Review report of "ICT in Education Master Plan 2013 - 2017" specifically the areas that focus on education

The Education system of Nepal has been revolutionized by using Information & Communication Technology (ICT) in international competency. According to the report of “ICT in Education Master Plan 2013-2017” the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Education has initiated the ICT as a subject and tool for the education system with the help of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). In this regard, ICT is being used to upscale the education system of Nepal and get benefits from both National and Global contexts. There are four major pillars in the Master plan of education in ICT regarding 2013-2017 such as infrastructure, connectivity, teaching-learning materials, and human resources. Each pillar has its objective, strategies, activities, target, and estimated cost. The master plan explores the lower-higher education, training, governance, management of education. Furthermore, it also implements the plan, monitoring, and evaluation of the plan.

The previous three-year plan (2011-2013) of the Government of Nepal (Nepal Planning Commission, 2011) has upgraded the quality of education in rural areas of Nepal by the use of ICT. Based on the report of “ICT in Education Master Plan 2013-2017” some fundamental principles regarding developing and working on the educational master plan.

• It should be reduced the digital gap in the education system of Nepal.
• ICT is used as a tool for teaching and learning.
• To promote educational access to all the respective ages, ethnicity, disability, etc.
• To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the management system of education.

Major highlights of "ICT in Education Master Plan 2013 - 2017" are as follows

Component 1: Development of ICT Infrastructure:

In this sector majorly develop and foster the ICT equipment (computer, laptop, desktop, projector, etc), internet connectivity, multimedia classroom (various types of CD and DVD), virtual data center (cloud-based), and educational resource sharing platform (e-library). The development and completion of this project need some strategies as follows.

• Create an ICT-enabled learning environment such as a private-public partnership in educational institutions.
• Explore and expand the internet access to educational institutions with the help and collaboration of Nepal Telecom Authority and other Internet broadband company.
• Increases the access of learning resources through common sharing platforms such as local center, web-based (youtube), podcast, CD, DVD, etc. 

Component 2: Development of Human Resources:

Human resources is a basic need for the development and fostering of ICT in education. In terms of ICT, human resources classify as ICT teachers, ICT trainers, ICT decorater, decision-makers, and managers in the education system and educational institutions. To pursue the development of human resources, there are some major points to be followed such as

• Train the teacher's skills for ICT based education such by organizing workshops, seminars, etc
• Develop an encouraging and productive policy-making environment for managing ICT in education.
• Increases the human resources competencies in ICT by promoting, integrating ICT skills in the education sector.

Component 3: Development of Digital Learning Materials

ICT is the backbone for the development of digital learning materials. The NCF integrated the ICT in education as a tool for effective pedagogy by developing interchangeable meaningful and easily understandable digital content such as PowerPoint documents, animated videos, audiobooks, podcasts, e-library, etc.

Component 4: Enhancement of Education System

ICT is a productive tool for fostering a service delivery system to establish good governance, transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the education sector. The use of innovative tools of ICT has improved the database, manage information systems by contributing decision-making process, reviewed and formulation of policies of ICT in the global context, data security, cyber ethics. Some major points are followed regarding the enhancement of the education system. 

• Develop and strengthen policy and regulatory provisions for effective and efficient use of ICT in education
• Promote Research and Development system in education
• Enhance the Management Information System (MIS) and Office Automation System (OAS) in the  

This is the five-year master plan of ICT in the education sector. In each compartment, the evaluation committee should be looked very closely for implementing these above points.

Source: https://www.moe.gov.np/assets/uploads/files/ICT_MP_2013_(Final)_.pdf

Quiz of Human body system

 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDc2MmYtrvR1QXLCBLaLBHtx9H1NDBwS6G-rf7prY5fpCIow/viewform

Uses of Podcasts in Teaching

Background

The podcast is an audio-recorded file that can be connected to the audience through digital media devices, such as portable music players, computers, laptops, and smartphones (Evans, 2008; Kidd, 2012). Podcasts appeared in the early 2000s where Web 2.0 technologies rising and were practiced by some education professionals who noticed potential benefits of the medium for upgrading the education system (Drew, 2017). The podcast can be accessed by anyone from anywhere in the World. The use of digital media players, popularized by Apple’s iPod, iTunes, and Juice is adapting among high school students (Evans, 2008; Drew, 2017).

