Browsing by Author "Rupasinghe, T."

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Connectivism for improved learning outcomes in higher education in the digital age – A scoping review
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Senadheera, V.; Muthukumarana, C.; Rupasinghe, T.; Ediriweera, D.
In the current context, there is a substantial need to update instructional strategies used in higher education, to cater the learning needs of current learners, who are called as digital natives. Connectivism, which is a learning theory that intends to explain how learning occurs in the digital age, can be used to bridge the gap between instructional strategies and how learning occurs in digital natives. The objective of this scoping review was to examine how connectivism has been applied in higher education, describe the findings and to understand the impact of connectivism on the success of student learning in higher education. Nine databases were searched for eligible publications. SCOPUS, EBSCOhost, Emerald, JSTOR, Taylor and Francis, PubMed (MEDLINE), ERIC, ACM and IEEE Xplore were searched using the keyword ‘connectivism’. The search retrieved 1560 records of which 24 articles were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies which were published 2009 through 2022, were from 18 countries and represented 12 study fields including; language learning, education, medicine, and engineering. In reported studies, either connectivism has been applied alone or it has been combined with another learning theory to design teaching/learning activities. These studies predominantly have used the online mode (54%), followed by blended learning mode (25%) and face to face mode (21%). Among these studies, 67% have been intended to deliver skills such as; writing, teaching and work-based learning, and 33% have been intended to deliver both theory and skills such as; biostatistics, chemistry and pedagogical practices, while no study has been designed to deliver a theory alone. To evaluate the outcomes of the teaching/learning activities, 75% of the studies used qualitative approaches, 12.5% used quantitative approaches and 12.5% used mixed methods. According to the findings, 17% of studies have reported that, connectivist learning environment has exhibited a significant positive impact on the academic performance of students through the promotion of higher order learning activities such as; synthesizing information, creating new knowledge and applying. More importantly, it has resulted in an enhancement of several attributes of learners which are required in the current job market. Accordingly, 17% of studies reported enhanced creative thinking, 21% self-management of learning and 50% enhanced interactions with peers as outcomes of using connectivism to design teaching and learning. Bringing connectivism to higher education is a method to incorporate formal education into the learning needs of the digital age and it has the potential to offer improved learning outcomes for higher education students. These improved outcomes are more pronounced when connectivism is used to deliver skills (deliver functioning knowledge/ put knowledge into action) compared to when it is used to deliver theory (declarative knowledge/content knowledge). Overall, it can be concluded that the successful integration of principles of connectivism in skill related teaching has a positive impact on students’ learning and promotes lifelong learning.
Dissolution of ZnO nanoparticles at circumneutral pH: a study of size effects in the presence and absence of citric acid
(American Chemical Society., 2011) Mudunkotuwa, I.A.; Rupasinghe, T.; Ming Wu, C.; Grassian, V.H.
Understanding size-dependent processes, including dissolution, of engineered nanoparticles is essential in addressing the potential environmental and health impacts of these materials as well as their long-term stability. In this study, experimental measurements of size-dependent dissolution of well-characterized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with particle diameters in the range of 4 to 130 nm have been measured at circumneutral pH (pH 7.5) and compared. Dissolution was found to be enhanced with smaller ZnO nanoparticles compared to larger-sized particles, even though the nanoparticles were present in solution as aggregates with hydrodynamic diameters on the order of 1–3 μm in size. The presence of citric acid significantly enhanced the extent of ZnO dissolution for all sizes, and the greatest enhancement was observed for the 4 nm particles. Although these results are found to be in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions, a linearized form of the Kelvin equation to calculate a surface free energy yielded quantities inconsistent with expected values from the literature. Reasons for this inconsistency are discussed and include potential deviations of solubility behavior from classical thermodynamics as a result of a lack of detailed knowledge of surface structure and surface properties, including the presence of different surface crystal facets, and the aggregation state.
Dynamic Resource Planning and Scheduling Modelling Approach: A Case from a Tyre Manufacturing Company.
(8th International Conference on Business & Information ICBI – 2017, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Basnayake, C.; Rupasinghe, T.
