Role of Digital Platforms in the Education Sector_An essay by Dr. Rajendra Patankar
Present times are popularly referred to as
Digital Era. Certainly the digitalization has changed the world tremendously.
Many (or most for that matter), trades and professions have undergone a total
transformation in the way these were conducted. Photography is the best
example. Creating a photograph involved very cumbersome processes like, first a
creating negative and then positives. The process requiring use of; films,
chemical agents, dark rooms, large quantity of water, and manual efforts, is
replaced by a fast, technology of creating digital images which do not require
a physical print, multiple copies can be made within seconds and distributed
throughout the world within fraction of a second. One major aspect of this is
the cost reduction and more precision through reduction in trial and error time
and resource loss.
I wish to, particularly address this issue in
this article. I work in a private Pharmacy Institution which is always short of
resources and this becomes a big hurdle in providing the students, a fulfilling
and experience rich education. The life sciences, and especially the Pharmacy
branch of it, requires chemicals and biological systems for practicing various
techniques; and you cannot afford to be extravagant in the use of chemical and
biological resources. Because, such extravagance; can lead to, very serious
repercussions on the environment. The experimental chemicals need to be put to
drain leading to land, water and air pollution. The more the number of
colleges, more students and obviously more use of chemicals and biological
systems.
I remember reading one such example. It was
found that the rice production in a certain area was dwindling. The cause was
found in increase in the insect population in that area. This was traced back
to decrease in population of frogs in the area. The frogs fed on the insects.
The declining number of frogs obviously led to increase in insect population
eating more rice. Now the reason for this decreased frog population was very
much unexpected. The introduction of frog dissection experiments, in the
biology course at junior college level, made many frogs being caught and
brought to the college for sacrifice. This is a classic example of disruption
in ecosystem due to inadvertent human intervention.
How this can be done? I wish to propose some
ideas in this regard. Education has three aspects, namely, Assimilation /
absorption, Analysis, Application. The digital platforms have made significant
inroads in to the first aspects of assimilation. The internet, digital
libraries, virtual classrooms, video conferencing have led to gigantic learning
material availability for the students. Similarly, computers and different
software help the students in analyzing the data. However, putting this
knowledge into application; requires use of some actual material like
chemicals, biological etc. and some muscular and motor skills. The muscular
skills have no substitute but the use of chemicals definitely can be dealt
with. Let see some examples.
Consider simplest experiment in a chemical
laboratory, ‘Titration’. This involves Use of glassware like pipette, burette,
and conical flask. Then also use of chemicals like solutes, solvents and
indicator. The process involves, filling up of the burette with titrating
solution, taking solution to be titrated in the flask, addition of correct
amount of indicator to be able to judge the correct end point. The motor and
eyesight skills to be developed through practice involve,
a.
Filling the burette correctly by holding it at eye level and determining
correct zero.
b.
Filling the pipette to take correct quantity in the flask
c.
Careful addition of titrant from the burette
d.
Judging correct end point by change in color or some such change.
Such operations are carried out in
sophisticated laboratories using auto-titrator which are quite expensive and
obviously non affordable at college level. So the practice is important for
each students and repeated use of additional chemicals is required. We may
include the breakage of the glassware while handling. Here I remember the
examples of simulation laboratories developed where the operations on actual
machinery / instruments is not possible. For example airplane pilot training.
On similar lines simulation laboratories can be developed. How this will help.
The digital platforms can have real controls requiring actual muscular
movements, only there will be virtual glassware and chemicals. This can have
many advantages apart from being economical.
A. The same experiment can be performed by
the student many times with making changes in concentrations digitally. Such
variations and the possible effects can be in
built in the software so that the student
shall be familiar with all types of situations without using the chemicals
multiple times.
B. This also can include very remote or rare
situations while performing the operations. Digitally the probable results also
can be predicted and the skill set of the student shall improve tremendously.
C. The expense of maintenance also shall be
minimized.
D. With proper design only single laboratory
can perform all variety of chemical analysis experiments in the same
laboratory, thereby minimizing requirement of multiple laboratories.
In case of pharmaceutical sciences, the
students learn to prepare many formulations. This is usually done on primitive
machines / instruments, as educational institutions cannot afford the latest
machinery. Secondly as the products manufactured by the students are non
consumable and have to be discarded. This leads wastage of resources and also
creates toxic waste. This kind of situation can be avoided effectively using a
simulation laboratory. This can have many advantages.
·
The machinery, being virtual, can be modified
and upgraded frequently.
·
Any latest development in actual industry may
be added to possible scenarios built in the virtual machine.
·
Different types of defects can be observed by
the student without loss of valuable chemicals.
·
The effects of changes in ingredients, quality
of ingredients, procedural changes etc can be incorporated on the virtual
laboratory.
These are just representative examples.
However with proper thinking can be adopted for various disciplines of life
sciences. Some software related to animal experimentation has been recommended
by Pharmacy Council of India. I am aware that, this kind of technology is used
in hi tech research or industries like space research or basic drug research.
But adopting for schools, undergraduate and graduate students can have
tremendous impact, if we consider the sheer number of students and the quantum
of life science experiments carried out by them. This may seem as fantasy
presently, but I am sure, that the science of robotics and digital technology,
this can become a regular practice in educational institutions. This could
create a better academic environment and also a clean, pollution free world.
Prof. Rajendra Damodar Patankar
Principal,
Abhinav Education Society’s College of Pharmacy
S. No. 23/3/2, A/P Narhe, Pune 411041.
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