SHRI SHIVAJI SCIENCE COLLEGE, AMRAVATI
DBT STAR COLLEGE PROJECT ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY REPORT
Marathon Pedagogical Tools, Curriculum and Course Content Development for UG Botany and Environmental Science
Activity Dates: 7th to 11th January 2025
Type of Activity: Faculty Development Program
Organizing Department: Department of Botany & Bioinformatics
Program Coordinators: Dr. G.B.Hedawoo and Dr. K.J. Gawai
Head of the Department: Dr. Dinesh Khedkar
External Collaborator (if any): No
Objectives:
- 1. Enhancing Pedagogical Strategies – To equip faculty members with innovative teaching methodologies
- 2. Curriculum Enrichment – To revise and update the undergraduate curriculum by incorporating advancements in plant science and environmental studies, ensuring alignment with contemporary academic and industry needs.
- 3. Skill-Based Learning Approaches – To introduce hands-on and experiential learning strategies that enhance students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and research capabilities in Botany and Environmental Science.
- 4. Faculty Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing – To foster interdisciplinary collaboration among educators by providing a platform for sharing best practices, discussing challenges, and developing cohesive teaching frameworks.
- 5. Syllabus Development and Implementation – To facilitate structured syllabus preparation through group discussions, expert guidance, and interactive sessions.
No of Beneficieries: 59
Classes Involved: Teachers of Botany and Environmental Science
Venue of the Activity: Online and AV Theatre, Laboratories of respective Departments.
Activity Report:
Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati
Department of Botany and Environmental Science
Marathon Pedagogical Tools, Curriculum, and Course Content Development for UG Botany and Environmental Science
Catalyzed by DBT STAR College Project
7th – 11th January 2025
Introduction
Shri Shivaji Education Society is continuously working to improve our education system. Accordingly Shri Shivaji Science College also complements the objectives of the institution and works tirelessly with the aim of Dr. Panjabrao Alias Bhausaheb Deshmukh in spreading and promoting education everywhere. Various activities are being implemented to realize his dreams. With the noble aim of increasing the knowledge and various skills of the active teachers who will create bright citizens of the future this FDP is being organized.
This prestigious program was catalyzed by the DBT Star College Project in collaboration with the UGC-Malviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati. It was a platform where we gather to refine our teaching methodologies, enhance course content, and contribute to the enrichment of higher education.
The Department of Botany and Environmental Science, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati, successfully organized a Short-Term Faculty Development Program (ST-FDP) on Marathon Pedagogical Tools, Curriculum, and Course Content Development for UG Botany and Environmental Science from 7th to 11th January 2025. This program was catalyzed by the DBT STAR College Project and aimed at enhancing faculty expertise in modern teaching tools, innovative pedagogies, and curriculum development in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The FDP was conducted in a hybrid mode, with the inaugural session and initial sessions held online on 7th and 8th January, while the remaining sessions were conducted offline at AV Theatre and Labs of organizing Departments. The program provided an interactive platform for faculty members to discuss and develop an updated and structured UG syllabus for Botany and Environmental Science.
Day 1: 7th January 2025 (Online Sessions)
The program commenced with a formal inaugural ceremony at 11:00 AM, attended by faculty members, eminent speakers, and distinguished guests mainly Dr. G.V.Korpe, Principal of Shri Shivaji Science College, Dr. Mohammad Atique, Director, UGC- MMTTC, SGBAU, Dr. S.P. Ingole, IQAC Co-ordinaotor and Head, Dept. of Environmental Science and Dr. Dinesh Khedkar, Chairman of BoS, Head Department of Botany.
Dr. Dinesh Khedkar, the Head of the Botany Department, Chairman of BoS and Coordinator of this FDP, has delivered the introductory remarks. Dr. G.V. Korpe, has delivered the welcome speech. Dr. Korpe has always been a visionary leader fostering academic growth and innovation. Dr. Mohammad Atik has enlightened us about the objectives and significance of the UGC-Malviya Mission Teacher Training Centre.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Janchai from Thailand.
Dr Janchai has received German Government Scholarship to complete doctoral degree in laser Physics from Free university in Berlin, Germany. He Is involved in the international Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) since 1979, and became ICASE Regional Representative in 1993 and later served ICASE president from 2004- 2007. He is a recipient of an outstanding university lecturer award from the king of Thailand in 1982, an ICASE Distinguished service Award in 2013 and also life time achievement award of ICASE. He has worked as Adjunct Professor in China for several years and worked extensively with UNESCO. He is a creative and humorous lecturer who makes learning science fun and meaningful. He is a well-known international speaker and has been invited to many international conferences and conducted innovative workshops in 28 countries around the world. He is currently working as Director of STEM Education Center, Prince of Songkhla University, Suratthani Thailand.
