Saturday, February 21, 2015

Online Education

Online education is defined as the education in which technology is used for exchanging ideas and providing access to many people at one time and learning may be effective. Audio, video and computer networking are used for a delivery
system. It is a type of distance learning education.
Greenberg (1998) defines the distance learning education as a planned learning method, that uses the technologies to reach at a learner presented at distance and is designed to motivate the learners and also the certification of learning.
Many terms are used in describing online education. They are: virtual education, web based education, internet based education, computer based education and many more.
It is a type of credit granting course which is delivered to the students located at remote location with the help of internet. Online courses may contain the requirement that learners and teachers meet once or regularly in lab, lectures or exam hall as long as that physical setting does not exceed more than 25% of total course time.
Historical Background
In past, online education was thought impossible, but now it becomes the reality. The internet technology has allowed us to get knowledge and learn with people of all over the world. Everyone can connect with each other all over the world with the help of internet. The online education now becomes the new field in education.
The online education has developed in the last 20 years. With the help of advance technology the online education becomes more accessible for the distant learners. The concept of distance education has been introduced in 1970s and 1980s. In the late 1970s, the satellite TV and cable are used for delivering materials of distance education course. However at present situation, the internet of high bandwidth is used to deliver the online educational courses.
With the development of newer and newer technologies, it has been expected that the computer network will play a great part of whole education.


Friday, February 13, 2015

Morality and The Social Problems

The level of conformity to moral laws meant to be morality. It shows how a person is confined to goodness and badness. It usually reflects the distinction between right and wrong. For examples, we pay due respect to our elders, which is natural law and it reflects our morality. It is our duty to follow the certain rules and regulations. The violation not only is the degradation of morality but also the crime committed against the concerned body.
What does it mean by saying ‘degrading morality?’ Actually it refers to the moral characters being not followed or being violated. Then, by whom it is violated and why? The violation is not aggregated among the certain classes of peoples but by most of all classes or almost all groups’ morality seem to be violated. There may be due to no commitment towards the goal or destination or to be extra then others or the greedy character.
Morality in itself is not a matter to give and take. Actually it arises from internal feelings, which may be eternal. If one listens to these internal feelings then he need not to be degrade his moral character. These moral characters guide him to the right path. On the hand, if one doesn’t listen to the internal feelings then he gets diverted from the moral character. This deviation, at once may not lead towards the wrong path but many, becomes a guide lines, which in long term becomes the root cause for wrong behavior.
Today we see our country in difficult situation ever felt or imagined. All the government and non governmental bodies seem corrupted. Beside these there are various social problems. The nation builder youths are too illusions. Some are going to wrong track. They are being drug addicted not only this, the crime is increasing day by day, the rape cases are highlighted by news media each day. Behind these few stated examples, there are a lot.

We can imagine, if people were moral why do they corrupt or why do they need to involve in bribery? Now it becomes the time to provide the moral education to every youth in nation. Moral education will help them to maintain their morality. They will be responsible to their family, society and finally to the nation. So the moral education now becomes one of the most important education to be provided to the young.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Providing Homework to School Children: Good or Bad

Homework helps the children to develop their reading and writing ability and their habits. Teacher provides homework for further practices about the lesson and some works and assignments. So that homework is one of the important parts of teaching learning activities.
Students are assigned some extra tasks related to lesson to be performed at their home. It is usually extension activity of what has been taught or learnt in the classroom. Homework should be appropriate in length and purposeful to achieve the objectives of lesson. Here, the teacher writes school assignments to be completed out of regular hours at the residence of pupil. There are several kinds of homework which are appropriate to the teaching items.

Homework can be in the form of:
1.       Solution of question and problems which depend on the application of the principles learnt in the school.
2.       Written exercises in language function, grammar composition and translation with a view of giving practices done in the class.
3.       Practical work, for example preparation and drawing of organs of speech, chart of articulation, flash cards, model etc.
4.       Advance preparation for the coming lessons.


These days some trainers minimize the value of homework and do not suggest providing homework to the students. They omit this point from the lesson plan too. This view can cause problem in learning. Whether or not homework should be given to the students are controversial points extreme views have been expressed regarding the usefulness of homework.
An average guardian also feels that some works should be given to the students that he should do at home. In any respect we cannot reject the role of homework in the learning. The following purposes can be put forward in the support of this view.

