International Postgraduate Research Conference (IPRC)
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Item Using PowerPoint Presentations to Enhance Student’s Learning: With Reference to Undergraduates of University of Kelaniya(19th Conference on Postgraduate Research, International Postgraduate Research Conference 2018, Faculty of Graduate Studies,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) De Zoysa, H.N.PowerPoint can be used as a tool to facilitate teaching and learning. It guides students in note-taking, reinforcing points made in a lecture, and to inject occasional humor or visual reinforcement. Therefore, it helps students to learn more efficiently. But the problem is, are they using this tool to enhance their learning efficiently and effectively. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using power point presentations in classroom to enhance learning. Sub objectives are to examine student’s attitudes towards using PowerPoint presentations in learning and find out the strengths and weaknesses associated with using PowerPoint presentations. Fifty undergraduates from faculty of Social Sciences were randomly taken as the sample of this study. Methods such as interviews, questionnaires were used to collect primary data and magazines, books, journals and websites were used as secondary data. Data analysis was done both quantitatively and qualitatively. The analysis of the results revealed that the vast majority of students have positive attitudes towards the use of PowerPoint in the class room. This will help the students to learn this tool effectively and efficiently for their studies. SWOT analysis was done to find out the strengths and weaknesses of using PowerPoint presentations in the classroom. Moreover, it was found that PowerPoint improves the student’s learning motivation, it breaks down the daily routine of lectures and encouraging interaction between the teacher and the students. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the use of PowerPoint presentations enhances student’s learning efficiently and effectivelyItem Attitudes towards Sri Lankan English: An Attitudinal Survey in a University Context(19th Conference on Postgraduate Research, International Postgraduate Research Conference 2018, Faculty of Graduate Studies,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Karunanayake, S.Sri Lankan English makes sense for anyone who had resided in Sri Lanka. In the words of Michael Meyler, "Sri Lankan English is the language spoken and understood by those Sri Lankans who speak English as their first language, and/or who are bilingual in English and Sinhala or Tamil." In other words, those are the heavily localized words and phrases used by Sri Lankans when expressing themselves in English. Although there are a significant number of Sri Lankans who use English as their first language, the establishment of Sri Lankan English as a separate variety has not been realized so far. Presumably, part of the problem has always been with reference to the attitudes towards Sri Lankan English (SLE). Hence, this research aims at investigating the attitudes towards Sri Lankan English. Thereby, the researcher anticipates to find some implication regarding the variety status of Sri Lankan English. The population selected for the study was the second year undergraduates of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, those who use English as their second language. Sample selected was 100 undergraduates representing four faculties. It was drawn using simple random sampling so that each person had the chance of getting selected. A questionnaire was used as the main tool of primary data collection which was a combination of both closed-ended and open-ended questions. The secondary data was gathered using related journals, newspapers, theses and online sources. As the sample has been selected to represent four faculties of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, the undergraduates displayed an attitudinal difference towards Sri Lankan English in accordance with the specific disciplines that are being followed by them. The results of the questionnaire suggested that for most of the undergraduates, the term “Sri Lankan English” carried connotations of ‘broken English’ or something ‘substandard’ and ‘inferior’. They believed that Sri Lankan English is used by those who are uneducated and are not quite familiar with English. A majority of undergraduates aspired to speak ‘British English’ and nothing less. Despite their specific disciplines, most of the participants declared that they speak British English or the Queen’s English and they are of the perception that Sri Lankans speak British English. Interestingly, although there were few undergraduates who were generally positive in their attitude towards Sri Lankan English, they remained relatively unaware of what exactly it consists of and how it differs from Standard EnglishItem Attitudes on Mental Health and Intentions to Seek Psychological Help in the General Public of Sri Lanka(19th Conference on Postgraduate Research, International Postgraduate Research Conference 2018, Faculty of Graduate Studies,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Wijesuriya, C.P.; Gunasekara, H.There is a gross reluctance in today’s society to avoid seeking help in mental health even when required. Many factors such as stigma and negative attitudes about mental health have accounted for the avoidance of seeking help in mental health. In a country with such a collectivistic culture, seeking professional mental help is selected as a last option when other options fail. This study evaluated the relationship between attitudes on mental health and intentions to seek mental help among the general public in Sri Lanka in two phases. