SHRI SHIVAJI SCIENCE COLLEGE, AMRAVATI
DBT STAR COLLEGE PROJECT ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY REPORT
Hands-on Learning: Crafting SOPs and Interactive Teaching Approaches for Enhanced Classroom Experiences Envisioned Under NEP
Activity Dates: 03/08/2024
Type of Activity: Other
Organizing Department: Department of Botany & Bioinformatics
Program Coordinators: Dr.G.A. Wagh, Dr. G.B. Hedawoo,Dr. K.J.Gawai, Dr.R.A. Jane
Head of the Department: Dr. S.P. Ingole, Dr. J.D. Dhote, Dr. D. D. Khedkar
External Collaborator (if any): Brijlal Biyani Science College, Amravati
Objectives:
- To develop standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for effective teaching in the fields of Botany, Zoology, Environmental Science, Microbiology, and Biotechnology, ensuring clarity and uniformity in classroom delivery.
- To promote interactive and experiential learning approaches by aligning teaching methods with NEP guidelines, enhancing student engagement and understanding
- To facilitate collaborative discussion among science educators for sharing best practices and strategies in implementing NEP for first-year students across various life sciences disciplines.
- To provide expert insights and guidance on creating comprehensive teaching frameworks, aiding teachers in the integration of NEP's vision of skill-based and outcome-oriented education.
- To empower educators with the tools and resources needed to transition from traditional teaching methods to NEP-aligned, student-centric pedagogies, enhancing both teacher competency and student learning outcomes.
No of Beneficieries: 161
Classes Involved: Teachers of Departments of Life Sciences
Venue of the Activity: 1. Sir CV Raman Auditorium 2. AV Theatre 3. UG Micro Biotech , EVS Labs
Activity Report:
On 3 August 2024, the Department of Life Sciences at Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati, in collaboration with Brijlal Biyani Science College, Amravati, hosted a day-long workshop entitled "Hands-on Learning: Crafting SOPs and Interactive Teaching Approaches for Enhanced Classroom Experiences Envisioned Under NEP." This workshop aimed at enhancing the pedagogical approaches of science educators in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) and fostering a deep understanding of how to craft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for a more effective and engaging classroom experience.
The event was attended by faculty members from the life sciences disciplines, including Botany, Zoology, Environmental Science, Microbiology, and Biotechnology. It was structured into multiple sessions, each aimed at addressing specific components of the NEP and the creation of SOPs that would serve as a teaching manual for educators.
Inaugural Session: General Implementation of the NEP Syllabus
The main objective of this Workshop was to create awareness about the newly launched National Education Policy-2020 amongst teachers and to familiarize them with the skills to help them understand its nuances, curriculum changes, shift in the pedagogical skills and its implementation for the 360 degree holistic development of its stake holders, the students. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Rekha Maggirwar , Department of Botany. President of the workshop was Hon. Principal, Dr. G. V. Korpe, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati.
The programme started with inaugural function graced by Hon. Principal Dr. D. S. Dhote, Brijlal Biyani Science College Amravati as resource person of the workshop. The programme started with welcome address by Dr D. D. Khedkar, Professor & Head, Department of Botany, followed by felicitation of guest by Dr. G. V. Korpe. Inaugural speech was delivered by Dr. D. S. Dhote. He highlighted on the different challenges and the role of the teachers that were highlighted on the NEP 2020.He mentioned that, NEP 2020 has put in place systematic reforms that would help in restoring the high respect and status for teachers. NEP emphasizes to move students away from rote learning, and raise literacy and numeracy skills at the foundational level. Following that Dr G. V. Korpe mentioned in his talk about the importance of curriculum and the problem faced by teaching and learning. The inaugural function was ended with vote of Thanks by Dr. N. H. Sahare, Professor & Head, Department of Botany, Brijlal Biyani Science College Amravati.
This inaugural session provided a comprehensive overview of the goals of NEP, setting a strong foundation for the following subject-specific discussions. Dr. Dhote concluded by stressing the importance of collective effort from all educators to ensure successful implementation of the NEP guidelines at the grassroots level.
