WALO-2 Reflection - Abu Pre Trip 29/11/13 to 1/12/13 Teacher member Dept.

. of Geography - Sanjay Nath Reflection day 1, one more step towards quality learning, pre trip to Abu region was a great experience and at the same time to improvise and reflect on certain areas. As such this geographical region is one of the familiar regions for me; I have visited this place four times since 18 years on geological field trip. But this time as a learner and facilitator got the opportunity to become the part of the Abu pre-trip. My learning experiences with my fellow teachers and mentor was very fruitful and everlasting. I was also able to recall my earlier visits to this place, and at the same time I am reflecting on the best part of the pre trip that how I will able to create the opportunity and the skill base inquiry approach for our students in class room. Day -1, Way to Ambaji One of the interesting features was the Idar granitic boulders; it was an amazing experience to observe the gigantic formation. The massive formation of rock exposure has been under the influence of chemical reaction and exfoliation in large scale. Second interesting feature was folding on rocks layers, on the way towards Ambaji such structural formation only seen in books or documentaries. Massive folding with layers or rock like sandstone and quart vain, very clear fold was visible e.g. Normal, recumbent and overturned and complex just another wow thing for me. At that movement all our team members were mesmerized to see the power of nature and complexity both. The real learning take place better in the field and the experience gain was everlasting, at that moment I was thinking how well we can share such wonderful observation with our students. Third important reflection, that draw my attention that how to find the probable location of marble e.g. by looking at the darker part of the rock exposure surrounded by chemical reaction due to process called hydrolysis. We as an team of learners discusses and made inferences on the existing and past geological events, there were many exposure of marble was evident and how to identify such clues was explained by Sarva sir in sequence. No doubt it was exciting information for me and I was also reflecting on how to make the sequence of geological events for students to reach to such eventful geological formation and the understanding of the same. Forth important reflection was on exploring the deeper understand of the minerals found inside and around Ambaji mines. Locating the formation of (Gossan), this particular rock formation gave clues of probable minerals found at particular site. All of us on this site near GMDC look for Gossan and able to identify certain interesting minerals and rocks. I was also surprise when I got minerals appear similar like gelina, but it was Turmaline a fantastic sample of mineral appear crystal black in color, also identified a new mineral name Apedote appear green in color. Above observation and exploration was lead by Sarva sir once again, each one of us was very

eager to see such minerals found in the Ambaji GMDC mines and spent hours on understanding of such formations at this particular location. It was a wonderful and very fruitful track with many observations. In the evening we all of us came to one place and shared our personal reflection for the day. Day -2, Area - Morthala : (open cast mines): This time at the pre-trip track of Morthala, was very reveling and engaging, because it was my first pre trip and got enough time to explore the best possible areas. One very prominent reflection was, though my three visits to this place in the past and many times came across all such geological features, But not came across such beautiful formation of folds and its all types also fortunate to see good samples of Pegmatite and Meta limestone. The most important reflection I have reached after the discussion with every one that how effectively this geological formation can be accessible to our students and able to make connections with geological past, present and future. Here Sarvashreshtha sir our HOD explained us how to connect with the existing geological setup and with the subject matter and the theme, we all actually convince with sirs approach and the way one can implement the inquiry method and also encourage the critical thinking even for us. Second site was (Khappa), there we discover a new track towards the rock site of Charnockite and pitted granulites near the Khappa 2 bridge site. Also along the stream (area Khappa -2) another interesting discovery was made, there we found a new track along the khappa river bank and witnessed the mesmerizing beauty of the place. Day 3, Area- Balaram and Kui dam site: Our main objective was to find the suitable route to reach Balaram quarry near Chatrasani and identification of location for few samples zones in the mines. Fortunately this time the Balaram river bed was clear and accessible, I was reflecting upon how to connect the weathering of rock near the bank with the course of the river and how it influences the deposits near the banks, it was one of best site to understand the geomorphological features. Second important reflection was on Kui dam site, keeping in mind the importance of rock around black hills and near the Delhi highway, as one team we found the best possible route that would connect with the surrounding and give idea of how it is connected with the ridge running parallel to the road. Here our team work and understanding of the surrounding topography made us to find the best sites for our observation and investigation. Overall reflection: - it was a wonderful and very fruitful learning pre-trip for me, also got the opportunity to learns and able to make some important reflection on how to improve the exiting ideas to quality base planning for systematic learning environment. Such five day trip also need proper time management and same time when/how/what the students will learns from such trip and best plan and condition/situation/opportunities for students to take away something for their life time. Our curiosity and passion towards this subject made us close and understand the vision from one perspective that is the cause and not the individual benefits,

plus how effectively and genuinely working towards achieving the excellence and quality, no doubt at last always some space to blend with humor and fun, that what we remembered and wants our students to ponder upon sometime. Glimpses of Abu pre-trip - peer learning Group members - Sarvashreshtha sir, VIkas sir, Jaydeep sir and Sanjay sir

Khappa 2 - rock site of Charnockite

Folding in rocks Morthala stone quarries

Way out Banas river bed

GMDC Mines - Gossan

Massive folds in sedimentary rock way to IDar

Sarvashreshtha Pegmatite

sir

showing

rock

called

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