According to Evans (2008), students can earn more trust that podcasts are more effective pedagogical tools than their textbooks and they are more energy-saving than their notes in helping them to understand and memorize. This study indicates that they are more adapting to the learning pattern in the form of a podcast than a traditional lecture or textbook. In addition, this study also suggests that the use of podcasts has potential advantages for students in terms of time management regarding learning, revise, memorize and understanding the particular chapter (Evans, 2008). In Nepal, this technique is also implemented in higher education for open and distance learning of a few subject matters which mostly used information and technology. E.g. Nepal Open University.

Protocol for making Podcast

• Choose the topic

• Conduct research and organize your ideas

• Equipment selection for recoding podcast

• Recording Podcast

• Edit Podcast

• Submission for publishing podcast.

• Release of podcast 

Significance of Podcast in Education

• The podcast is downloadable to a mobile device, students can study learning materials anytime, anywhere with very little effort. E.g. Apple podcasts.

• Students can make themselves prepare a podcast regarding some particular content.

• Revision of the previous classes by using recorded podcasts.

• It will be easy for those who missed the classes.

• It enhances the consistency of the learning experience of the student.

• This technique will be helpful for those students who have mental and visual disabilities

Limitations of Podcast

• Accessibility for some audiences who are not reaching the internet.

• Finding and reaching podcasts in audiences will be difficult because so many podcasts available on google and iTunes.

• IP and copyright will be difficult to protect.

• Podcasts will be difficult for those who have disabilities in hearing

In conclusion, Podcasting provides an opportunity for educators to easily broadcast engaging audio content in the digital network and online platform where students can access it easily from anywhere. A podcast is an emerging innovating learning tool that has many potential impacts on education and upscales higher education services among adult learners.

References

Drew, C. (2017). Edutaining audio: An exploration of education podcast design possibilities. Educational Media International, 54(1), 48-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523987.2017.1324360.

Evans, C. (2008). The effectiveness of m-learning in the form of podcast revision lectures in higher education. Computers & Education, 50(2) 491-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2007.09.016.

Kidd, W. (2012). Utilising podcasts for learning and teaching: a review and ways forward for e-Learning cultures. Management in Education, 26(2), 52-57. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0892020612438031.

 

MOOC- To study the dissection of Frog

 Introduction

Frogs are vertebrate amphibians commonly used in dissection for biology laboratories to study morphological and anatomical structure. Although the structural features of humans and frogs have a huge difference but the basic body plan is similar.  The study of the anatomy of frogs will explore and understand the various anatomical structure and how they work.  In addition, It also emphasizes the evolutionary adaptations regarding how they change an aquatic life to life on land. This experiment requires a few essential materials for the dissection of the frog.  

Materials Required

Provide each work area with the following materials:

1. Frog specimens
2. Dissecting Pad
3. Dissection Box
4. Protocol for Frog Dissection
5. Paper towel or Tissue paper
6. Gloves

Safety

1. Wear gloves and appropriate apron before handing and dissecting of the frog specimens.
2. Be careful during handling of dissecting instruments.
3. Wash your hands with soap after carrying out an experiment.