Subject-Specific Sessions
After Dr. Dhote’s plenary session, participants broke into subject-specific groups for deeper discussions on crafting SOPs and implementing the NEP in their respective fields. The faculty members leading these sessions provided insights into curriculum design, teaching strategies, and the creation of assessment frameworks.
1. Botany Session – Led by Dr. Dinesh Khedkar
The session on Botany was conducted by Dr. Dinesh Khedkar, Head of the Department and Chairman of BoS in Botany and Environment Science, a seasoned expert in the field. He discussed in detail the new curriculum structure for Botany as envisaged under the NEP, with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and fieldwork.
Key points from Dr. Khedkar’s session:
• Practical Learning and Fieldwork: Dr. Khedkar highlighted the importance of field visits, such as medicinal plant cultivation and biodiversity conservation projects, to give students experiential knowledge. He emphasized that the NEP's push for skill-based education aligns perfectly with Botany’s requirements for practical, real-world applications.
• SOP Creation for Theory and Lab Work: The participants worked on discussion for developing SOPs that would standardize the way practical sessions are conducted, ensuring consistency in lab work. This includes plant identification techniques, herbarium creation, and cultivation protocols.
• Use of Technology in Teaching Botany: He also encouraged the use of digital tools for botany education, such as virtual plant identification apps and interactive plant biology simulations, to make learning more engaging and accessible.
2. Zoology Session – Led by Dr. Joshi
First session of the workshop started with introduction of the BOS chairman & members, SGBAU, Amravati and also participants. The Session started with introductory session on NEP Scheme, its syllabus framing and curriculum design by Dr. J. D. Dhote Professor & Head Dept of Zoology, BOS Chairman SGBAU, Amravati. The speaker Dr. Pravin Makade, BOS member and Associate Professor Shri. Dr. R. G. Rathod Arts & Science College, Murtizapur delivered his talk on “NEP Scheme B.Sc. Semester I & II”. He said in his lecture that guided the Syllabus of Zoology subject and how its credits are calculated and the students how to get credit for SSC, VSC, GOEC and how to score well. And the second speaker Dr. Pravin Joshi, BOS member and Professor Amlokchand Mahavidyalay Yavatmal delivered his talk on “NEP B. Sc. I Semester I Syllabus”. He guided how the syllabus was framed and the change in it. He said in his lecture that since the post-graduate course was created first, the graduate course was designed accordingly, as the student base should be strengthened and it should be useful for the students to understand and increase their knowledge and curiosity about the subject.
After lunch break, second session of this workshop was started with Dr. Syed Obaid Qureshi Adarsha Sci., J. B. Arts & Birla Comm. College, Dhamangaon And Dr. Pravin Joshi, BOS member and Professor Amlokchand Mahavidyalay Yavatmal this second half of the workshop was dedicated to discussion regarding practical syllabus and suggestions for keeping a uniform pattern. This was suggested that two examples from each phylum should be included while taking salient features of phylum and these characters should be categorised like habit & habitat, morphological characters, distribution, economic importance.
A detailed discussion on GOEC was done with a suggestion by Dr. Swapnil Tinkhede, Asstt. Professor, Nandgaon Khandeshwar to add marketing of Vermicompost as well as vermicomposting techniques. Dr. G. A. Wagh, Prof., Shri Shivaji Science College, also suggested that the course of Wildlife Ecotourism can be given to arts and commerce students. Dr. D. S. Kulkarni, Bharatiya Mahavidhyalaya suggested to add ethics in ecotourism industry and its stakeholders.
Regarding Skill Enhancement Course (SEC), discussion for including life cycle of Apis mellifera & indica and project submissions while including other topics with Apiculture was done. This session was immensely productive since a number of suggestions, clarification of doubts through active discussion took place and after that before concluding the workshop, reviews and feedbacks from participants were taken. Dr. Sachin Tayade, appreciated this initiative and suggested that contributors name should be included in syllabus. Dr. Tinkhede as well as Dr. Sangave expressed their views. First Session was conducted by Dr. Sujata Kawade and Second Session was conducted by Dr. Anuradha Rajoria, Dept of Zoology. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. G. D. Hande and the workshop was concluded by the permission of Dr. J. D. Dhote, Chairperson of the technical session. A group photo after high tea was taken and certificates were distributed to the participants.
