The purpose of this study was to enhance the learning environment through Appreciative Inquiry Approach (AlA) in a government secondary school of Karachi. The study focused on one component of the learning environment such i.e. the students' participation in classroom discussions. In government schools, the culture of problem-solving focuses on deficiencies and ignores the positive aspects and the strengths of people. In the problem solving approach, we assume that there must be something wrong and we look for it with the intent to solve it. AlA is an alternate approach initiated as a reaction to the problem-based approach, as it is a search for "the best" of what already exists. Therefore, using this approach, my hypothesis was that every person, organization, system, and community has something that works well, and boosts up the moral and confidence of people. The learning environment (in this case, through enhancing students' participation) can be enhanced through searching for what is good and working well. The qualitative Participatory Action Research (embedded in an appreciative lens) was employed since it suited the aim and purpose of the study. Two teachers were selected, one who was in favour of using AlA and the other who was opposed to the idea. Reflective journals, notes of classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, reflective meetings, and study documents were used as data collection tools. By conducting this study, the potential, possibilities and challenges of using strength based approach in the teaching and learning processes have been explored. The findings indicate that the students' participation can be enhanced by using strength based approach, which encourages them through positive words, gestures, and especially highlighting their strengths. This study has ample value and significance for research participants who want to enhance their students' participation in classroom discussions. It would help them to reflect on their existing understanding and practices (e.g. what they do, why they do, how it contributes to the learning environment, etcetera). The study has implications for teachers in their professional life as well as their social life.
خلیق ٹونکی خطاطی کی دنیا کے ممتاز وعظیم فنکار جناب خلیق ٹونکی جون ۱۹۹۴ء میں طویل علالت کے بعد رحلت فرماگئے۔انا ﷲ وانا الیہ راجعون۔ مرحوم خلیق ٹونکی فن خطاطی میں اعلیٰ شہرت کے مالک تھے اس کے علاوہ مرحوم میں بڑی خوبیاں تھیں، صوم وصلٰوۃ کے پابند تھے، منکسر المزاج تھے، اخلاق کریمانہ کے مالک تھے۔ اور مفکرمِلّت حضرت مفتی عتیق الرحمن عثمانی ؒ کے شیدائی اور معتقد تھے۔ حضرت مفتی صاحبؒ نے ان کے فن کونکھارنے میں بڑا تعاو ن کیا۔ ادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین اوراس کے رسالے ’’برہان‘‘ ہی سے انہوں نے فنِ کتابت کی ابتدا ء کی۔ قبلہ مفتی صاحبؒ نے ادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین اوراس کے رسالے ’’برہان‘‘ کے لیے کتابت وطباعت میں ہمیشہ ہی اعلیٰ معیار کو برقرار رکھنے کی بھرپور کوشش کی۔اسی لیے انہوں نے ہندوستان کے اعلیٰ فنکاروں کوکھوج کھوج کرچُن چُن کرادارہ میں جمع کیا۔جناب آل حسنؒ، جناب محمد یوسفؒ، جناب عبدالقیوم ؒ اور خلیق ٹونکی کوبحیثیت کاتب کے ادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین میں رکھا۔ اﷲ تعالیٰ کے فضل سے خلیق تونکی کتابت کی دنیا میں شہرت کی بلندی پر پہنچے، سرکاری ایوارڈ بھی انھیں حاصل ہوئے، ملک اور بیرونِ ملک میں ان کے ہزاروں شاگرد موجود ہیں۔ادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین کی کئی کتابیں ان ہی کی کتابت کی ہوئی ہیں۔ ادارہ کی مشہور کتابیں’ مصباح اللغات‘ اور’ قصص القرآن‘ جناب خلیق ٹونکی ہی کی کتابت کی ہوئی ہیں۔ انھیں ہمیشہ ہی اس بات کا اعتراف رہاکہ ان کی کامیابی وشہرت میں بفضلِ خدا حضرت مفتی عتیق الرحمن عثمانیؒ اوران کے ادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین کابڑا ہاتھ رہاہے۔اسی لیے وہ ہمیشہ ہی ادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین اوراس کے ڈائرکٹر راقم الحروف عمیدالرحمن عثمانی سے زندگی کے آخری لمحے تک والہانہ لگاؤ وعقیدت رکھتے تھے۔ اﷲ تعالیٰ انھیں کروٹ کروٹ جنّت نصیب فرمائے اور متعلقین کوصبر جمیل عطاکرے۔ ’’آمین ثم آمین‘‘ اور ادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین...