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), the first phase of the study involved the translation and content validation of four scales that measured the TPB constructs of: attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions to seek mental help. In the second phase of the research, an online survey-based quantitative study was conducted of the TPB constructs and demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, educational qualifications, previous mental help seeking history, previous mental health history and previous mental history of a close relative or friend. A sample of 200 English speaking participants were recruited via an online survey using stratified sampling method. All participants were above the age of 18 and were absent of a previous mental disorder. Results indicated that attitudes and perceived behavioural control had a significant relationship between intentions to seek mental help whereas there was no significant relationship between subjective norms and intentions to seek mental help. Furthermore, group differences between the demographic variables were further identified. It was discovered that while attitudes still have a strong relationship with intentions, the effect of subjective norms and behavioural control needs to be explored extensively to assess how it affects mental help seeking intentions. Necessary actions should be taken to reduce the overall stigma on mental health which will be one of the main factors in improving the attitudes of mental health in the general public. With considering the impact of educational status, it would be paramount to introduce the importance of mental health beginning from school level that will assist in reducing the stigma and attitudes on mental health for the future. Introducing positive mental health to the curriculum from a young age will assist in reducing the differences observed in gender, marital status and age from this study. Identifying the impact of the other variables will lead to better understanding of the stigma in the country and the path required to de-stigmatise mental health and increase literacy around the islandItem Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Cloud Storage among the Medical Students at Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya(19th Conference on Postgraduate Research, International Postgraduate Research Conference 2018, Faculty of Graduate Studies,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Hettige, S.; Hettiarachchi, W.G.; Solangaarachch, D.I.K.; Dasanayaka, I.P.E.U.; Ediriweera, E.P.D.S.The rise of the healthcare spending on cloud services indicates the adaptation of the cloud technology in recent past. The aim of this study is to assess the attitudes and practice of cloud storage (CS) among the students at Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. Stratified sampling with proportional allocation was used to select students. Number of students selected from 1st to 5th year were 46, 49, 47, 50 and 43 respectively. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data after obtaining written informed consent. 261 returned questionnaires and 26 were removed due to incompleteness. Of 235, 75 (32%) were male students. 138 (59%) students were aware of CS, among them, 127 (92%) had used CS. 126 (54%) students believed CS is useful and 121(52%) students have used CS to save materials, among them (53%) for educational material, (36%) for personal information and (11%) for entertainment material. Among the students who were aware of CS, the main limiting factors of using CS were lack of time (40%) and knowledge (20%) and they were also concerned on limited accessibility (33%), lack of security (27%) and privacy (24%) in CS. Among the 41% who were not aware of CS, 74% mentioned that they would like to have training on CS and another 22% indicated that they are not interested on CS. The majority of students were aware of CS and lack of time and knowledge hinder CS usage. The accessibility, security and privacy are the main concerns about CS. Study shows majority of students are willing to learn on CS and teaching CS during undergraduate training would be beneficial to the students.Item Empowerment and Disempowerment: Sri Lankan English and British English. Attitudes of the Speakers of English as a Second Language in Sri Lanka Regarding Their English Accent(In: Proceedings of the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2017 (IPRC – 2017), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Keerthiwansha, N.W.B.S.English was never just a language for Sri Lankans as it was for Indians, Japanese and Chinese and to a lot of other Asian nations. In Sri Lanka, it presented a far more significant social connotation than a mere linguistic connotation. Even the early teaching of English was targeted at creating British type individuals, who could even speak in British accent. However, the movement of ―Speak English Our Way‖ initiated by the guidance of the previous government intended for a radical shift from the failures of the past and an indigenization, or a Sri Lankanization of English. The program intended the legitimization of ‗Sri Lankan English‘, and the social disempowerment of ‗British English‘, while giving due social recognition for speaking English in Sri Lankan way with