In association
with B.ed curriculum, the first year students of Kaviyattu College of Education
went for a field trip on 21 December 2021. The name of the one day trip was ‘itvara’.
Itvara is a Sanskrit word which means ‘traveller’. The purpose of the trip was
to create a friendly atmosphere outside the classroom, to strengthen
observation and perception skills, and to add relevance to learning and
interrelationships.
Field trip can
take students to locations that are unique and cannot be duplicated in the
classroom. Each students observes natural setting and creates personally
relevant meaning to the classroom. Interactive exhibits help the students play
with concepts, activities often not possible in classroom. A one day trip to
Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary helped students to get an experience which is beyond
the four walls of classroom.
The theme of the
trip was nature and rehabilitation. The natural beauty and greenery of Neyyar
Wildlife Sanctuary had given a chance to go “into the wild again”. It
encouraged to look more into the way of nature, there by boosting creativity
and aesthetic sense. A visit to Neyyar dam has reminded of the artistic psyche
and architectural ideas people had way back in 1950s. A glance to Crocodile and
Deer rehabilitation has given a memorable experience and a thought on the
reasons for extinction of animals. Visiting elephant rehabilitation centre in
Kottoor marks to be a pleasant and remarkable event.
The field trip created
a cherishable memory in everyone. More than a memory, it created a room to
think more on conservation of nature and vegetation. It also helped to
establish the rapport between students and teachers.
OBJECTIVES
1.
To provide first hand experience
2.
To add relevance to learning and inter relationships
3.
To
strengthen observation and perception skills
4.
To
promote personal development
5.
To
include feeling of oneness
6.
To help
students to evoke the feeling of confidence
The journey began on 21st
December 2021. We started from Kaviyattu
College of Education. There were students from English, Social Science, Physical
Science, Natural Science, Mathematics and teachers. around 50 students and
teachers attended the trip. We hired a
tourist bus. After having breakfast everyone assembled at the college by 8:00
AM. , by 8:40 AM we started our journey. By 10 am, we reached our first
destination, higher secondary school Neyyar dam.
Government higher secondary
school Neyyar dam is Situated in Kallikadu village. And is managed by
Department of Education. The school was established in 1954.
The classes offered are from 1 to 12.
The medium of instruction is Malayalam.
It is Co- educational and it have an attached
pre primary section. Our program began with the distribution of study materials
to the students. We offered them notebooks, pens, pencils, etc.
The teaching faculties of the school
wholeheartedly welcomed us . A small meeting was organised in the school
auditorium where the study materials were distributed to the students.
Headmistress, Sreelatha Madam talked about the school and its activities. An
interaction with the students were made possible. Sreelatha Madam in her speech
mentioned the history of the school. The school was initially a hostel arranged
by the Panchayath for the construction workers of Neyyar dam. Slowly the
workers demanded for a teaching facility for their children in that place.
Later in 1954, the venture has officially been established as Neyyar dam school.
The school campus is eco
friendly. It has separate buildings for each sections. The names of rivers were
given to each blocks. The classrooms are in good condition and technologically
oriented. Proper toilet facilities were provided for the students. Language
labs and computer labs were operational. Good library facility was given to
students. Activities of National
Service Scheme was encouraged in the school.
There was a clean and tidy kitchen working in school. There was bus facility
arranged for the students. The campus was neat and well maintained.
The visit to school had a great
impact on student trainees. In fact, it had given a vision into the life of
teachers. The teachers of the school were very friendly. They guided us to each
sections of the school and allowed us to interact with children. The classrooms
were beautifully decorated with chart papers , flash cards created by students.
LCD projectors where placed in each and every class making the process of
learning easier and interesting. Children were very smart and enthusiastic.
They welcomed us with their smiling faces and smart replies. Headmistress was a
very kind and generous lady. She patiently explained the working of the school.
Madam is a perfect example of a good teacher. She is humble and well behaved.
Since we are trainee teachers
visit to school, to an extent helped to frame an idea about the atmosphere of
school. The green campus gives a calm and quiet atmosphere which helps children
to concentrate more on studies. Considering all these merits and quality of
education , there is no wonder that
government higher secondary school Neyyar dam has been selected as model school
by Department of Education.
Waving goodbye to the school, we
then went to see Neyyar dam. There was a big arch written Neyyar dam in the
entrance. After getting the admission pass we began walking in the compound. Neyyar
dam is famous for nature lovers and wild lovers. The dam was constructed in
1958 and is also part of Neyyar wildlife sanctuary. It is a gravity dam located
at the foot of Western Ghats. Wildlife include Gaur, Sloth bear, Nilgiri Thar, Jungle cat, wild elephant and Sambar deer.
Neyyar wildlife sanctuary is
situated at the basin of Neyyar river which is formed because of the merger of Neyyar river and its tributaries Mullayar and Kallar. The beauty of this
sanctuary is further adorned with a couple of water reservoirs Agasthyamalai
and Neyyar reservoir. This place has varied topographical features extending
from reversed plateau to mountain peaks.
Neyyar dam is a very beautiful
place. The compound was filled with different types of trees and well
maintained gardens. There are a lot of official buildings and resorts inside
the compound. One of the most attractive architecture was an old post office.
