Environmental Science Course through E-learning

[Chandra Kishore]

Now colleges will have to teach the subject of environment science through e-learning. Since the University Grants Commission has not created any new posts for the teachers of environment science, many colleges do not have enough teachers to teach this compulsory subject.

To solve this problem, the higher education department issued a government resolution on June 7, advising colleges to teach environment science by using ‘e-learning facility’ provided by a service provider selected and approved by the UGC so that the students do not suffer.

 

Check out the news in DNAIndia

 

Is this an effective solution? Do share your opinion.

[GOPI KANTA GHOSH]

Good step for the time being. But there has to be regular arrangement

[Vinodh Valluri]

In my humble opinion, it's both good and bad news..
On the one hand, an e-learning course is great for busy professionals to get extra education without the troubles of attending college classes at a location. But, what bothers me is that this 'mode' of planning that the UGC encourages might lead to the problems plaguing the American education system now. Of all things, employment being an important factor, why should a growing population resort to "impersonal" methods of learning when several experienced people can teach environmental science? Is it an overstatement to say India would have at least 1000 highly qualified environmental science teachers? :)

I don't think so.. Once again, as much as technological additions to learning are useful tools, they are useless in the absence of personal teachers - who provide intellectual interaction, and there is nothing more cherished like a long chat with the Prof. after class about a tricky issue or problem covered in class.. Kudos to the age of technology, but not at the expense of employment and individual interactions.. :)  I hope the UGC sees the import of these principles..

[Dr. Deeksha Dave]

Totally agree with Mr. Vinodh, E-Learning cannot cater to the individual and local requirements .Environment Science is a subject that can be well understood only if there occurs link between the theoretical concepts and contextual and related dimensions .We cannot expect students to understand and get involved with the "nature" through this mode of learning.

Obviously it's bad news for teh environment science postgraduates and docterates who are keen to share their wealth of information to the society but are always denied the opportunity to do so......

[Prashant Rajankar]

I think, its not that much complicated issues, as there are number of colleges, dealing with the environmental subject which provide the regular study under this subject.

 

But this could be one of the helpful mode for the working professionals, now the question is about the practical knowledge and the atmosphere, then the solution might be the proper course classification, in which the problem of the project work or practical work would be solved in terms of training or one to one interaction or  laboratory visit for some duration.

[Ravindra Gavali]

Its like - just meeting the formalities. It shows the seriousness of government on environmental issues. Very poor solution for a serious problem. I wonder, how these policy makers in our government can think of such a great idea. This decision defeats the whole idea of environmental education, and may meet the requirement environmental awareness. It seems that the Higher Education Dept may have notion that Education means Only Awareness.

How about having an e-ecosystem, e-river, e-atmosphere, e-water, e-oxygen and e-???

[Ram]

What happens in the case of schools which have yet to aquire computers? Won't their students be left out of the purview of this directive?

[Vinodh Valluri]

A key problem this issue brings to light is the blind acceptance of a 'technical', 'mechanistic' approach to all education. I wonder, what kind of mathematical equations can teach one to appreciate the aimless wandering of a butterfly in the garden on a sunny afternoon? Of course, carbon footprint calculations, terms and techniques, and/ or videos of the kind - 'How to complete and submit EIA reports' can be taught online, they are probably well suited for an interactive Skype call, or another well planned e-learning module like Ustream, or Taleo, or Google Video, for God's sake...  :D

However, what can not be taught is the hands-on knowledge of "doing" environmental science. Unfortunately, that is a vital backbone of all learning - experience. Is anyone else curious about why the UGC has not created new posts for teachers in colleges? Is educational funding slack, even under the aegis of Minister Ramesh? Will a Change.org petition bring about the UGC to hire graduates who are seeking jobs in this field?  Just some radical thoughts to put out into the universe... :)

[Himansu sekhar Patra]

I am posting the pathetic condition of environmental studies course in Orissa posted on the Hindu on 5th June, on occasion of world environment day.

 

Ad hoc approach to environment studies in State

 

Satyasundar Barik

 

 BHUBANESWAR: Strange is the way of the State government treating environment education. College teachers of almost all disciplines can impart teaching on environment, whereas no teacher having formal qualification in environment subject can be found in major colleges.

At a time when environment is being accorded top priority at all levels, an RTI activist has encountered a funny state-of-the-affair in major government colleges as far as environmental studies is concerned.

Teachers of language studies, education, commerce, philosophy, and physics are found to be teaching environment subject to students in Plus II and graduation level classes.

In the run up to World Environment Day on Sunday, activist Chitta Ranjan Barik had gone on filing applications under RTI with 18 major colleges of the State to know who teach on environment and what background they come from. Replies furnished by colleges came as a full of surprises for the activist.

For instance Anand Manjari Panigrahi, reader in history, and S. Patnaik, reader in philosophy, have been teaching environment in Plus Two Art classes while H. K. Nayak, junior lecturer in Botany and B. N. Mallick, junior lecturer in chemistry, are in charge of environment for Plus Two Science classes in SCS Junior College at Puri.

Similarly, Kulamani Ojha, junior lecturer in Oriya, Narayan Behera, junior lecturer in Logic, and K. C. Swain, junior lecturer in political science, are among those who teach environment in Plus Two classes in SKCG Autonomous College at Paralakhemundi.

These two colleges are not the only ones where environment is being taught by teachers from other disciplines on ad hoc basis, but the situation is somewhat similar in all colleges. In Dhenkanal Autonomous College, lone zoology lecturer, has been instructed to take environment education classes.

Little significance

“Even as leaders deliver lengthy speeches on environment issues and its disastrous impact on life and livelihood in Orissa, environment as a subject carries little significance in higher education,” said Mr. Barik.

Himansu Patra, environmental researcher, said “in M.C. Mehta versus Union of India case, Supreme Court has clearly instructed that environment be taught as a compulsory subject in school and colleges. But the manner in which the subject is being treated in colleges is a matter of great concern. By the days critical environmental issues are coming to the fore. A person having formal education environment should be asked to guide students in the subject.”

But the most hilarious facet of environment education in the colleges in the State is that teachers of journalism, yoga, Sanskrit and computer science have turned master trainers in refresher courses being offered to college teachers for enabling them to impart teaching in environment.

Worse still, those who have availed refreshers course to teach environment colleges were found hardly teaching environment on return to their respective places. The Berhampur University has not even offered refreshers course to in-service teachers for teaching environment.

 

[Vinodh Valluri]

Ohh!!! Thank you for sharing that with us.. The situation is way worse than I thought it was.. Is the UGC and the education department asleep at the wheel, when we are headed for a collision of trends!?!?!

[Dr Shailendra Tripathi]

I am totally agree with the comment of Mr Patra because, I am lecturer (Environmental Science) in a State University of Uttar Pradesh and the same situation, I have been facing with the affilated college, where they are just doing the formality of teaching compulsary environmental studied to undergraduates for only 15 days at the end of session. UGC must chockout a proper monitoring protocol to such colleges.   

[Amit Kumar Singh]

This is not a effective solution. College should have its own facaulty for teaching environment as a subject

[anubha goel]

This is very good news and promises well about environmental awareness among young people.

Thanks for sharing this news item.