APPRECIATION COURSE ON ENVIRONMENT

Course Code: ACE

Developed in collaboration
with
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
Government of India

PROGRAMME GUIDE

School of Sciences
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110
Delhi 068

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 Contents

Page No.
1. Introduction …….………………………… 3
2. Course Components …….………………………… 3

3. Modes of Course Completion …….………………………… 3

4. Duration …….………………………… 4

5. Print Material …….………………………… 4

6. Contact Programme …….………………………… 5

7. Project Work …….………………………… 7
8. Student Feedback …….………………………… 9

Cover photograph : Tiger striped butterfly (Danaus genutia)

Courtesy : Prof. Shubha M. Gokhale

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1. INTRODUCTION
The area of environment is increasingly catching the attention of people. It has been observed that
many individuals who have the benefit of education and are actively engaged in their professions
often have a strong desire to educate themselves on environmental matters. They also want to play a
significant role in environmental management of their neighbourhood. Sometimes, due to
misinformation or availability of excessive information on a subject these individuals despite their
enlightened backgrounds are not able to make significant contributions. Owing to these reasons the
Appreciation Course on Environment (ACE) has been developed by the University in collaboration
with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India as a non-credit
awareness course.

The objectives of this course are to:

• disseminate information on national and international environmental issues;

• create environmental consciousness among professionals, academicians, members of society

who can play an active part in opinion making within the society so that corrective
environmental action could be encouraged; and

• facilitate development of environmental leadership among individuals who may

organize/participate in environment upgradation programmes.

2. COURSE COMPONENTS

The course consists of:

i) Print Material for self study; and
ii) Contact Programme comprising:
• Tele- / Web-conference sessions,
• Audio / Video and Counselling sessions, and
• Project Assessment Workshop.

More details on these are given in Sections 5 and 6.

3. MODES OF COURSE COMPLETION

This course can be completed in two modes:

Mode 1: Awareness mode
Mode 2: Certification mode

Mode 1: Awareness mode

This mode gives one the flexibility to study the print material and perform the activities suggested
therein as per ones convenience. There is no formal assessment for this mode. A Contact Programme
that is optional, its schedule is given in Section 6 may be attended to enrich and update ones learning
experience.

Mode 2: Certification mode

For this mode, besides pursuing the study of print material one has to successfully complete a Project
Work for earning Certificate of Participation. The details pertaining to Project Work are given in
Section 7 and some tips for pursuing this mode of study are as follows:

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One may begin the study of print materials and perform the suggested activities in two months’ time.
This would equip one with the requisite knowledge and help in choosing a topic for the Project Work.
Knowing in advance the deadline for completion of Project Work as mentioned in Section 7 and that
it is to be presented in the Project Assessment Workshop may be helpful in making the necessary
preparations.

4. DURATION

The duration of the course is 3 months. It is expected that all the activities outlined for the course be
completed in this period. If one is not able to complete the Project Work and present it in the Project
Assessment Workshop of the cycle of registration it may be done in the subsequent cycle after
obtaining the requisite permission from the Regional Director / Course In-charge at the
Regional Centre.

5. PRINT MATERIAL

The print material consists of three blocks, each having a number of units. These have been developed
and presented in a self study format after extensive deliberations and scrutiny by experts from this
subject area, the language experts and the distance education technologists. The contents of these
blocks can be gauged from their unit titles as mentioned below:

BLOCK 1 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Unit 1 Why is Environment Important?
Unit 2 Natural Resources
Unit 3 Development and Environment
Unit 4 Development and Environmental Pollution
Unit 5 Environment and Human Health

BLOCK 2 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Unit 6 Conservation and Management of Environment
Unit 7 Resource Management
Unit 8 Environmental Quality Management

BLOCK 3 IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT

Unit 9 Eco-friendly Technologies
Unit 10 Environmental Legislation
Unit 11 Global Issues and Concerns

It would be useful to get familiarized with the format of a block. The first page of each block lists the
numbers and titles of the units comprising the block. This is followed by Credit Page, Course
Introduction in first block, and Block Introduction in each block. These would give one an overview
of the course and the block respectively. The objectives listed in the beginning of each unit outline as
to what is expected to be accomplished in the unit. At the end of the unit there are some suggested
activities to consolidate ones learning, a Summary of the main points covered in the unit and some
references for Further Reading on the various topics dealt with in the unit. It is recommended that the
latest editions of the books / references may be referred to for getting the updated facts and figures.

