Govindram Seksaria Science College
BEST PRACTICES
Best Practices
Best Practice – I
1. Title of the Practice: Quick Response Code to Identify Plants online.
2. Objectives of the Practice: To design and implement a user-friendly Tree identification online repository for G.S.S. campus, using opensource smart technology.
3. The Context: Students and People while walking in the college campus, avenue, gardens, see the beauty of trees, plants, flower, fruits etc., And wonder what to call the? Although many trees and plants are noticed daily but are difficult to identify. So there needs to be an easy way of identifying them.
4. The Practice :We have developed a QR code (Quick Response) system for tree in the campus, using an open-source technology, where people can scan the unique QR code tagged on each tree in the campus and get its full information available online, includes common name, scientific name, Classification, description- habit and habitat, distribution, morphology- leaf, inflorescence, flower, flowering/fruiting season, fruit, seed, propagations, importance, location in campus and references. The entire assessment of the ‘Trees of GSS’ campus is available in the digital format on an open source website repository www.github.io. A unique website is created for public awareness using an open source HTML code available online- offline with due credits. Standard code format “Geany” following MARKDOWN language. Link to our website://treesofgss.github.io. A quick response code was generated for web link of each tree species present in the college campus. The unique QR codes are attached firmly to the trunk of all the important trees present in the campus. The codes can be scanned by anyone to quickly access information as per the parameters that are stored for easy access. Important features of the project is the use of open source technology, user friendly search options, geolocation, android application, more than 100 tree species identified and more than 750 individual trees tagged so far. This will be the first time in Karnataka, where such open-source technology is used in public space, in college campus for awareness. This would be a pioneering step towards smart digital campus, and also save as a case study for other institutions in the future. The basic objective of the project was “To design and implement a user friendly tree identification online repository for GSS campus using open source smart technology”
5. Evidence of SuccessThe student without the life science background is also able to understand the name of plant and its information in detail, quickly after scanning the QR code from mobile
6. Problems Encountered and Resources RequiredFor QR code to function there should be android mobile with internet Facility, compulsory to scan and get the information. If Internet is not available, we cannon scan the code to get information.
BEST PRACTICE – II
1. Title of the Practice:Orientation Programme
2. Objectives of the PracticeTo make the fresh students (B.Sc. I Sem; BCA I Sem; and M.Sc. I Sem) aware of the infrastructure, academic and co-curricular faculties in the institution
3. The ContextInitially all the students are made to assemble at a common hall. The principal highlights the objectives of the orientation. Couple of Faculty members provide information on the institutional facilities, infrastructure, vision and mission, do’s and don’ts in the campus such as use of mobile, eve-teasing, harassments, ragging etc; cocurricular and extracurricular facilities, scholarships, examination related points etc.
The students are made groups of 25-30 and are attached to a team of three faculty members and were provided a hall for the activities. The faculty in-charge are trained with the CLHRD manuals for orientation programmes. The manual has mainly, teaching-learning components, teaching methodology, games, puzzles etc.
4. The PracticeTThe activity begins with the inaugural programme addressed by either an entrepreneur or a person of high esteem who would motivate the students for overall development. This is followed by the faculty members being assigned to conduct several modules of the CLHRD programmes by making several groups among students with both the boys and girls together. Each group is assigned 3 facilitators at different venues in the college. There will be breaking of ice where students introduce one another in the group. This is followed by the introduction of the college by the faculty about geography of the college, departments, dress code, policies of the college, clean campus, various scholarships, library, NCC, NSS, Placement cell, Youth red cross, code of conduct, Gymkhana etc. The faculty organizes Group discussion on some of the important topics useful for the students. The students are provided with required material for their assignments viz., files, posters, color pencils/sketch pens, newspapers etc. Using these materials, the students prepare Collage, their assignments and present their groups’ highlights.
5. Evidence of SuccessThe teaching-learning modules added with games, puzzles etc. make the students at ease in the new campus and environment. They become free with their unknown friends, learn to mix up, get confidence, stage courage, show their talents, share the things, build team management, rules and regulations of college, discipline in college, know about the campus, dress code, departments, scholarships, about library, NCC, NSS, Youth Red Cross, Placement cell, mentor programme, students welfare officer, certificate courses, foreign language course, hostel etc. This activity has developed a good rapport between the students and staff that is visible after the programme.
6. Problems Encountered and Resources RequiredThe students who join late miss this orientation programme as the regular classes will have started. Expenses for stationary, food, tea etc., are inevitable which is taken care by the institution. It is necessary to have trained staff to conduct such programmes and the college has only a few members who are properly trained for such activities.
7. Notes (Optional) As the students stay in the campus for next 2-3 years, the orientation programme is quite effective to make the students feel at home. They are familiar with the campus, infrastructure, extracurricular and cocurricular aspects. This makes easy to manage the students in the campus.