Prakruti Media Shala is a virtual exploratory of understanding nature for children, teachers, youth & common masses. It is based on the application of science media, gamification, and do-it-yourself methods. The development of Prakruti Media Shala is rooted from the Eco Eureka Kit that was recently developed by the Science Center(Gwl) Madhya Pradesh, with support from the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. The Eco Eureka Kit has the assembly of easy-to-assemble tools along with the activity manual that are useful for studying and examining nature and its components, namely Water, Soil, Biodiversity, Earth & Atmosphere, and Astronomy..
Prakruti Media Shala is the virtual version of the Eco Eureka Kit and it would help in creating a better understanding and awareness amongst various target groups about various phenomena of the natural environment and ecological processes by introducing an experiment-based approach to learning. By performing the activities using Eco Eureka Kit and with the help of ideas demonstrated at the virtual platform, people shall be able to understand the ecological processes and identify the natural as well as anthropogenic changes occurring in them..
In a way, it will serve as an accessible facility for learn by doing and doing by learning. This virtual platform will also provide an opportunity to learners and practitioners to develop their own ideas and innovative means to explore the nature and its components and share their ideas and experiences at this platform. The Prakruti Media Shala is an interactive platform where people from different sections of society will be able to understand the method of science, perform activities, and share their activities in the form of videos, photographs, remote videos, media clips, audios, etc., after registering as partners in this platform. This platform will help to own realisation that we all are part of the solution for nature's problems and we all can play a role in it..
The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) is an apex organization of the Department of Science and Technology Government of India, that is mandated to communicate science & technology to the masses, stimulate scientific and technological temper among young learners and coordinate and organise such efforts throughout the country. It is devoted towards societal upliftment through the dissemination of scientific knowledge in an informed manner and builds programmes with the help of different media, which percolate down to every nook and corner of society. The NCSTC focuses on outreach activities, training in science and technology communication, development, production & dissemination of technology, incentive programmes, and field-based Sci-Com projects research in science & technology communication, motivating students and teachers' environment awareness and programmes with a special component exclusively for women.
The NCSTC has developed various programs aiming at the promotion of scientific thinking and building capacity for informed decision-making in the community. These programs include organizing various events, outreach activities, trainings, and orientation; development, production, and dissemination of activity kits, etc. It also aspires to encourage children to ‘learn by doing’ so that they grow with a scientific temperament and later contribute to the nation-building with scientific aptitude.
To implement its programs, NCSTC has developed a multi-pronged effort that includes the use of mass and digital media for science communication and popularization; use of social media for science and technology popularization; campaigns over the year on scientific themes, etc. Most of its programs are implemented with the help of governmental and non-governmental partners. The Prakruti Media Shala is the virtual version of the Eco Eureka Kit, and both programs have been supported by the NCSTC.
Science Centre (Gwl.) Madhya Pradesh was also established in 1987 with a firm belief in a child-centric approach and started working in science popularization through the design & development of activity-based scientific programs. In 1988 Science Centre launched ‘People's Science Movement’ as its flagship program and organised science popularization activities in the most backward areas of Madhya Pradesh to help parents and, through them, their children get meaningful direction towards learning of day-to-day science, in an interesting way. In the course of ‘People's Science Movement’ various programmes and activities were undertaken at to reach common masses, school and college communities, these included programs on environment education, nature camps, surveys on status and health of local natural resources, science popularization rallies & marches (Vigyan Yatra), science quizzes, writings, shows & plays, workshops, trainings, seminars, shows on scientific explanation of miracles, use of mass media, folk arts, peoples’ science festivals, campaigns on local environmental issues, health centered activities and constitution of ‘Children’s Science Councils’ (Baal Vigyan Parishad) in schools etc.
Science Centre also designed, developed, and distributed modules and activity kits that would help in developing qualitative efficiency in the curricular and co-curricular learning opportunities, along with assuring equity at gender, economic class, social background, and geographical reach. A large number of training programmes were also organised for and in collaboration with other organizations in different parts of the country that helped in the wider spread of the ‘people's science movement.
One of the main contributions by the Science Center in popularization of child-centric approach in the country is the Children Science Congress (CSC) that was conceptualized and started in 1987 at the regional level, and after the launch of the Teachers Science Congress in 2000. Basic idea behind conceptualizing CSC and TSC was to demonstrate that it is possible to turn the learning of science into an enjoyable and creative pursuit that even within the frame work of the existing formal education system and it is possible to encourage children to learn the method of science by planning studies on local issues design & conduct experiments, collect data & information and analyse and derive solutions to the problems existing in the surrounding environment. The CSC was organised by the Science Centre (Gwl) Madhya Pradesh, successfully until 1993 when the NCSTC, Govt. of India awarded Science Centre with top award of science popularization for the period 1987-1991 and adopted CSC as one of their flagship programs as ‘National Children Science Congress’ (NCSC). In the year 2001, it was also awarded for science popularization among children, which was received by its founder secretary, Late Shri Arun Bhargava. The TSC was also adopted by the NCSTC as their flagship program in 2004 as ‘National Teachers Science Conference (NTSC). Science Centre has continued as state coordinating agency for National Children Science Congress (NCSC) and National Teachers Science Conference (NTSC) in Madhya Pradesh.
Realizing the need for an easy to assemble handy and multifunctional tool kits that would be useful to study both living and nonliving components of the environment their physical chemical and biological characteristics functions & interactions, Science Centre developed the Eco Eureka Kit that is useful to study and examine nature and its components that include Water, Soil, Biodiversity, Earth & Atmosphere and Astronomy. The Eco Eureka Kit and its virtual edition, the Prakruti Media Shala both are part of Science Centres peoples science movement with people centric approach. Both of these physical and virtual editions would also add into Indias contribution in achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-4 (SDG-4) which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
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Water is the intrinsic part of the global ecosystem. It incorporates in the global water cycle and is the source of life. In healthy form and ade...
Soil is the repository of the biogeochemical cycles Healthy soils lay at the foundations of agricultural development healthy and nutritious food ...
Biological diversity (in short Biodiversity) is the term that is used to describe the types and combinations of the life forms on the Earth. Ther...
Earth has conditions suitable to support life and thus is our home and we rely completely on it for our existence. The atmosphere surrounding the...
Astronomy is the natural science that includes study of celestial objects and all phenomenons that occur in the cosmos beyond earth’s atmos...