Observe external morphology of Frog

1. Place the preserved frog in your dissecting tray
2. Observe the frog. Feel the smooth and pliable skin. Note the coloration on all parts of the body.
3. The division of a frog’s body includes the head, trunk, and limbs or legs as shown in Figure 1. All frogs lack necks and tails. Examine the front and hind limbs of the frog. Find the digits, which are finger-like projections on the forelimbs and hind limbs. Locate the hind limbs, which are the longer and more muscular limbs of the frog. A hind limb consists of a thigh, shank, ankle, foot, and webbed toes. Locate the forelimbs, which are shorter than the hind limbs. A forelimb consists of an upper arm, wrist, hand, and fingers.
4. Looking at the head, identify the 2 external nares at the head’s tip. These function as a means of respiration.
5. Find the round tympanic membranes that form the frog’s external sound receptors. You will find these on the backside of the eyes.
6. Look closely at the eyes and attempt to find the frog’s third eyelid; this is the nictitating membrane that moistens and protects the eye. As the frog is deceased, this will appear as a cloudy eyelid attached at the bottom of the eye; however, it would appear clear in a living frog.
7.  Identify the cloaca, located at the specimen’s posterior end. The cloacal opening provides the function of exit for all urinary, reproductive, and digestive systems.
8. Reposition the frog to lie on its dorsal side.
9. Carefully cut the jaw joints on each side of the mouth to enable you to open the mouth wide.
10. Locate the glottis (leads to the lungs) and esophagus opening (leads to the stomach).
11. Conduct a dental analysis. You will find 2 sets of teeth. Firstly, locate the fine maxillary teeth lining the upper jaw. Secondly, locate the two prominent vomerine teeth located behind the mid-region of the upper jaw.
12. On the sides of the roof of the frog’s mouth, you should see 2 openings; the eustachian tubes that lead to the tympanic membranes you identified earlier. The function of these tubes is to aid in pressure equalization.

Figure 1 Showing external morphology of frog (https://www.unilearn.net.au)

Examine the anatomical various structure of frog

Figure 2 showing dissection manual of Frog (https://www.unilearn.net.au)

1. Place the frog on the dissecting tray, the ventral surface facing up.
2. Using scissors, cut into the frog’s abdomen. To do this, pinch the skin at the frog’s stomach and make a small cut at the center.
3. Slice through the skin, keeping your cuts as straight and clean as possible. Follow the cutting pattern in Figure 2.
4. Using the same pattern, slice through the layers of muscle until you reveal the internal organs beneath.
5. Locate the frog’s liver in the abdomen body cavity; it will be comparatively large in size and brown. The largest internal organ, the liver consists of 3 lobes.
6. Reposition the liver lobes to reveal gallbladder beneath. The gallbladder, which stores bile, will appear significantly smaller and greenish.

Identify the following major organs of the frog  as shown in Figure 3:

1. Stomach
2. Small intestine
3. Large intestine
4. Spleen
5. Heart
6. Lungs
7. Fat Bodies
8. Ovaries
9. Oviduct
10. Kidney

Figure 3 showing the anatomical structure of the frog (https://media.vwr.com)

Video tutorial: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8Ysek4Vac

Sources

• https://www.astephensscience.com/uploads/4/0/7/3/40734789/forg_dissection_2017.pdf
• https://www.southernbiological.com/frog-dissection/
• https://www.unilearn.net.au/Courses/Labs/UNL44/ACT6/Frog%20Dissection%20additional%20information.pdf
• https://media.vwr.com/emdocs/scied/frog_guide_03.pdf

Digitalization of Contents

Digitization is the process of transforming data and information into electronic format. The contents of documents are digitally added to the website through a specific digital format. There are a lot of texts, cartoons and figures are sequentially organized of certain title in the digital platform. In recent trends, the digital contents are very essential regarding different professional sectors like industries, Bank, Hospital, universities, etc. for conserving, sharing, and accessible all the information across the globe.  

The forms of digital content may be digitally broadcast video or audio files, photographs, updated weather forecasts, Gps maps, ebooks, and computer-aided format files such as Pdf, docs, etc. For example, the websites such as https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov were developed to preserved and easily accessible high-impact biomedical research articles, DNA, RNA data, and other necessary medical data. The revolutionary new era of globalization is greatly emphasized on the digitization of various subject matter contents. When we talk about the new era, first of all, we must to mentioned Artificial intelligence (AI). AI is based on the rigorously simulated digitization of various physical data by computer-based applications to mimic human-like actions. However, with the digitalization of content, we also face several challenges like human resources, complexity, funding, piracy, and web-based threats, etc.