1. To provide students an opportunity to practices what he learnt in the school?
2. To provide opportunities to the students to work independently and thereby to develop reliance initiative in themselves.
3. To develop habits of reading and writing as well as other skills regularly.
4. To serve as a link in the parent and teacher cooperation.
5. To provide opportunities to utilize their leisure time.
6. To enable them to revise their previous lesson and prepare the next one.
7. To provide opportunities to make progress to the poor students.
8. To complete the course in time.
9. To make them obedient, diligent and responsible.
10. To provide learners with opportunities to use target language to achieve communicative purpose.

However, while providing homework the teacher should keep the following points in his/her mind. These points encourage teacher to make good question for homework.

1. The question should be clear in simple language. It should not be ambiguous, lengthy and vague.
2. It should not be set as punishment.
3. It should be relevant to the topic.
4. It should be neither too easy nor too difficult, because they will not take any interest in too easy question and will get discouraged in too difficult question.
5. A question once asked should not be repeated unless the teacher is sure that class has not followed it.
6. Teacher should try to verify the form of his question.
7. Adequate time should be allowed to answer.

Inclusive Education in Teaching

Inclusive education means including all types of children in education. The aim of inclusive education is to bring all children in the main stream of nation by giving equal opportunities in education according to their need and conditions. It is also known as universal education, accessible education, equitable education. It is a partial part of justice example and a fair justice policy to accept in society. Inclusive education includes all the weak children, road children, children for minorities group, children affected by HIV, AIDS and Leprosy, children in poverty etc. It is a medium to bring all castes, genders groups in different activities of a nation.
Many countries have defined the inclusive education as the development process of an education system that provides to all children to have useful education in non-discriminatory environment of their own community by upholding multicultural differences of the country. 

Characteristics of Inclusive Education

1. Inclusive education includes all children: boys and girls, those from different cultural or linguistic backgrounds, those with special abilities or learning needs and those affected directly or indirectly by HIV/AIDS.
2. Inclusive education is gender fair and non discriminatory.
3. Inclusive education is culturally sensitive, celebrates differences and stimulates learning for all children.
4. It promotes healthy lifestyles and life skills.
5. Families, teachers and communities are involved in children’s learning in inclusive education.
6. It promotes all children from harm violence and abuse.
7. In inclusive education learning is relevant to children’s daily lives.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

How to prepare well for examination?

Preparing well during exam
is one of the most important tasks during exam time to achieve the success. Many students fail to meet their goals due to lack of well preparation. Here are some important tips that will assist will make able to achieve success in any kind of examination.
1. Sleep well
Do not study whole night; it will retard your mental energy. You need at least six hours of sleep for complete refreshes.
2.Eat well
During exam time a large amount of energy is consumed by brain so having a proper meal with sufficient nutrition is very important. Eating well will provides the required energy for your daily studies.
3.Talk to someone
During examination, thinking more will make you ill, depressed so don’t hide your feelings and problems. Say to someone about these feelings which will make you free.
4. Take Breaks
Studying continuously for a long time will make you tired and will retards your mental energy. Many studies show that concentration spans of man is about 45 minutes at a time. So take a regular break after studying, it will help you being refreshed.
5. Select the time for studying
Select the time when you feel comfortable for studying. It would be evening, morning, late night or at other time depending on your choice.
6. Exercise
Have a regular exercise during exam time that will bring you the physical and mental alertness, which will help you for effective studying.
7. Avoid the bad company
Your companies have the direct effect to your extent of studying. Having a bad company will completely spoil your study. So always join the good company and avoid bad company.
8. Be calm in examination hall
Many students fail in exam even having a well preparation for exam. One of the most important factors for this fact is due to anxiety during examination hall. So it is advised that all students should be calm and optimistic in examination hall.


