Browsing by Author "Kariyawasam, A."

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Barriers to pre-clinical distance learning during the covid-19 pandemic and their impact on academic motivation
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Ekanayake, N.; Kariyawasam, A.
Introduction: With transition to e-leaming; despite many advantages of it, no studies have focused on obstacles accounting for losing academic interest, especially in freshman years of Medicine. Objectives: To explore unseen barriers to online medical education and their influence on academic motivation. Methods: An online survey was conducted among pre-clinical medical students of Sri Lankan state universities. Responses collected from 250 volunteers were descriptively analysed. Results: All students had some kind of smart device with internet access. Though self¬studying time had increased overall, the percentage of students who spent less than 2 hours per day on it had increased from 12% to 16%. Yet time spent entertaining in social media had significantly escalated. When rated on a five-point scale, 98.8% of the students found poor time management and lack of self-discipline as a barrier. Addiction to Internet/ gaming with poor academic concentration, physical interferences (e.g., noise, violence and limited space) and excess responsibilities at home were other frequent problems faced by the respondents. 63.3% had joined online classes regularly while paying attention but the other proportion could not pay attention as in physical sessions. Work overload, lack of peer learning, distractions from family, and lack of physical interaction with teachers had notably influenced losing academic motivation. About 39% firmly believed that distance learning had lowered their academic performance than during the pre-pandemic period. Conclusions: Absence of a conducive learning environment discouraged students to a great extent. Hence, successful implementation of e-leaming for medicine requires a more engaging and in-depth approach.
Changes in lung volumes and respiratory muscle strength in different phases of the rowing stroke in Sri Lankan rowers: a preliminary study
(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Perera, D.; Ariyasinghe, A. S.; Kariyawasam, A.
Breathing is a muscular process brought on by a group of muscles that are capable of demanding as much as 16% of available oxygen during maximal exercise. The rowing stroke consisting of four major phases; catch, drive, finish and recovery are engaged with the breathing cycle. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess respiratory functions and ergometer performance in 20 male national level rowers in the Sri Lanka Army in the age range 20-35 years in the competition season. Lung volumes and capacities were measured using a portable spirometer (Spiro analyzer ST-75). Respiratory muscle strength (RMS) was measured using a portable hand held mouth pressure meter (Micro MPM, Micro Medical Ltd., Kent, United Kingdom; Precision Medical MPM, UK). Both Lung volumes and RMS were assessed in standing, upright seated, catch and finish positions on the rowing ergometre machine in the morning before training session. Data was analyzed in SPSS software using descriptive statistics and relationship of variables were assessed with Pearson correlation. Probability values < 0.05 were considered significant. Ethical clearance was obtained from Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. The lung volumes of peak inspiratory flows (PIF) (2.40 ± 0.61), vital capacity (VC) (8.37 ± 1.66), forced expiratory volume per second (FEV1) (5.80 ± 1.18) and forced vital capacity (FVC)/FEV1 (1.63 ± 2.54) are higher in standing position while peak expiratory flows (PEF) (13.64 ± 1.48) and FVC (6.57 ± 3.17) are higher in finish and catch position on the ergometre machine respectively. Inspiratory muscle strength (IMS) (111.60 ± 29.79) and expiratory muscle strength (EMS) (155.30 ± 33.94) are higher in standing position. EMS and IMS significantly correlated with FVC/FEV1 in finish (r=-0.64; p<0.01) and upright seated (r=-0.56; p<0.01) position in ergometre machine respectively. This study shows that there is a significant association between lung volumes and RMS in phases of rowing stroke rather than in standing position.
Exploitation of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to Overcome Learner Anxiety in Speaking English as a Second Language: An Action Research in a University Context.
(The Third International Conference on Linguistics in Sri Lanka, ICLSL 2017. Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Kariyawasam, A.
The present study is an action research conducted within the Sri Lankan university context to examine if learner anxiety in speaking English as a second language can effectively be combatted through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), i.e. through cognitive restructuring and behaviour modification. As CBT has been used as one of the most efficient treatments in multiple domains related to contemporary psychological counselling and psychotherapy, the current study is an equal attempt in psycholinguistics to find pragmatic solutions to language-related problems through CBT. The research participants were a purposive sample of 8 female undergraduates who were selected as of higher L2 speaking anxiety based on L2 Speaking Anxiety Scale, and 10 therapeutic sessions were conducted with them; adhering to a methodology of mixed method research for data collection and data analysis. The research procedure consisted of a pretest, which was held initially and identified diverse manifestations of learner anxiety; with empirical evidence for the dynamic interplay between negative core-beliefs/cognitive distortions and maladaptive behaviour as well as skill deficiency which were keys to generate L2 speaking anxiety among the undergraduates. Depending on the L2 learners and the learning context, significant CBT techniques were applied accordingly. The CBT techniques used were psycho-education and developing mindfulness, countering, cognitive rehearsal, exposure and breathing techniques, developing self-esteem and skills. In conclusion, the post-test results after the therapeutic intervention revealed a significant reduction of L2 speaking, insisting that L2 speaking anxiety among undergraduates could effectively be combatted through CBT. Thus, the research was a meticulous investigation of the pragmatic aspect of anxiety reducing techniques within an Asian L2 teaching-learning context, re-conceptualizing and redefining the role of ESL teachers as well as the ESL learners at the tertiary level.