Faculty Innovations in Teaching and Learning

The faculty members of the Department have significantly inculcated various innovative practices to improve Teaching and Learning. Some of these activities include:

1. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT): The faculty members actively participate in the development of e-content, and computer-based training in order to meet technologically driven global needs. All classrooms are provided with internet which helps the faculty to use computers, power point presentations and other audio-visual aids to enhance the teaching skills and to facilitate the student learning. Audio and video materials are used to enhance learning resources by showing real-life scenarios and explaining concepts. Some of the examples of ICT Tools are presented here:

BP601T	PV and ARC	Moodle Site

2. Simulation models: These are the alternative models used to carry out experiments in pharmacology since animal studies are labor-intensive and costly. Hands on skills on live animals are not essential for undergraduate pharmacy students. Therefore, simulation models are a better replacement for animal experiments that will also avoid sacrificing animals which is an ethical concern.
3. Learning by doing: Faculty of the institution are actively involved in this unique method of teaching which not only enhances the hands-on experience but also helps the students to improve their practical skills. The students visit the field, observe the specimen, collect the voucher specimen of crude drug and then record on the spot character of crude drug which is required for authentication. The students are also trained to study micro morphological character of crude drug for correct identification. Students practice various techniques of section cutting of root, stem, leaves or floral buds required for the study of crude drugs.
4. Educational Software: Some of the software such as Chemdraw for structures of different chemical compounds, Pharma Series for pharmacological studies, Graphpad prism for statistical analysis are also a part of teaching and learning aids used on regular basis.
5. Seminars and Assignments: Apart from their internal and semester end examinations, students are regularly allotted minor projects such as seminars/assignments to evaluate their subject understanding. These help the students to develop their communication skills, leadership qualities, time management, conflict management and other soft skills along with the subject knowledge. Regular class tests and sessional exams are there to evaluate students’ performance, further continuous mode of assessment and assignments provides better way to judge quality of students during practical hours as students are asked to prepare for viva for particular predefined topics.
6. Informative Guest lectures: Apart from regular theory and practical classes, the faculty members also organize guest lectures pertaining to the curriculum where speakers from reputed institutions and industries share their knowledge on particular topics. This helps students to keep abreast of the profession.
7. Field trips and Industrial visits: Field trips and Industrial visits are considered as one of the tactical methods of teaching. With an aim to go beyond academics, industrial visits and field trips provide students with a practical perspective of their work. Moreover, it gives exposure from an academic point of view.

In addition to the above, faculty use interactive methods, project-based learning, experimental learning, models, videos, and informative charts to bring about innovations in teaching and learning. This way of teaching actually provides maximum time for discussion with students to attain the course objectives of subjects and probably to clarify the doubts of students effectively.