Exam Preparation: Eight Study Tips

University study is entirely different than that of other levels. More specifically, in the context like ours there are many more challenges for learners and teachers. This is the stage of diving self and searching out what one has to. That is, it is important to stay caught up. So, do not tell yourself I will study it later or tomorrow. It drags you to great loss. Successful students have good study habit. They work to develop any study habits they do not have. Here are some tips to succeed in one’s exam:
1. Review the lesson plan prior class
Skim through the textbooks. Try to buy your text books a few weeks before the study begins so that you can have a glimpse for your classes. Before you attend the classes at least spend some time to see what you have to study that day. You do not understand in class if you do not review anything beforehand.
2. Do not study too much at one time
If you try to study too much at one time, you will be tired and your study won’t be so effective. So do not study too much at one time. Take a regular and short break after studying for a time, it will restore and boost up your mind.
3. Set up a specific goal
You must be completely clear about your aim during study times. Simply studying without any aim and goals has very little value. Goal will focus you to achieve the success.
4. Try to start study at same time everyday
Starting study at same times everyday will set up a routine which will become a daily work of life as like eating, sleeping etc. This will help you to become mentally prepared when the scheduled study times come up.
5. Study the chapter you find most difficult first
The difficult chapter will take most efforts. So always start the chapter which you find more difficult since this is when you have more mental energy. Don’t skip such chapter that many others do.
6. Review your notes
Reviewing notes will make you sure that you are in right way. Also the notes contain lot of information in short way that can be revised in short time in effective way.
7. Turn off your mobile phones during study times
If your friends call you during exam time, two study problems may occur. At first, your study will be disturbed. It will be difficult to go back what you were doing. Secondly, they may talk about any things that may change your mind which will distract you. So turn off your mobile phone during exam time.
8. Meet another friend when you have difficulty during study

There may be many difficulties while studying. When the difficulties arises meet your classmates who can solve your problems.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Central Department of Environmental Science

Central Department of Environmental Science (CDES) was established in 26th October, 2001. It  launch post graduate and doctorate level education in environmental science and technology.
Currently the department has launched different special papers to produce the manpower to meet the demand of nation and to address the current issue in environment. Fresh water conservation and management, Mountain Environment and Sustainable Development are the recently updated special paper course titles. Environmental science being a multi disciplinary science, CDES run work workshops, special training programs and exposure collaborating with different organization to improve the field knowledge of the students along with regular courses.

Since its inception, the department is planning to work hand in hand with the development partners maintaining its academic freedom. The department is currently collaborating with different governmental and nongovernmental organizations. The main collaborating partners are Ministry of Environment, Government of Nepal, Ministry of Local Development, Association for the Development of Environment and People in Transition (ADAPT), Nepal Integrated Development Society (IDS),Nepal Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) , the Glacial Trust, United Kingdom, The small Earth Nepal (SEN). 

Motivation: A Way of Success in Language Education

The successful person who always gets distinction who always be the winner, who always be the famous leader is guided by motivation. Motivation may be inner or outer both for each and every person. Robert Gardner has conducted the  most extensive research into the role of motivation in SLA. And he finds that the dominant models learning motivation with socio-educational model. A social psychological factors frequently used to account for individual success in learning a second language is motivation.
To be specific, motivation appears to be the second strongest pillar of success first being aptitude. Nevertheless, an investigation of the role of motivation in second language learning faces a hurdle just beyond the starting block: the exact nature of motivation is not clear. Everyone agrees that it has something to do with drive. When various definitions are compared, it becomes clear that these definitions differ in significant ways.
Individuals who are highly motivated will learn faster and to a greater degree. Furthermore, numerous studies have provided statistical evidences that indicate motivation is a predicator for language learning. Socio-psychological factor frequently used to account differential success in learning a second language is motivation. In general, motivation involves four aspects; they are: a goal, effortful behavior, a desire to attain the goal and favorable attitudes toward the activity in question.
The student or others can be motivated with the awareness of the two types of goals. They are short term goals and long term goals. If the students are motivated by the attraction of the better and prestigious job in future (or desire to be able to communicate with the member of a target language community) they are examples of a long term goals. On the other hand, if the learners are willing to pass the examination or only solving the current problem is the example of short term goals. Short term goals are not as effective as the long term goals.
Types of Motivation
Observing the different scholars definition, motivation can be categorized into different types. The major types of motivation have been described below.
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation
According to Harmer, motivation can be divided into two types: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation is concerned with the external incentives or influences as seen as determinant of learners motivational strength. The use of prize and sweets etc. as the external reward for their goal learning can serve to motivate them. For example, if the parents are very much against the culture of the target language, this will probably affect his/her motivation negatively. If they are very much in favour of the target language, this might have the positive effect.
On the other hand, the opposite view of extrinsic is intrinsic one. Motivation which is concerned with the factors such as physical condition, methods, and teacher’s behavior inside the classroom is known as intrinsic motivation. Only extrinsic motivation is not adequately for effective language learning but intrinsic motivation also plays a vital and determining role. For example, it is true that the teachers personality and the rapport s\he is able to establish with the students are of vital importance. It is the ability to provide motivating and interesting classes which are based both on the knowledge of technique and activities and upon the teachers ability to inspire confidence in the students; and have answer to their questions.
Integrative and Instrumental Motivation
The basic distinction between integrative and instrumental motivation was explained by Gardner and Lambert. Integrative motivation is defined as the desire to be like the valued member of the target language community or the learner wishes to identify with the culture of the second language group. Thus, the students internal drive to integrate themselves into the target language culture is called integrative motivation.
On the other hand, the term ‘instrumental motivation’ describes a situation in which student believe that mastery of the target language will be instrumental in getting a better job, position or status. In other words instrumental motivation occurs when the learners goal for learning are functional in their life. The language is an instrument in their attainment of such goal and learners should have guided by both integrative and instrumental motivation.
Global, Situational and Task Motivation
The distinction between global, situational and task motivation were presented by Brown. The motivation which covers the general orientation to the goal of learning a target language is known as global motivation. Similarly, the motivation, which differs from one situation to another situation is known as situational motivation. Here, the motivation associated with the natural language learning situation is totally different from motivation provided with target language learning. The third motivation which is necessary for the learner in order to solve the problem or completing the task is known as task motivation. Actually task motivation is the motivation for instructing the particular language learning tasks.
Conclusion