Professor Janchai has elaborated on the importance of technology integration in teaching tools for virtual and hybrid classrooms.
The first day included the following sessions:
• Prof. Janchai (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM) discussed in his keynote address about the integration of technology in teaching tools to enhance virtual and hybrid learning experiences.
• Dr. Anupama Harshal (1:00 PM – 2:30 PM) presented on Pedagogical Innovations for Hands-on and Experiential Learning, emphasizing student-centric teaching methods.
• Dr. Varaprasad Kola (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM) provided insights into Incorporation of Advances in Plant Science for UG Curriculum, highlighting recent developments in botany and environmental sciences.
• Dr. Dinesh Khedkar (4:30 PM – 6:00 PM) discussed the Scheme of UG Syllabus, ensuring alignment with NEP 2020 guidelines.
Day 2: 8th January 2025 (Online Sessions)
The second day featured discussions on classroom challenges, interactive learning, and effective engagement strategies:
• Dr. Mithila Dalvi (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM) spoke on Classroom Challenges: Decoding Minds, exploring student behaviour and learning adaptability.
• Dr. Nitin Dongarwar (1:00 PM – 2:30 PM) presented Nature’s Classroom: Engaging Minds through Botanical Exploration, advocating for experiential learning through field visits and botanical explorations.
• Dr. Prabha Bhogaonkar (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM) delivered a session on Fostering Connections: Unlocking the Power of Student-Teacher Interaction, emphasizing personalized mentoring techniques.
Day 3: 9th January 2025 (Offline Sessions)
The third day marked the transition to offline mode, focusing on curriculum and syllabus development:
• Dr. Mrunal Kale (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM) conducted an extensive session on Curriculum Development, guiding faculty members on structuring UG courses.
• Dr. Dinesh Khedkar (1:00 PM – 1:30 PM) facilitated Group Formation for Syllabus Preparation, where participants were divided into teams for developing curriculum modules.
• Syllabus Preparation by Groups (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM) allowed faculty teams to work collaboratively on designing the syllabus for UG Botany and Environmental Science.
• Dr. Dinesh Khedkar (4:00 PM – 5:30 PM) moderated the Syllabus Updates by Group Leaders and Discussion, refining the prepared course structure based on expert feedback.
Day 4 & 5: 10th – 11th January 2025 (Offline Sessions)
The final two days were dedicated to:
• Finalizing Curriculum and Course Content by each group under the mentorship of subject experts.
• Interactive Panel Discussions on refining pedagogical tools and integrating digital technology in teaching.
• Presentation and Review Sessions, where each group showcased their course structure, assessment strategies, and hands-on learning components.
• Concluding Remarks and Certification, where the final curriculum framework was formally discussed and approved.
Conclusion
The ST-FDP on Marathon Pedagogical Tools, Curriculum, and Course Content Development was a highly successful initiative that empowered faculty members with advanced teaching techniques and curriculum design strategies. The hybrid mode format allowed for dynamic participation and meaningful discussions.
The FDP concluded with a formal vote of thanks, appreciating the valuable contributions of all resource persons, participants, and organizers. The revised UG curriculum developed through this program is expected to significantly enhance skill-based education and experiential learning, ensuring better academic outcomes for students in Botany and Environmental Science.
This FDP marked an important step toward academic excellence and curriculum innovation, aligning with the vision of Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati, in fostering progressive and research-oriented education.
Outcomes:
- 1. Enhanced Teaching Strategies – Faculty members will gain expertise in innovative pedagogical tools and interactive teaching methodologies tailored for UG Botany and Environmental Science, fostering a more engaging and effective learning experience.
- 2. Curriculum Enrichment – Participants will contribute to refining and updating the UG curriculum by integrating contemporary scientific advancements, interdisciplinary approaches, and sustainability concepts relevant to Botany and Environmental Science.
- 3. Effective Course Content Development – Faculty members will develop well-structured course content with clear learning objectives, aligning with NEP guidelines and skill-based education.
- 4. Implementation of ICT and Hands-on Learning – Educators will be equipped with digital tools, virtual labs, and experiential learning techniques to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications in Botany and Environmental Science.
- 5. Research and Industry Linkages – The program will facilitate faculty collaboration with research institutes, industries, and environmental organizations to design industry-relevant courses, promote field-based learning, and enhance employability skills among students.
Photos:
 Prof Dr. Janchai, Director of STEM Education Center, Prince of Songkhla University, Suratthani Thailand. |  Dr. Dinesh Khedkar giving his presentation |
 Principal Dr. Mrunal Kale delivering his speech |  Faculty members discussing on syllabus framing |
 Participants working on curriculum design of GOEC |  Teachers finalizing the draft syllabus |
Attendance Sheet:
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