Advantages of Digitation of Contents

·        Upscale the  productivity

·        Cost-effective

·        Easily accessible

·        Updated security

Disadvantages

·        Chance of piracy

·        Privacy concerns

·        Complexity

·        Data duplication

Ubiquitous learning

Ubiquitous learning is the platform where people learn from everywhere by using mobile or computer or wireless networks. The objective of this technique is to play the learners of course content anywhere. This learning process is based on actual life experience and virtual information which is being used by learners and learners surrounding. 

This technique is a novel educational tool that is possibly used to access digital media. The content of subject matter, project, and linking with system and people. Chiu et. al. (2008) suggested that the learning environment in ubiquitous computing technologies utilizing context-aware and encourage the motive and performance of learners. he pointed out some major characteristics of u-learning as follows: the urgency of learning need, an initiative of knowledge acquisition, interactivity of learning process, situation of instructional activity, context-awareness, actively provides personalized services, self-regulated learning, seamless learning, adapt the subject contents, and learning community.

The U-learning technique is the conversion of the old education system to an e-learning platform.  This technique is used to upscale the user understanding level at an extreme level from anywhere in the world. Furthermore, this technique reveals researchers to understand the concept of u-learning and help to design the plan and its applications.

Evolutionary pattern of COVID-19 virus

 

The novel coronavirus, 2019-nCov (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the RNA virus family.  The RNA virus has the capability of frequent rates of mutation and replication. Over the last two-three decades it has become progressively mutated many RNA viruses which favor the capacity to exchange genetic material with one another, and to acquire genes from their hosts, to this evolutionary repertoire. Nucleotide substitution has been identified as a molecular mechanism for the evolution of novel RNA viruses in nature.

Bats are the natural host and evolutionary reservoir of coronaviruses. Researchers suggested that coronaviruses in humans are derived from the bat host. The recent whole-genome sequence identity of the novel coronavirus has 96.2% similarity to bat SARS-related coronavirus. It has also been confirmed that the SARS-CoV-2 uses the same receptor, as SARS-CoV to bind the host cell. Based on the findings of genomic investigations and the presence of some bats and live animals in the seafood market in Wuhan, SARS-CoV-2 may have originated from bats or bat droppings associated with contaminated materials in the market or the surrounding region. However the specific route of transmission from natural reservoirs to humans remains unknown.

Recently, the most infected case of 2019-2020 of COVID-19 Virus has single nucleotide mutation of the ORFs region, a protein that is responsible for the Bat to Human transition. Scientific studies suggest that COVID-19 Virus has variable new mutations observed from country to country which results in resistance of the antiviral drugs. Because of this scientific communities are facing serious challenges regarding the development of drugs and vaccines against new strains of viruses. The same limitations also apply to other deadly RNA viruses such as SARS or MERS which had been previously outbreak.

COVID-19 virus highly contagious which is easily transmitted human to human via respiratory droplets or direct contact and becoming pandemic all over the world. To decrease the damage associated with COVID-19, Nepalese public health authorities urgently needed to increase Infrastructure of the high tech molecular based-laboratory for monitoring of the viral outbreaks and infection control strategies to the limit the national spread of the virus.

Although the Public needs to strictly follow the WHO guidelines such as avoid close contact, wash hands frequently, avoid touch with eyes, nose, mouth and practice respiratory hygiene to protect ourselves and others. Lastly, the Government of Nepal should be maximizing the fund for investigating science and technology. So biomedical researchers will be preparing and ready for the next level of threats and boost public health in the future.

Author: Pradip Kumar Chaudhary: Freelance Biotechnology Researcher