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6. CONTACT PROGRAMME

A three-day Contact Programme as per the details given below will be held at the Regional
Centre where one is registered for the course. This advance information would help to schedule
time for this period.
• For January - March Cycle the Contact Programme would be held in the third week of March
(Days: Wednesday to Friday, Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). If the number of students is more than 15,
the time schedule of the Contact Programme may be extended for the Project Assessment
Workshop on Friday.

• For July - September Cycle the Contact Programme would be held in the third week of
September (Days: Wednesday to Friday, Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). If the number of students is
more than 15, the time schedule of the Contact Programme may be extended for the Project
Assessment Workshop on Friday.

Activity Schedule of the Contact Programme

Day Activities

Day 1, Wednesday Tele- / Web-conference sessions

Session 1, From 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Session 2, From 12:00 noon to 12:45 p.m.
Session 3, From 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

These sessions give opportunity to Students to interact on

topical themes pertaining to environment through one-way
video and two-way audio transmission with Resource Persons at
IGNOU Headquarters and the invited Experts and Students at
Regional Centres.

Day 2, Thursday Audio-Video Programmes

Programmes can be chosen from the list given on p.6
and
Face-to-face Interaction with an Environmental Expert
This gives opportunity to the students for:
• clarification of concepts,
• discussion on the latest issues and developments pertaining
to environment, and
• share ideas and experiences about various aspects of
environment.

Day 3, Friday Project Assessment Workshop

Presentation of Project Reports by the students and the
participative evaluation by Environmental Expert, Course In-
charge at the Regional Centre and fellow students is envisaged
in this session.

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 List of Audio & Video Programmes

Audio Programmes Video Programmes

1 Radiation: a fact of life 1 The story of a river
2 Renewable energy in action 2 Barren land - an ongoing concern
3 Population pressure 3 Cherrapunjee - the contradiction
4 The forest ecosystem 4 Umiam Lake - the gem under threat
5 Environment : our life support system 5 The healing herbs
6 fofdj.k % thou dk ,d rF; 6 Music of life
7 vikjaifjd ÅtkZ dk fodkl 7 Biomagnification
8 Tkula[;k o`f) - leL;k vkSj lek/kku 8 Chilika - our natural heritage
9 Oku ikfjfLFkfrd ra= 9 Biosphere at a glance - terrestrial biome
10 i;kZoj.k ,oa thoeaMy 10 We the people - Film 1: The environment
11 çnw"k.k®a ds çdkj ,oa buls futkr 11 We the people - Film 2: The price we pay
12 i;kZoj.k vlarqyu ,oa bldk çHkko 12 We the people - Film 3: Towards a sustainable world
13 ikfjra= ,oa blds ÄVd 13 Where the tallest grass grows
20 Megha (the cloud)
21 Agriculture and environment
22 Conservation of water resources
23 Contemporary environmental issues and development
24 Remote sensing and GIS in environment management
25 Observing Weather
26 Predicting Weather
27 Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere
28 Insolation and Atmospheric Temperature
29 Progress in Climatology: Satellite Climatology and GIS
30 Weather Data Recording and Weather Forecasting
31 Applied Climatology
32 ,d unh dh dgkuh
33 Ckatj /kjrh - gfj;kyh dh vksj
34 Pksjkiwath - ,d viokn
35 Lkathouh - iz—fr dk vuqnku
36 fpydk % gekjh izk—frd fojklr
37 Ekkuo Ik;kZoj.k ij 'kgjhdj.k dk izHkko

These programmes can also be accessed from the following link at the University Website:
www.ignou.ac.in > About IGNOU > Schools of Studies > School of Sciences (SOS) > Programmes >
Appreciation Course on Environment (ACE) > Audio Programmes / Video Programmes

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7. PROJECT WORK

• Preparation of a Project Report and its presentation in the Project Assessment Workshop is
compulsory for certification.