Motivation is key for success and motivation have several sources too. Inherent interest, success experienced by learner and learning activity itself are some sources of motivation. Success plays important role in motivation. The learners who make good presentation and are encouraged to try harder, success can invites confidences which leads learners to the motivation and it results in greater success.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Central Department of Microbiology

Central department of microbiology was established in 1990 under Institute of Science and Technology (IOST) at TU. It is the oldest and only institution in Nepal which provide both M.Sc. and PhD degree in microbiology. Now CDM and other eight TU affiliated colleges also offers the M.Sc. program of microbiology. Each year around 300 students are enrolled in M.Sc. program of TU which is the highest enrollment in the biological sciences and also in top of all affiliation given to private colleges of TU, IOST. Similarly, every year around 700 students get BSc degree majoring in microbiology from 20 colleges of TU of which 8 are constituents and rests are TU affiliated colleges. Our past MSc microbiology graduates from CDM have also proven themselves as highly reputed and skilled manpower in their field and successfully completed and get PhD degree from reputed institutes and Universities of USA, India, Korea, Japan, German, UK etc. Our is highly recognized in USA and MSc degree holders from our department get admission directly in PhD without any further master’s degree. 

Establishing a Nutrition Testing Lab in Nepal

A well developed nutrition testing lab is establishing by department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC).
In current situation, the department can test only the contamination present in food products. It is unable to test the various nutritional components like protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, fat and minerals.
Purna Prasad Awasti, the DFTWC spokesperson said that, the purposed lab could test the nutritional values present in food products.
He said ‘the lab will test even the complex type of nutrition in food items’.
The department has proposed around 25-30 millions for developing the lab. At present Nepali exporters are facing a great problems in importing countries due to absence of such testing lab. They have to test such food products in Indian laboratories which cost much time and money.
Wasti clamed that the new lab will also be able to test ‘trans fat’ and ‘saturated fat’ which are supposed one of the main factor which is responsible for causing cholesterol, heart problems, obesity and other heart diseases.

At present, the DFTQC lab has ability to certify 25 different parameters including microlevel fatty acid, dietary fibres, vitamins, proteins, and minerals contain. 

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Central Department of Geology

The study of Geology had been started from Trichandra College since 2024 BS as B.Sc. in geology at first and latter on M.Sc. in geology is conducted since 2032 BS at same campus. With the aim of establishment of central of Excellence, the central department of Geology was shifted to Kirtipur at 2042 BS. Since, 12 years CDG also has been running the Ph.D. program. From the beginning, about 500 geologists are produced from TU. Those geologists are working on different Governmental and non Governmental organization.
According to Colombo plan from the establishment time India and Jaka export and Japnese Volunteers, Professors contribution is very important. Similarly department to given the academic activity like practical as well as theoretical supported by different countries- India, America, Germany, Australia, etc.

After that high education project the building of CDG as well as research curriculum materials needed like geology engineering equipments, X-ray, Defractometer, psygmograph, magnetometer, resistivity meter, sedigraph, rock and soil laboratory, computer lab etc are received. Now laboratory, research museum and library and the establishment of internet makes the department able to produce required manpower.