Knowing the Unknown!

One Day Orientation Program for School Teachers of Building Blocks, Bangalore

Organized by TransDisciplinary University (TDU)

74/2, JarakbandeKaval, Via Yelahanka Attur P.O., Bangalore -560 106, Karnataka, India

Phone: +91 80 28568000 Fax: + 91 80 28567926

Knowing the Unknown!

One Day Orientation Program for School Teachers of Building Blocks

Background:

Building Blocks is an organization working for the betterment of children from less privileged

backgrounds by providing them with a well-rounded education that enables them to be at par

with other middle and upper-class children. It has 7 learning centers in different parts of

Bangalore, educating 578 children, and is in the process of opening more. They requested, The

TransDisciplinary University, Bangalore (TDU) to organize a one-day orientation program for

the school teachers on biodiversity and primary health care for the concept of which can be

incorporated in the school. iSambhav through its CSR initiatives has come forward to reimburse

their expenditure incurred towards this orientation program.

The TransDisciplinary University (TDU) has developed a unique one-day orientation program

for the teachers and students pursuing their primary and secondary education, to give them an

opportunity to learn the basics of plant taxonomy, anatomy and methods to conserve plants in a

simple format. This program has been designed in line with their school curriculum, it is

expected that this program will broaden their understanding about the nature specifically plants

and help them develop their interest in the urban nature conservation. This could be a precursor

to any environment education program.

The one day orientation was organized on 6th July 2017 at TDU. The participants had an

opportunity to acquire the basic tools needed for effective translations of knowledgeviz use of

medicinal plants for primary health care, gardening and basics of Biodiversity.

Summary:

The program commenced with the welcome address by Dr. Stephan A., Assistant Professor

TDU. Dr. BalakrishnaPisupati, Vice Chancellor, TDU, in his

opening note dwelt on the overview of the

University’sachievements and interest to work with school.

Mr. NiranjanKathri, CEO, iSambhav, commented on the

uniqueness of the program. Dr. M. Abdul Kareem, Associate

Professor,TDU briefed the participants on the topics that would be covered under the training

Section 1: Ten Effective tools for teaching biodiversity

Dr. Harish Bhat, Scientist, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore presented various facets of

biodiversity. He talked about the ten effective tools for teaching the students, effective way of

handling students with minimum efforts, the method to solve their

learning problems, the ways to understand science by conducting

various activities. He also suggested teachers to conduct few simple

activities for students like measuring the amount of oxygen released

by a tree per day, ask students to watch touch me not plant and its

closing and opening mechanism etc.

Section 2: Need for Conservation of biodiversity

Mr. Santosh, Director, CEE made participants to understand the need for conservation of

biodiversity by conducting small activity. The participants were divided into pairs, one of them

were blind folded and asked them to touch the nearby plant or tree.

Later by removing the blind fold participants were asked to

identify the same plant or tree. The next activity was to collect the

plant parts nearby in the garden, some of them collected different

types of leaves, stem, flower and fruits, the participants were then

asked to tell what they have collected and one importance of that. By conducting such activity

Mr. Santosh conveyed the importance of the biodiversity and why we need to conserve the

nature.

Section 3: Exploring ethno-medicinal garden

In this session, students were taken to the ethno-medicinal garden in the TDU campus, which

harbors more than a thousand medicinal plants including rare

and endangered species. There are 13 thematic gardens

depicting the diversity of medicinal plants withMist chambers,

unitfor propagation and also facilitates a large vermicomposting

pit for organic farming. Ms. Nandini, Consultant, TDU

explained the teachers about the propagation and nursery techniques of some of the medicinal

plants which are essential for primary health care. She highlighted that each species has a unique

nursery and propagation technique. She also taught how to identify plants by touch, sense of

smell. She also showed participants the vermicomposting pit and demonstrated the preparation of

compost by using recycle items.

Section 4: Method to bring behavioral changes by environmental education program

A case study was presented by Dr. Alexender from Pondicherry University on the process of

Evaluation of student’s knowledge, attitude, behaviour and skills before and after the EESD

(Environmental Education for sustainable development)

interventions among the school students;

Section 5: Consolidation

The participants were given the following assignment to be

carried out at their respective schools

Make students to collect different types of leaves present in their school campus

Make students to collect different colors of flowers present in their school campus

Make students to trace different types to leave shapes and make a booklet of the same.

Feedback

The participants conveyed that all the sessions more educative. They highlighted the following

They learnt the steps for implementing the effective tools for teaching students.

The method to identify plants by their medicinal properties. And planned to plant few

medicinal plants in their school premises.

They learnt the importance of Biodiversity conservation and few activities related to

biodiversity which they can conduct to their students.

Follow up:

They are planning to make more visits with other batch of teachers

Develop their garden with more species used for school children.

Insert the 10 effective tools in the teaching manual.

List of Faculty

1. Dr. M. Abdul Kareem, Associate Professor and Course co-ordinator, TDU

2. Dr. Harish Bhatt, Scientist, CES, IISC

3. Mr. Santosh, Director, CEE, South Campus

4. Dr, Alexander, Assistant Professor, Pondicherry University

5. Ms. Nandini D., Consultant, TDU

6. Mr. Stephan A., Assistant Professor, TDU

7. Ms. Anu V., Senior Research Fellow, TDU

8. Ms. Amrita G., Research Fellow, TDU

List of Participants

SI. No. Name of the Participants

1. Shanaz

2. Jannifer

3. Meherunnisa

4. Nancy Priya

5. V. Deivanai

6. Gayathri M.

7. K. Rameshwari

8. Christina

9. SameenaBatool

10. Shaina

11. Ashina K.

12. Diana Priyadharshini

13. Madhuri S.

14. Jayanthi

15. Shakuntula G.

16. Ronica A.

17. Mala Y.

18. Gayathri

19. Shivagami

20. Regina

21. Monisha

22. Susena

23. Kavitha

24. Sumiya

25. Shayeema

26. Shilpa

27. Shima

28. Nusrath

29. Angel Jessi

30. RukhsanaBanu

31. Nagarani R.

32. Pamala Grace

33. Sonia J

34. Kavitha

35. Mamatha

36. Anjanamma

37. JameelaBanu