Best Practices:
1. Title of the Practice: Collaborative- Engaged Teaching
Objectives:
The Context:
In the ever-changing landscape of education, the methods and tools used for teaching and learning have significantly evolved. Interactive panels with multimedia capabilities are one of those modern technological marvels that have revolutionized and transformed classrooms into interactive and immersive environments in order to cater to the evolving pedagogical needs.
The Practice: To keep pace with the evolving needs of learners, the teachers of Govt. college Bilaspur are adopting the technological advancements like using Interactive flat panels in their regular teaching. Multimedia integration allows teachers to incorporate videos, images, and interactive applications, making complex lessons more engaging, comprehensible and captivating. Interactive panels offer numerous features such as touch sensitivity, high-resolution displays, multimedia integration, and connectivity options. With touch sensitivity, teachers and students can interact directly with the panel, enabling seamless navigation, annotation, and content manipulation. The high-resolution displays ensure clarity and visual appeal, fostering better comprehension. With easy connectivity option, wireless screen sharing the students can perform group activities and engage in collaborative learning.
Evidence of Success:
The interactive panels have revolutionized the education scenario at the institution. With a unique amalgamation of multimedia features and personal touch of a teacher it has led to enhanced learning outcomes. Three multimedia enabled Interactive panels (65 inches) are functional in Science Block in room no. 30, room no. 38 and Botany lab. Three multimedia enabled Interactive panels (65 inches) are functional in Arts Block catering to the needs of students of Arts and Commerce Stream. One 75 inch Interactive panel with HD Camera has been installed in the Conference Hall and is being used as Virtual Class room.
Problems Encountered:
The integration of new technology into existing educational system has posed some challenges also. Firstly it is a costly affair requiring considerable investment. Secondly, it requires ample expertise to make students and teachers comfortable with the evolving technology. Teachers who were comfortable giving verbal instructions and lessons found it a little cumbersome to spend extra time in creating presentations and referring to infinite resources for data online. Sometimes technical problems arise and a lot of time is wasted in restarting the panels or in trouble shooting. Also manhandling of the panels by some notorious students at times alters the settings and makes digital learning redundant.
2. Title of the Practice: Centralized Counseling
Objectives:
Context:
All the colleges affiliated to HPU, Shimla have adopted Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), which is an instructional package developed to suit the needs of students to keep pace with the developments in higher education. The students exercise considerable freedom in choosing courses from the available subjects offered by the college except for the compulsory and core courses of the programme. The college has adopted the process of centralized counseling in admission to make the process more transparent and convenient to students.
Practice:
The admission process has the following stages:
1. Online registration and submission of choice filling – The candidates login, fill details, and submit three choices for the subjects of study in order of individual preference.
2. Online verification of the applications –The applications are verified by the committees constituted by the college. Any discrepancy regarding information given/ documents uploaded, is notified to the candidate through email/ SMS/ remark. Applicant's form is unlocked for required rectification/ uploading.
3. In person Verification of candidate and counseling-- Verification of all the documents in original is done and the faculty members ensure that the candidate has made right choices according to his aptitude and career interest.
4. Seat allocation – The allocation of the seats is done on the basis of choices submitted by the candidates, their position in the consolidated merit list for the stream and reservation roster.
5. Accepting the seat/ revising the choice – The candidate accepts the seat if allocated the desired subjects. However, if they could not get the desired subject combination, they can opt for the next preference submitted by them or even revise their choice according to the seats available.
6. Submission of the fee – Candidates who accept the seat are directed to submit admission fee.
7. Second and third Phase of counseling: The College notifies the vacancy position in every department, for which the candidate can appear on the scheduled date.
Evidence of Success:
The centralised counseling in the institution provided a streamlined and standardized student centric admission process. It allowed consistent and transparent communication with applicants. Unlike purely online Admission Process it offered counseling and personal mentorship to the applicants at final decision making stage.
It also enabled the students to understand and change their subject preferences there and then to avoid any confusion or hassles in the future. It allowed the students to explore different options and make informed choices based on their preferences and qualifications/merit. Thus, It promoted equal opportunity through fair and unbiased allocation of choice based subjects as per the merit of students and number of seats in respective subjects.
Problems Encountered:
The physical presence of the candidate is mandatory for centralized counseling barring which their admission could not be confirmed. Since a large number of students attended the same, the process became a little tedious and time consuming, counseling each and every student personally and then preparing the subject wise merit in the end.