposition that the debating parties disagree on is clearly articulated.

IIE-Inquiry and Integration in education-2023

Mainstream education aims at transmitting to students a body of information that is considered to be knowledge, and helping them see how to use that knowledge. ThinQ’s online course, Inquiry and Integration in Education, aims at developing the capacity to

  • construct academic knowledge, and
  • think critically.

The course helps participants to strengthen their mind, making it sharper and more agile, and build greater mental stamina in the process. These capacities are relevant not just in academic domains, but in our professional, public, and personal lives as well.

At KHSG 3 of our teachers and 8 students were part of IIE-A program. Mrs Jayashree Kadam. got an opportunity to be part of IIE-B.

ThinQ like a mathematician

Each student in KHS-G takes the responsibility of cleaning the classroom once a week. Armed with brooms, cloth dusters, the students clean the blackboard, wipe all the benches, stack the books in the cupboard and keep the forgotten material safely. This we believe is a significant life skill that creates a greater sense of ownership; it puts all students on an equal footing and builds character in them.

Mathematical Inquiry - Dr. Madhav Koushish

ThinQ like a mathematician by Dr. Madhav Koushish is a co-founder of ThinQ.

With a Ph.D. in mathematics and a love for education, Madhav is committed to working with others to create valuable learning opportunities for students of all ages, from young children to working professionals. As a ThinQ member (www.thinq.education), he helps develop and run programs which help learners create knowledge and think critically.

 

Dr Madhav conducted in person session on Mathematical Inquiry for our students of grade 6-9.

Students’ feedback

We got the opportunity to interact with Madhav sir It was really a mind-boggling session. It was a huge shift in the one-dimensional, traditional way of perception of mathematical concepts. I would like to be part of upcoming sessions!!

Shruti Ghosh

The session with Mr. Madhav was quite enlightening in terms of making us think beyond the bookish knowledge. We learnt to have a broader perspective for the concepts we learn in school, understand the logic behind them and apply it in multiple and unique situations. It was truly enriching and we look forward for more such sessions!

Gauri Tathe

After a mind-challenging session with Dr.Madhav, It really opened my eyes to various different possibilities of handling any situation in our day to day lives. We got amazing exposure to the various perspectives and thought processes which would surely help in the development of mindset.

I really look forward on attending many more ThinQ sessions just like this one because who doesn't like challenging the brain!

Thank you to every teacher who organized the session!

Rujula Kulkarni