M.Sc. in Botany,
UGC - NET (Education),
Ph.D. in Science Education
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) | टाटा सामाजिक विज्ञान संस्थान |
Turkayamjal, | Ranga Reddy District, | तुर्कयामजल, | रंगा रेड्डी जिला, |
Hyderabad 501 510 | हैदराबाद ५०१ ५१० |
Email: riteshpk2017@gmail.com
I had early leanings towards studies and career in Sciences. I chose to do a Masters in Botany from Savitribai Phule Pune University (formerly known as University of Pune) and wanted to pursue a career in research and teaching. For about a year, I taught at Abasaheb Garware College, Pune. Subsequently, I pursued my doctorate in Science Education from the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. For a few months, I worked with the Science and Technology Park at University of Pune. I rejoined HBCSE as a Visiting (Post-doctoral) Fellow for a couple of years.
In 2011, I joined Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad campus as a Faculty in Azim Premji School of Education. I enjoy been involved in a wide spectrum of activities which include developing courses (for Integrated BA in Social Sciences, BEd, MAEd, MPhil Programmes), teaching, research and development activities, and projects and activities involving collaboration with organisations and institutions.
My initiation into research in education began with my doctoral study in Design and Technology (D&T) Education (details below).
Doctoral thesis:
Investigating middle school students' perceptions of technology and developing design and technology education units to study students' design productions (May 2009)
Thesis advisor: Late Prof. Chitra Natarajan, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Masters’ research dissertation:
Developing micropropagation techniques for somatic embryogenesis of a local durum wheat cultivar and assessing its protein quality through acid page electrophoresis. (2000)
Advisor: Prof. R. J. Thengane, Department of Botany, University of Pune (now Savitribai Phule Pune University)
I have been able to sustain my research interest in the field through way of small projects where ideas of D&T education units are developed and tried with different grade levels of students.
Having moved from the discipline of Science to Science Education, I have keenly been working on several research ideas in Science Education. Along with my teaching, I have pursued research ideas that centre around probing students’ thinking of abstract science concepts in biology, visualisation and modelling of concepts in biology, alternative conceptions in biology and ideas that can inform teaching biology at the school level. My continual association with the Junior Science Olympiad team as a resource person has enabled me to develop challenging questions in biology, attract the attention and interest of students, develop practical skills and orientation in the value of experiments, and develop interactive sessions around several concepts in school biology.
As a person involved in Education, I have expanded my research interest by closely aligning with the interests of scholars working towards their M.Phil. and PhD degrees. The areas we have ventured into include Practices in Art Education, Alternative conceptions in Geography, Teacher Professional Development, Assessment issues in learning, etc.
Writings as edited books (01), contributions in books (08), peer-reviewed journals (11), peer-reviewed conference proceedings (39), technical reports (03) and educational magazines (03).
Edited Book (01)
M. Ramchand, R. Khunyakari & A. Bose (Eds.) (2023). Learning without Burden - A quarter of a century after the Yashpal Committee Report: Where are we and what have we learnt? India: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. International and South-Asian editions. DOI: 10.4324/9781003046059
In Books (08)
Peer-reviewed, International journals (11)
Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings (39)
Technical Reports (05)
Educational Magazines (04)
1. Preliminary findings from an analysis of two phases of a study with District Institutes of Education and Trainings (DIETs) in Telangana State.
2. Co-Principal Investigator on the project on Reverse School Choice anchored by Tata Trusts, Mumbai. (2018-2020)
3. Collaborated on the Education component of a research project on Welfare and Reforms: Everyday Governance of Prison Conditions in Telangana, undertaken by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad. (2018-2019)
4. Multiple Languages, Literacies and Technologies: Multlingualism group, Frankfurt & Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR, Mumbai (2001-)
5. Investigation team on the research project, Studies on the biodiversity of NDA campus with special reference to vegetation monitoring. (Dec 1999)
I have engage with teaching students at different levels in different capacities. The following present a detail of courses that I have been teaching at different levels:
PhD (Graduate programme at HBCSE, TIFR):
Early step in educational research, Science Technology and Society
MPhil-PhD: Introduction to Social Sciences and Educational Research; Education Theory and Research Methodology; Culture, context and cognition
MAEd: Human Development and Learning; Cognition and Learning; Teacher Professional Development; Design and Technology Education; Science Education – I
BASS: Introduction to life sciences, Education (a unit within this co-taught course)
School students: As part of the International Junior Science Olympiads preparations - as a resource person in biology
MOOCs on TISSx: Assessment and Learning,
Short courses for professionals: Practitioner research in education