3. Environmental Science Session – Led by Dr. S.P. Ingole
In the 2nd technical session, teachers were grouped according to their subjects and were asked to sit at different places for the discussion & framing of the syllabus. Teachers of Environmental Science assembled in the P.G. Lab of Environmental Science. The content of the syllabus for theory & practical of B.Sc. I, II, & III were discussed. Content of Practical for Major & Minor, Content of Practical for SEC etc. was decided. As per the unit preparation of the content is also distributed among the teachers. The detail discussion of the workshop will enhance student engagement & foster holistic development.
4. Microbiology and Biotechnology Session: Led by Dr. Siddharth Mendhe for Microbiology and Prof. Nitin Ingole for Biotechnology
The workshop began with an introduction to the concept of SOPs.
The next section of the workshop focused on the alignment of SOPs with the objectives of the New Education Policy. NEP emphasizes flexibility, skill development, and a multidisciplinary approach, and these principles were reflected in the SOP frameworks discussed. The workshop also included practical sessions where attendees actively participated in drafting and revising SOPs for common microbiology and biotechnology experiments. These practical sessions were designed to provide clarity on the essential components of an SOP, such as the purpose, scope, equipment requirements, step-by-step procedures, safety precautions, and troubleshooting tips. Participants received detailed examples of SOPs related to bacterial culture techniques, molecular biology experiments, and enzymatic assays.
One of the key highlights was an interactive session that allowed participants to discuss the challenges they faced in conducting practical’s. Issues such as limited resources, safety concerns, and maintaining consistency in results were addressed. Faculty members discussed how well-drafted SOPs could mitigate such issues by providing clear protocols and alternative methods to deal with experimental variability
Final Remarks:
The workshop was a resounding success, providing educators with both theoretical insights and practical tools for aligning their teaching methods with the NEP framework. The emphasis on crafting SOPs ensures that the NEP’s vision can be implemented systematically, leading to an enriching and engaging learning experience for students.
The collaborative effort between Shri Shivaji Science College and Brijlal Biyani Science College set a strong precedent for future initiatives aimed at improving education quality and teacher effectiveness under the NEP.
Outcomes:
- Development of Standardized Operating Procedures (SOPs): The workshop successfully produced detailed SOPs for Theory, practical, lab, and field-based teaching across subjects like Botany, Zoology, Environmental Science, and other life sciences. These SOPs ensure a uniform and effective teaching methodology, making it easier for educators to implement NEP’s guidelines.
- Enhanced Teacher Collaboration: Educators from multiple institutions and disciplines worked together to share best practices, ideas, and innovative teaching methods. This collaborative effort helped in creating an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, aligned with NEP’s vision of holistic education.
- Incorporation of Hands-on Learning Approaches: Teachers were equipped with practical strategies for incorporating hands-on and field-based learning into their syllabi. By focusing on real-world applications, the workshop helped educators align their teaching with NEP’s emphasis on experiential and skill-based education.
- Clarity in NEP Implementation: The workshop provided educators with a clear understanding of how to effectively implement the NEP syllabus in their respective subjects. Expert-led discussions and lectures gave teachers actionable insights into restructuring their courses and assessments to align with NEP’s vision.
- Strengthening of Student-Centric Pedagogy: The outcomes of the workshop emphasized a shift from traditional, lecture-based teaching to a more interactive, student-centered approach. This aligns with NEP’s focus on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and inquiry-based learning, which are essential for developing well-rounded, competent students.
Photos:
 Glimpses of the Workshop |  Dr. Dipak Dhote, Principal, Brijlal Biyani Science College, Amravati, delivering talk on NEP implementation |
 Active participation of the Life Sciences teachers of various colleges |  Dr. G. V. Korpe, Principal of Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati delivering presidential address |
 Dr. J. D. Dhote, Head department of Zoology, Chairman BoS Zoology conductiong session |  Group discussion during the session |
Attendance Sheet:
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