The action code of Islam is impartial and strong. All human beings, disabled and abled have the right of gaining justice and bound to giving justice. Because of disableness impartial behavior is against the Islamic justice code. The “good behavior” with disabled persons is the basic law of disableness in Islam. The “good behavior” with disabled persons in Islam is not the result of mercy and pity but is the result of that right of taking equal to the life of common people which is due to the nation and community. Hence the rights of disabled persons are the result of those requirements which are created due to disableness. The meaning which we take conventional is “complete worthlessness” but it means in Islam weak and feeble. That is to say disable person is able to work but he has less ability. Or he has no ability to do one job but has the ability of high rank to do other jobs. The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) introduced first time this principle of disableness. The Arabs mean the word “disableness” complete uselessness. But the Holy Quran exempted the persons from Jehad not taking part in Tabuk battle because of disableness giving them the name of feebles. Islam does not appeal for mercy with disabled persons but advised to behave well with them and condemns also the injustice of society with them. Islam orders to perform one’s duties to others. Islam not only stresses on the performance of duties but also gives instructions in this connection.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a composite mixture of organic compounds derived from residues of plants, microbes and animals. Information on depth distribution of SOC fractions is scant, and most available studies are confined to the plough layer. Therefore, a field study was conducted during 2010-2012 in dry land region of Punjab, Pakistan. The specific objectives were: i) effect of tillage and crop sequences on biological, physical and chemical carbon fractions, ii) depth distribution of different soil carbon fractions in the soil profile, iii) agronomic and economic feasibility of conservation tillage systems, iv) relative C-sustainability index of management system. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design having moldboard plough (MP) (control), tine cultivator (TC) and minimum tillage (MT) as main plots, and cropping sequences as sub-plots fallow–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), (FW, control), mungbean (Vigna radiate L.)–wheat (MW), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)–wheat (SW), green manure–wheat (GW) and mungbean-chickpea (MC) (Cicer arietinum L.). Treatment effects were assessed for microbial biomass carbon (MBC), potentially minerlizeable carbon (PMC), particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), HCl insoluble carbon (HIC), stratification ratio (SR), aggregate stability, nutrients, yield,gross marginal benefit, cost benefit ratio, net benefit and carbon sustainability index (Cs). The results showed that MBC concentration by end of second year was highest at 15-30 cm depth under MW with MT system (360 μg g-1). The highest PMC concentration was assessed under SW with MT tillage at 45-60 cm depth (133 μg g-1 soil day-1). By the second year, under MP had higher POC at all depths in FW, MW, SW, SW and MW cropping sequences (2.03,1.69,1.03,1.06,0.96 Mg ha-1, respectively). xv Highest DOC concentration was at surfac under MC with TC (476 μg g-1). The highest HIC concentration was at 60-90cm depth was in TC with FW (11.3 Mg ha-1). The stratification ratio (SR) of PMC in the first year was highest under MT with FW at 0-15:15-30 depths (3.13 and POC was under TC and MP with FW at depths of 0-15:45-60 cm depths (18.5 and 9.39), respectively. The SR for DOC was highest under MP in the first year and with GW at 0-15:45-60 cm depths (1.89) and HCl insoluble C was observed under MT with SW at 0-15:45-60 (2.41Mg ha-1) depths. During 2010-2011, in summer, mungbean the highest aboveground biomass in MC under MP tillage (4.24 Mg ha-1 mungbean) and in MW under MT tillage (4.11 Mg ha-1 mungbean). In winter, chickpea gave the highest biomass in MC under both tillage systems. During 2011-2012, mungbean produced the highest aboveground biomass in MW under MT tillage (4.43 Mg ha-1 mungbean) and in both the MC and MW under MP tillage (4.24 and 4.17 Mg ha-1 mungbean, respectively). In winter, FW sequence gave the highest biomass in both tillage systems. The gross marginal benefit (GMB) ranged between -190 to $548 ha-1 in first year and -165 to $1124 ha-1 in the second year. The net benefit (NB) values were the highest in MC sequence under both tillage that gave cost benefit ratios (CBR) of 5.45 and 3.68 respectively. Use of legume-based cropping sequences is a sustainable and cost-effective practice. The maximum carbon sustainability index (Cs) was obtained Under MT with MC for both year in summer (77 and 130). MT is realitively more sustainable and cost effect therefore, with legume based cropping system could be the best options to enhance the C sustainability index in dry lands of northren Punjab, Pakistan.