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Nurturing teachers on nature

Last Updated 01 April 2011, 15:08 IST
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A teacher plays an important role in moulding a student’s life and thought process. When the teacher itself is trained in a positive way, then one can expect the future generation to make wonders. Adopting this very idea, Pilikula Regional Science Centre Society and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board have come up with an unique concept of conducting “Environmental awareness programmes for teacher educators,” with a two-day residential nature camp.

To provide basic knowledge about environment, its components, problems, solutions, biodiversity and conservation, the nature camp targets BEd and DEd educators from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttar Kannada districts. The camp concentrates on educating these future teachers on the wealth of flora and fauna of Western Ghats and efforts to conserve them and also conveys the idea of life in nature through nature walks and bird watching.

The camp also provides resource materials to the teacher educator for future use of same in classrooms and also initiates in exploring other media of communication like street play, environmental games, quiz, songs and audio visuals. Speaking to City Herald, Pilikula Regional Science Centre Director Dr K V Rao stressed on the need to sensitise students and teachers on environment related issues. “It is not possible to communicate these sensitive issues through textbooks. A practical exposure is needed and the two-day residential nature camp at Pilikula provides the necessary. With such camps, one can concentrate on solutions that are needed to upgrade the environment,” he says.

Content

The camp covers awareness programmes on different topics such as “Basics of environment and environmental laws,” “Natural resources, earth and atmosphere,” “Importance of biodiversity and conservation,” “Importance of rivers, oceans, forests, wild life, mountains,” “Importance of air, water and land,” “Pollution and control,” “Organic farming, bio-pesticide and biofertilisers,” “Renewable sources of energy,” “Solid waste, hospital waste, bio-medical waste and e-waste management” and “Use of plastics.”

Methods

The camp is made a fun experience by using interesting methods to impart knowledge such as audio visuals, group work, discussion, nature walk, trekking, bird watching, environmental games and screening of movies.

Started in 2010

The concept of nature camps for teachers was introduced in the year 2010, and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has released a grant of Rs 5 lakh to conduct 20 such camps within one financial year, informs Dr Rao and adds that the first camp was held for Government BEd College on May 10, 2010. Since then, the Pilikula Regional Science Centre (PRSC) has organised 18 such camps with 50 students in each batch. The remaining two camps will be held by April end.

All expense of the training will be met by PRSC except the travelling expense that has to be borne by respective institutions, says Dr Rao. There are plans to continue the camps for the next financial year but everything will be decided after the report of the nature camps (conducted presently) is submitted to the Karnataka State Pollution Board, he adds. “This camp has been one of my best experiences.

It has taught me the importance of nature and especially given me more information on endangered plants and animals. The camp has not been tedious as interesting teaching methods are used and with my other friends partaking, the camp has been a fun experience,” says Karavali DEd College Student Pavithra who has participated in one such nature camp.

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(Published 01 April 2011, 15:07 IST)

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