The building is very old, most probably built 50 or 60 years ago. There were
canteen facility and small refreshment shops. There were sculptures in the
compound. These sculptures were made as part of Kerala Tourism project. The sculptures
include a man rowing a houseboat, a farmer and presentation of kathakali. These
sculptures are very relevant and they remind of the rich, old tradition and
culture of Kerala.
While going towards the upper
position of the dam a beautiful scene of the reservoir catches our eyes. It is
greenery all over. In distance at the other end of the dam we could see the
board of Lion safari park , probably that is Marakkunnam island. Due to Covid
protocol, we were not able to enjoy boat ride and visit to safari park. One of
the other attraction of the place is a watchtower. The top of the watchtower
gives an aerial view of the dam which is commendable. There were vendors in the
road offered homemade Pickles.
One of the most attractive thing
about Neyyar dam is that it is not crowded we never feel the disturbance of
vehicles. This is the reason why it is most chosen tourist spot. Evenings are
very beautiful that cold breeze filled all over the place giving a soothing
effect.
Then we went to the Crocodile Rehabilitation
Center which is near the dam. We took a walk through the road to reach
crocodile park. The road run by the side of the reservoir. It was a very
beautiful seen to be observed. Though it was known time the shades of the trees
has given us a peaceful walk.
Crocodile rehabilitation center
and Research Center commonly known as Steve Irwin park is used as
rehabilitation and breeding centre for crocodiles. The crocodile park have
around 40 crocodiles which could be seen at their naturalistic setting - lazing
around. Years before, the place was full of crocodiles. Some of the crocodile
breeds were released into Neyyar dam hence the dam site and waters were
considered to be infested with crocodiles. The life of people on the banks of
the dam was very dangerous. Even now any ventures into water sports in dam is
dangerous.
The way to Steve Irwin park is
filled with medicinal plants which are well arranged. The names along with
their scientific names are marked in each plant. One of the speciality noticed
there is arrangement of plants according to the birth star. Alligators and
crocodiles where displayed in the park. Different concrete cages were built for
each crocodile or alligator. First site
of them made us think that they are clay
models, but soon blinking of their eyes made us belief that they are alive. The
body of the crocodiles were too rough and it looked like bark of the trees.
After visiting the crocodile park
we went to have lunch. We return Neyyar dam compound, made ourselves
comfortable under the tree sheets and started having lunch. This interactive
session helped to establish a rapport with classmates and teachers. Games were
played in the open area. We spend time till 1:50 PM chatting with friends and
staff in Neyyar dam. That was a memorable experience. Due to corona no such
gatherings were allowed for the past two years so this experience of meeting
everyone was special.
Around 1:50 PM after lunch we
board the bus and began our journey towards Deer Park. The road was narrow, and
it extended through the banks of Neyyar reservoir. It was beautiful sight.
After travelling thirty minutes by 2:20 PM we reached Deer Park. Deer Park is
situated on roadside. A large forest area is fenced. There were 30 or 40
spotted deers housed in the dense tropical forest. The rehabilitation center
has a concrete enslavement where the deers are rehabilitated and let free into
the forest. Seeing the deers in the park had made us think about preservation
of nature and the distortion of livelihood of animals due to deforestation.
This is a serious issue to be discussed.
We began our journey by 2:55 PM. We
reached Kottor Elephant Rehabilitation Centre. It was started in 2006 as an
elephant sanctuary by 2019 Kerala government has announced a project to expand
it as an elephant rehabilitation centre with international standards. When
completed, it will become the largest rehabilitation Center for elephant in the
world. At present, 16 elephants are there at the centre including the oldest
elephant in India, Soman. One of the major attraction at Kottoor is the
elephant parade. It is held on every weekend in which all elephants take part.
In the parade, all elephants move in a lion, with each of the elephant holding
the tail of the other one in front of them with their trunk. Another attraction
is bamboo rafting.
After seeing elephants and the
facilities provided there we started our journey back at 4:00 PM. It was a
wonderful trip. On the way back we stopped at
shop for refreshment. It was a small tea shop in the remote side of the
village. A one day trip near dam was a memorable event. There were lot of
things to enjoy and understand. Around 6:30 PM we reached college and everyone departed
to their homes.
Field trips are pleasurable
experience in one’s life. It is an unforgettable and rewarding experience. It
was a combination of educational content with team building activities. It
provided an opportunity to see, learn and understand nature more deeply. More
than a pleasure trip visit to Neyyar dam put forward questions of Conservation
of Nature.
School observation conducted at
government higher secondary school Neyyar dam is the most valuable event in the
entire trip. What are the qualities and responsibilities of a teacher is being
shown by the faculties in the school. They also showed that the basic nature of
a teacher should be love and perseverance. Visit to crocodile park and Deer
Park helped to know more about the habitat of them. Visit to Kottoor is another
remarkable event of the trip. We could see young elephant of age two and older
one aging more than 70.
Overall, the field trip to Neyyar
dam is a remarkable experience. Field trips are always necessary in
curriculums. Field trips are helpful in enhancing the critical and aesthetic
thinking. Also plays a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between
students and students with teachers.
