If you are a student of Science in Delhi University (DU) and often find it difficult and taxing to make long presentations, diagrams and calculations on paper, then there is a way out now.
We all know that the youth is quite active on all social networking sites, but, they lack in incorporating technology in their studies. So, in order to familiarise students and teachers with latest technological tools which can be used for academic purposes, Delhi University is taking a series of initiatives, the latest being a set of workshops for students and teachers so that they can use the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for their academic understanding.
To provide proper knowledge about the same, DU recently organised a workshop by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the first of its kind as it invited faculty members and students from different colleges to educate them about the use of technology in academics.
Dr Vimal Rarh, Department of Chemistry, SGTB Khalsa College, who is one of the coordinators for the workshop, says, “The aim of the workshop is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning by using ICT tools.” The workshops are called as ‘ICT Tools for science educators and students’.
DBT launched this scheme for improving critical thinking and hands-on experimental work as cutting edge-technologies are needed for modern biological studies at undergraduate level in life sciences. It is hoped that as a result of such experiences, more students will take up life science as a career.
Another professor Dr Komal Kamra, who teaches Zoology at Khalsa and coordinator of this programme says, “The workshop was organised in the semester break as no teaching was on in the campus. Similar activities will be organised again.”
Students and teachers can use softwares and tools like ‘Issidraw’, which will be helpful in Chemistry and biological molecules; ‘Chemsketch’, another software helps make chemical formulae with meticulous details which are mandatory if you send a paper to international journals, which do not accept hand-made diagrams; ‘Matlab’ and ‘Graph Plotter’ are some which aid the students and faculty.
But all is not hunky-dory when it comes to acceptance of this scheme. While the students are ready to accept these tools the teachers are still fighting shy. “The teachers are a bit hesitant as they say they are not tech-savvy and would prefer the conventional way of teaching. For eg. there is a software called ‘Moodle’ (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) wherein teachers can share their PPTs and notes; students can submit assignments and has a provision for teachers to also check them online and mark them. These tools save a lot of time and improve efficiency levels too,” shares Dr Vimal. But teachers will take time to learn. The students are easier to train.