• Guidelines for doing the Project Work and its evaluation Scheme are given below:

One is required to undertake a project of one’s interest on a theme connected with the
environment. An activity amongst the list of activities given in each unit may be extended as
Project Work. In addition, some suggested topics for Project Work are given at the end of this
section.

About 30 hours may be allocated to Project Work. During this time activities like choosing the
topic, exploring and collecting data or facts, presenting findings and concluding project study in
the form of Project Report.

The Project Report may be in 20-25 pages of A4-size, either handwritten or typed in double
space. One copy of the Project Report is to be submitted to the Regional Director / Course
In-charge at the Regional Centre before the Project Assessment Workshop.

The Project Work would be evaluated in a participative manner in the Project Assessment
Workshop in which the Course In-charge at the Regional Centre, the External Expert and the Peer
Group would participate. One is required to make a short presentation about the Project Work
during the Project Assessment Workshop as per the schedule given in Section 6. The Project
Work Evaluation Scheme is given below.

On the successful completion of the Project Work a Certificate of Participation would be

awarded by the Regional Director of the Regional Centre.

Project Work Evaluation Scheme

Aspects of Project Work to be evaluated

Marks
1. Topic………………………………………………………………... 2
(Clear, directional, focused, feasible)
2. Objectives…………………………………………………………... 1
(achievable, detectable, measurable)
3. Procedure……………………………………………………….…... 3
(Methods of data/facts collection)
4. Results and conclusions..…………………………………………... 3
(achievable, detectable, measurable)
5. Suggestions and Action line ……………………………………….. 2
(Specifying actions and people who are to perform them)
6. Presentation…………………………………………………….…… 4
(Both in Project Report, and at Project Assessment Workshop)

Total Marks 15

Successful Project Work…………………………………….. 8 Marks and above

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Some topics for Project Work

1. The best topic for project work is that interests one so that one’s total attention may be devoted
in its in-depth study and analysis.
2. A number of activities are given in each unit. One of them could be pursued as Project Work.
3. Impressions about nature – its components like wind, water, energy, plant life, birds, animals,
landscape and so on could be expressed by painting. The sensitive nature of artists can perceive
the details that are missed by many.
4. Writing an account on various international environment days of the year for generating
awareness about environment.
5. Preparing a document on the history of national environment days.
6. Writing poetry or making a collection of environment related poems is another area to reflect
perceptions pertaining to different environmental issues and problems and even their solutions.
7. Filming / recording ones observations during sunset and sunrise for 10 days at a place.
8. Tracing the development of a flower to fruit of a plant.
9. Photography – wildlife or any aspect of environment or nature. A collection of ten such
photographs with their brief write-ups can form a Project.
10. Reviewing a book on environment. A book can be chosen from the list of the references given
at the end of the units or from the newspapers or journals that regularly apprise readers about
the newly published books on environment.
11. Study of the impact of Metro-train project works on the local environment.
12. Recording from one’s experience about climate change in a region since last 25 years is another
area for Project Work. One may also discuss about it with one’s family members and
neighbours and prepare a detailed account on the changes that have occurred.
13. Making a short film on an aspect of environment with a cellphone/camera.
14. Presenting a case-study detailing as to how solution of an environmental problem in an area was
found or how an environmental issue was addressed.
15. Study and review of National Environment Policy of India. This document can be downloaded
from the following website address of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate
Change : http://envfor.nic.in/
16. Preparing a layout design for an Environment Newspaper suggesting ways of sustaining its
publication.
17. Setting up an environmental campaign for a sustainable lifestyle for a community.
18. Presentation of a detailed account on the ways of management of environmental conflicts such
as relocation of tribals from their native places, non-availability of natural resources to the local
populations, and effects of globalization on environment of a region.
19. Preparation of a blueprint of sustainable wildlife conservation.

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8. STUDENT FEEDBACK

Dear Student,

We look forward to your feedback regarding the design, contents and delivery of the course. Your
feedback on any other aspect is also welcome. The mailing address is given at the back of this page.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Course Coordinator, ACE

Space for writing your feedback

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Space for writing your feedback

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Please
affix postal
stamp
here
To,
The Course Coordinator
Appreciation Course on Environment (ACE)
School of Sciences
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi
New Delhi-110 068

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Sender’s Enrolment No. and Address

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