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.

We are presenting the series of essays submitted for the 1st Annual Pharma Literati Essay contest. The opinions in the essay are by the authors and need to be endorsed by Pharma Literati team. 

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