Due to the uncertainty in modern economic trends force, organizations to operate with minimum inventory levels to minimize the cost and absorb minimum employees into permanent employment and fill the balance with contract employees. Hence, organizations prefer not to carry inventories, and most organizations select Make-to-Order Manufacturing strategy, and contract employees hire through Manpower suppliers. The Pneumatics tyre manufacturing organizations cannot be separated from the other industries. Not only manufacturers are moving towards a zero stock concept, but also both original equipment manufacturers and replacement market customers use the same concept. This creates an imbalance in the tyre supply chain where neither manufacturers nor customers focus to keep inventories as a buffer to meet the uncertainties. As a result of this phenomenon, on time delivery becomes crucial which forces the manufacturers to use production planning to its maximum potential. An unconsidered factor takes place as a result of socioeconomic influences, contract employees which lead them to change their work place often which directly affects the operations where operator efficiencies are critical. That makes production planning to a new dimension in the pneumatic tyre manufacturing industry. The research focuses on order acceptance models and production planning models and proposes a model for order acceptance in pneumatic tyre manufacturing. The analysis shows that the model helps to achieve KPIs of the organization. The order acceptance model presented can be implemented to any industry where operator efficiencies become significant in terms of operation output, regardless of the manufacturing strategy with modification according to industry-related constraints.
An Exploratory Study on Sustainable Packaging: A Case Study from a Sri Lanka Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Company.
(8th International Conference on Business & Information ICBI – 2017, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Amarakoon, M. C.; Rupasinghe, T.
This research focuses on the applicability of low investment approaches to implement sustainability into a supply chain of a local FMCG company. This specifically focuses on the implementation of sustainability principals in the secondary packaging process. The suggested options for adopting low investment sustainability principles were driven by the concepts reduce, redesign, reuse, and standardization. This phase was followed by detailed calculations to estimate the financial and non-financial benefits of the proposed options. The findings of this research suggest that the proposed changes to secondary packaging can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the day-to-day operations of the company yet involves a significantly low initial investment. The suggested changes (R-R-R-S framework) therefore empirically justify the possibility of implementing sustainability principles at a low initial investment. The proposed changes are estimated to reduce the operational cost and thereby improve profitability and competitiveness in a high price sensitive market. In addition, the proposed changes are estimated to significantly reduce CO2emissions, resulting in improved environmental impact and possible advancement in company’s reputation as a corporate citizen. Considering the limited research attention received for the applicability of low investment sustainable principles, the findings of this study make a significant contribution to theory and practice.
Factors associated with general health status and general wellbeing of Advanced Level students in the Colombo district, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Gangodawila, T.; Isurika, A.; Pathirana, D.; Katugampala, M.; Rupasinghe, T.; Nazeer, I.; Hettiaratchi, U.
Introduction: Adolescents need to maintain a good general health status and well-being since they are at a developmental stage of life. Objectives: To describe factors associated with General Health Status (GHS) and General Well Being (GWB) of Advanced level(A/L) students in the Colombo district. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire (Google form), among 480 A/L students using convenient sampling technique. GHS and GWB were measured using PedsQL 3.0 General wellbeing module (validated questionnaire). GHS was given a score of 0-4. GWB was assessed by six questions which was scored on Likert scale. Overall percentage scores were calculated for both GHS and GWB. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 26. Associations were obtained using independent t test (p< 0.05-significant). Results: GHS was poor (score-0) in 5.4%. GHS was significantly associated with income, meal skipping and sufficiency of physical activities. Mean GHS score of low-income group (43.6) was higher than high-income group (38.7). Students who had not skipped meals had obtained higher GHS scores for all three meals (breakfast: 44.2, lunch: 42.4, dinner: 43.5) compared to students who skipped meals (36.5, 37.4, 36.5). Students who sufficiently engaged in physical activities (60mins/day) had higher GHS score (51.3) than the others (39.0). GWB score was 76-100% in 45.6%. A significant association was observed between nutritional adequacy of diet and GWB. Mean GWB score was high (76.4) in students who were consuming a nutritionally adequate diet compared to others (70.2). Conclusions: GHS was poor in 5.4%. Excellent GWB was reported. Low income, not skipping meals and sufficient physical activities were associated with good GHS. Nutritional adequacy was associated with good GWB.
An Initial Study on Understanding the Effect of Questions Structure on Students' Exam Performance
(3rd International Conference on Advances in Computing and Technology (ICACT ‒ 2018), Faculty of Computing and Technology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2018) Wijesinghe, S.; Irosha, K.P.C.; Rupasinghe, T.
