BEST PRACTICES

Best Practice-1

Title of the Practice: LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION: SENIORS TO JUNIORS VOLUNTARY TEACHING

Mekliganj College is implementing a practice where senior alumni teach juniors, promoting positive outcomes, confidence, communication, and a caring environment, while also developing understanding and patience.

The objective of the Practice

The practice aims to improve leadership, communication, and teaching skills among senior students and alumni, enhance academic performance, build confidence, and foster community among junior students.

 The Context

The college has introduced a platform for senior students and alumni to mentor junior students, aiming to bridge academic gaps and foster a culture of mutual learning, enhancing the overall educational experience.

The Practice

Our college has introduced an innovative practice where advanced and meritorious senior students from upper semesters and alumni take on the responsibility of teaching their juniors. This initiative fosters several positive outcomes among both senior and junior students.

For Senior Students and Alumni:

• Enhances Subject Mastery: To effectively teach juniors, seniors and alumni must thoroughly review and master topics through preparation for teaching.
• Develops Communication Skills: Teaching requires clear and effective communication. Seniors and alumni must articulate complex concepts in an understandable manner, thereby improving their communicative abilities.
• Promotes Empathy and Patience: Teaching juniors requires patience and empathy, which are valuable qualities for seniors and alumni to develop, enhancing their understanding and support.

For Junior Students:

• Improves Academic Performance: By providing juniors with individualized help and clarification on difficult subjects, the teaching model fosters a more relatable and less scary learning environment.
• Builds Confidence: With guidance from seniors, juniors feel more confident in their studies. The mentorship helps them tackle challenging subjects and boost their academic self-esteem.
• Creates a Supportive Community: Juniors benefit from a sense of community and shared learning experiences, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual support, thereby strengthening student bonds.

Our alumnus, Ranjit Roy, an expert in Yoga, has been voluntarily teaching juniors its practical aspects, highlighting the physical, mental, and emotional benefits.

Evidence of Success

• Improved Academic Performance: Academic records show a noticeable improvement in the performance of junior students who participated in the programme.
• Enhanced Confidence: Junior students feel more confident in their academic abilities after being mentored by seniors. They report feeling more comfortable approaching complex subjects and seeking help.
• Positive Feedback: Both juniors and seniors have provided positive feedback, with seniors appreciating the chance to improve their teaching and leadership skills, and juniors appreciating the mentorship provided.
• Increased Engagement: There has been a significant increase in student engagement and participation in academic activities, particularly in the departments where the practice is actively implemented.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Problems Encountered:

Resources Required:

Best Practice 1 (View Document)

 

 

Best Practices II

Title of the Practice: “Dedicated Library Service: Enhancing Education for Students, Staff & Community"

 

Introduction

Mekliganj College has a dedicated library service that plays a pivotal role in enhancing the educational experience of the students and the local community. It serves as a center of knowledge, providing its users access to a wide range of resources and services to support their academic pursuits, which would have otherwise been impossible without access to the college library. 

Objectives of the Practice

• To equip students with necessary academic skills.
• To enhance students' information literacy skills and utilize library services to foster connections within and beyond the college.
• To develop students’ digital literacy skills by providing necessary assistance.
• To bridge the knowledge and information gap between rural and urban education by providing access to the local community .

The Context

Mekliganj College, situated in a remote rural area, requires a dedicated library service to support academic growth and personal development. Due to limited access to resources and technology, the college faces a number of obstacles, especially for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Instances of Best Practices

1. Diverse Collection: The library has a diverse collection of resources, including text and reference books, journals, e-books, and multimedia materials. This ensures that students have access to a wide range of information, catering to different learning styles and academic needs.

2. Digital Access: Given the geographical constraints of rural areas, providing digital access to library resources is crucial for college students. The college library has a good volume of online databases, e-books, and digital archives that students can access remotely.

3. User-Friendly Environment: 3 Within its limited scope, the library has a welcoming and comfortable space that encourages students to spend time here. This includes a quiet study area inside the reading room, an open access facility, OPAC service, an automated circulation system and a prompt delivery mechanism.

4. Providing Training and Support to Students and Staff: The 'Library Orientation Programme' offers students guidance on resource usage. It also provides staff support through workshops on information literacy, research skills, and digital resource usage.

5. DEAR Initiative: The college library has launched a monthly 'Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)' initiative to encourage everyone present in the college campus to take a break from their daily routines and immerse themselves in the world of books for one hour (2:00 PM to 3:00 PM) on first Friday of every month .

6. Expanding Access to Local People: A limited access to library resources is available to local communities and students from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, aiming to enhance educational opportunities, foster intellectual curiosity, strengthen community ties, and promote cultural exchange.

Evidence of Success

Student footfalls have significantly increased after introducing the fully automated library service. Teachers and students now visit the library regularly in search of fulfilling their academic pursuits. Some local community members and students of other institutes regularly visit the college library 

Problems Encountered and Resources Required  

The college library is in need of a larger space and better infrastructure including a wider reading area for which a substantial amount of funding is required. 

Conclusion

A dedicated library service in a rural college located in one of the remotest parts of West Bengal should be regarded as a cornerstone of rural educational infrastructure. 

 

Best Practice 2 (View Document)