IPRC - 2016
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/157
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Item Pre-University Web Usage Behavior among New Medical Entrants(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Solangaarachchi, I.; Abeygunasekera, C.; Beddage, T.; Hewage, S.With the development and wide accessibility of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) students would be expected to move away from traditional sources of information, such as books, towards the internet. With the objective of studying information seeking behaviour and the use of internet prior to university entrance, a survey was carried out on first year MBBS undergraduates at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya in 2016. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire distributed at the orientation programme for students. Of the 155 students that responded to the questionnaire, 65% were females and 52.9% were from the Western Province. The most frequent method of finding required information prior to entering the university, as noted by the responders, was searching the internet (98.7%). Referring library books (80.0%) and their own textbooks (61.9%) were the next most common methods. This is also reflected by 87.1% of the students stating that they accessed the internet at least several days per week. Finding information was mentioned by most (94.2%) as the reason for going online. But, a considerable number also used the internet for entertainment (85.8%) and accessing social media websites (78.1%). The main devices used when accessing the web were smart phones (87%) and personal desktops/laptops (79.4%). When it comes to frequency of internet usage, comparative analyses failed to show significant differences between the two genders (χ2 = 2.242, p = 0.134) or those residing in and outside the Western Province (χ2 = 1.534, p = 0.215). Even with the inclination towards the internet as a major source of information, the reliance on text books (either their own or of colleagues or from the libraries) seem to have still maintained its relevance (with 94.2% as compared to the 98.7% that referred to the web). Wide availability of devices and methods of accessing the internet, along with the ever increasing influence of ICT in education as well as day-to-day life is reflected in these findings.Item Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on Student’s Attitude (Case Study of Postgraduate Students of University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka)(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Suraweera, N.Today every individual has become education minded in changing the society and the world with the advancement of science, technology, education, culture and civilization. In this age of information, education plays a prominent role in everybody’s life. Everybody desires to acquire education and the emphasis on the best quality education is increasing day by day. In the age of revolution of Information Technology, it reconsiders and re-adapts to the changing environment of teaching and learning. New media technologies have revolutionized education and the learning process. It has made teaching easier and the teaching method, student centric. Information and communication technologies can be used to bridge the gap between students and teachers. Nowadays, many Sri Lankan universities are gradually using different types of information and communication technologies for teaching and learning process. As new technologies are growing in a rapid phase there is a digital divide between students, teachers and the university administration. In order to cope with the fast pace of students in understanding the technology, teachers will have to update different technologies fast in classroom teaching. This research mainly deals with present scenario of information and communication technologies which graduate students are using and how it impacts the attitude of the student. In this study, 57 questions were assembled based on the objectives and they were categorized in to four parts. First part (part A) containing socio-demographic economic profile of respondents. Second part (part B) dealt with the exposure to information and communication technologies. Third part (part C) dealt with the comparison and the forth part (part D) of the questionnaire was designed to measure the impact of information and communication technologies on students’ attitudes for their education purpose. Students in Universities extensively use information and communication technological tools for different academic purposes. From assignments to making notes, from alternate information to industrial content, their preference is new media. Gone are the days when students referred books in libraries for enriching themselves. In this era of e-generation with information and communication technologies tools and the phenomenal spread of information and communication technologies, going online has turned easy to clarify their doubts instantly and satisfy their learning instincts. It is encouraging an outreach learning concept and producing a positive and efficient set of students as confident individuals who are bound to be a better workforce in the future.Item A Study on the Orientation Program Conducted by the University Senior Students for the Freshers(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Herath, D.There is a criticism in the university and society regarding the orientation program conducted by the senior students of the universities for the freshers. Some group of senior students and the Student’s Union activists try to carry out this "home grown" orientation program uninterruptedly. The university administration tries to control this orientation program in response to innumerable complaints made by the students subjected to this program. It has resulted in creating a conflict situation between the university administration and the student activists. The aim of this research is to find out the opinion of the university students towards the above mentioned orientation program. The students from the four Faculties of University of Kelaniya, i.e. Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities, Commerce and Management and Science of the University of Kelaniya were used as a research sample. Hundred students from each Faculty were selected according to the random sample method. Questionnaire, participatory observation, interview and case study methods were used to collect data. The orientation program conducted by the senior students has created controversy owing to misunderstanding between students and administration regarding surreptous political interferences in student affairs, unauthorised activities, and hidden agendas. This study recommended that it is necessary to organize useful and systematic program that are transparent, supportive, and helpful in getting to know each other and socialise within a framework of the university life.Item Information Seeking Habits and Practices of Freshman Medical Students of University of Kelaniya(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Abeygunasekera, C.; Solangaarachchi, I.; Beddage, T.; Hewage, S.Studying information-seeking habits of different groups of students is important as a decision making tool for collection development practices and introducing variety to library services. This study examined the past experiences of information access and usage by freshman medical students prior to their university admission. A survey was conducted on the new batch of MBBS students admitted in 2016 using a self-administered questionnaire distributed at the orientation programme. Of the 155 respondents, majority (65.1%) were female students. They represented eight administrative districts of the country. Highest percentage of students was admitted from the Western Province (52.9%), while 20.6% and 10.3% were from North Western and Central provinces respectively. Students who reportedly visited the library at least on a weekly basis constituted 52.9% of the sample, while the remaining 47.1% did so less frequently. Even though the main information seeking mode was searching the web (99%), a considerable number of students used library books (80%) and personal textbooks (61.9%). Library books were a source of information for 83.7% of females and 75.5% of males, while use of personal text books for this purpose was noted by 62.2% of female and 60.4% of male students. Books lent by colleagues were a source of information for 37.8% of females and 47.2% males. The main purpose of information used by majority of students (84%) was self-study. Seventy-six percent (n=118) of students used information for gaining additional subject knowledge while 68.4% (n=106) used it for entertainment and 50.3% (n=78) for project work. School library is the place for information access for 98.7% of the students, followed by town council libraries (37.4%) and provincial council libraries (16.8%). There was no significant difference between males and females (p = 0.701) or those from the Western Province and other provinces (p = 0.082), when it comes to frequency of library usage. The research finds that even though the main information seeking method of sampled freshman medical students is the internet, a considerable number still rely on libraries and other print based resources.