The main challenge in evaluating students’ performance is creating effective assessments which appraises students’ learning rather than their memory power and the practice. According to education theories, creative and carefully designed assessments can clearly evaluate the degree of learning in students. “Scaffolding” which refers to the degree to which a question guides the student through the problem-solving process is a widely used method in aiding students’ learning and conceptual understanding and assessing students’ performance in Science and Technology education. The objective of the current study was to understand the impact of exam question structure on the performance of first year undergraduates specifically focusing on understanding the effect of scaffolded questions. In the current Sri Lankan science education context, there is only a limited number of research studies that are available which provides an insight into the relationship between students’ performance and question features. Current study which was designed to address this issue was conducted as a part of the Chemistry for Technology course at the Faculty of Computing and Technology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. In this study, two different structures of the same questions were given to students as a part of an in class quiz. First one was a direct question and the second version (scaffolded question) included the same question in a step by step manner and in the latter version, students had to answer several steps to solve the problem. Marks obtained for the two versions were averaged and compared to investigate whether there is any significance of the structure of the questions towards the performance of students. Average mark for the scaffolded question was 82(±20) and the direct question was 71(±35). According to the results, it was clear that the students meet a considerable difficulty in the understanding the direct questions and the scaffolding of questions results in an increase of the performance of students. According to preliminary data, it can be concluded that scaffolding of questions preferentially assist students performance at examinations and surface features such as the structure of the question can play a key role in students’ performance at the examinations. Further studies are currently being conducted to understand whether there is any specific correlation between the improvement in performance as a consequence of scaffolding with the gender, school district and students’ English literacy.
Unveil the power of statistics through Open Source Software
(University of Kelaniya, 2013) Dissanayake, A.; Rupasinghe, T.
In the modern world, researchers use statistical software packages like SPSS, SAS, STATA, Minitab for advanced data analyses. However, license cost of these statistical software packages is a major problem for researchers in the developing countries. R, is a GNU project, which provides a solution for the above problem through open source technology, with powerful statistical environment, being a programming language itself. The objective of this research project is to provide statistical assistance and a public healthcare monitoring facility, using a web based statistical tool and interactive dashboard with the integration of R with java , html, java script and mysql database for a Public Health Information System. The system has the ability to access through an intranet and statistical functions are classified into basic, intermediary and advanced functions. The interactive dashboard facility of the system facilitates users with different levels of authority to define the content displayed on the dashboard. One of the innovative features includes the auto-run of predefined advanced statistical analyses when the quality of the public healthcare data is below or above certain thresholds. This will promote collaborative research and assist public health care professionals and predict and identify disease outbreaks, epidemics, and analyze data at different geographical levels. The system will be validated through cross field and parameter dependencies defined at interface level, as well as reports generated through alerts and through healthcare professionals’ expert opinions.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Enabled New Product Development Process Model for Performance Apparel.
(In: Proceedings of the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2017 (IPRC – 2017), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) De Silva, R.K.J.; Rupasinghe, T.; Apeagyei, P.
Consumer demands for performance apparel are constantly changing with the dynamic needs of life styles. Criticality of such demands and the determinants of efficiency, have driven considerations for mass customized products within sustainability boundaries of performance clothing manufacturing. Currently, relevant industries benefit from advanced digital technology applications; and in essence, virtual and augmented reality have gained popularity in apparel as they fuse the physical world with the virtual world. Within this context, this study sought to develop an empirical, new product development (NPD) process model, enabled with Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to support, simplify, and reduce cycle times of processes to boost efficiency in the global apparel business. Data collection was based on 22 indepth interviews from industry experts and academics in the field. The interviews were conducted in both Sri Lanka and United Kingdom; and critically analysed qualitatively. Findings resulted in the development of the NPD process model which permitted visualisation of diverse NPD functional stages and information flow between value chain partners in the apparel value stream. Main advantages of such VR and AR in NPD are, 1) personalized customer needs through interactive platforms; 2) advancement of the decision-making process based on visualized environments; 3) optimisation of resource utilization by reducing number of physical prototypes. It is contended that VR and AR technologies will enable diversified product ideas into feasible product outcomes while assuring the sustainable growth in the business. This empirical model is an outcome of iterative process modelling, based on qualitative interviews and current literature. Subsequently, this process model will be a comprehensive guide for software developers to create relevant simulators to augment any NPD processes in performance clothing manufacturing and similar commodities in future.