Sri Lankan accent and pronunciation. This particular study intends to identify the attitudes of the speakers of English as a second language in Sri Lanka regarding the accent and to assess whether idolizing the British accent has been disempowered. Fifty speakers of English as a second language have been chosen from the Faculty of Humanities to participate in for a questionnaire, which recorded their perception of their accent and British accent, meanwhile five individuals was informally interviewed to gather their perspectives regarding speaking English our way and British accent. The results indicated that 64% are aware of the difference between Sri Lankan and British accents. Meanwhile, 76% are satisfied about their accent, whereas 24% are not. In addition, a vast majority of 84% are watching programs that contain British accent and similarly, a vast majority of 90% admire British accent. Moreover, it was identified that the majority of the individuals who are not satisfied about their accent are the ones who admire and imitate the British accent. However, a minority of the individuals who are satisfied about their accent also admire British accent for its beauty. As far as the comments are concerned, some individuals admire British accent as it represents ―class‖, and several participants prefer to practice British accent because English is originally the language of Great Britain. On the contrary, some individuals are on the firm belief that Sri Lankans should have their own version of English and do not admire British accent due to its sophistication. Thus, it can be concluded that idolizing British accent is still rooted in the society to a considerable extent; however, an attitudinal change of preferring a Sri Lankan identity in English is being developed among the scholars.Item Role of the Cinematographer in Sustainable Development (Criticism, During the Period 2005-2017)(In: Proceedings of the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2017 (IPRC – 2017), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Basnayaka, B.A.N.H.In order to fulfill social necessities, an artist becomes a pioneer in every time. There are so many examples all around the world which prove it. Russian revolution and France revolution are two of best examples for that. In Sri Lanka, most of the classical literacy texts are being written fulfilling that necessity. The prose poems like ―Buthsarana‖ & ―Amawathura‖ have being written in order to fulfill that timely social necessities. So an artist can provide a special coordination to publish sustainable development which has been strongly discussed. The purpose of this research is to analyze the cinematographer ‗s duty in sustainable development. The research problem is how a cinematographer contribute in sustainable development. Films, documentary films, books, magazines & internet were used as research method. In addition to that, the discussions with the experts in the cinema also supported in research method. The target of sustainable development is utilization of environmental resources & save them for the future generation. This task is more pronounced in cinema than publishing in linguistic media. Because cinema is more attractive among general audience. Lot of documentary films have been produced targeting sustainable development. They are ―Food‖, ―ocean‖ (2009) in France, ―Earth‖ (2007) in UK, ―plastic planet‖ (2009) in German, ―cow‘s piracy‖ (2014) in USA etc. Several television programs are telecast in Sri Lanka aiming the above task. But, they are not enough to develop the human attitudes in the present world. Multiple functions can be done through the cinema for the fruitfulness of sustainable development & the contribution methods for the above task is finely analyzed through this research.Item An attitudinal study on perceptions of group work when teaching English as a second language in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Silva, K.S.R.Since the 1980s, Sri Lanka, following trends in language teaching and learning in the West, has adopted the Communicative Approach in its endeavor to teach English as a second language to its student population. Group work is one of the strategies used under the Communicative Approach and its use in teaching English as a second language has been firmly established by sound pedagogical arguments. Past research has showed the benefits of group work, but there is also a body of evidence which implies that group work may not yield the same positive results in non-Western contexts as in Western contexts. While the reasons for this suggestion include many practical difficulties such as lack of resources and large classes, there also seems to be attitudinal issues regarding group work which are culturebound. It is suggested by the body of research that due to cultural notions such as adherence to adult authority, expectations of teacher roles and preference for accuracy over fluency, students might not have positive attitudes about group work or the benefits it provides for their learning. Several studies have been conducted to examine the effectiveness of the Communicative Approach in Sri Lanka, but there is a serious dearth of studies which directly examine students‘ attitudes about group work. Since learners‘ attitudes are a major determinant of the success of a teaching strategy, this study explores Sri Lankan students‘ attitudes about group work. A questionnaire is distributed to a sample of 50 students, and the data collected is analyzed quantitatively to find out whether Sri Lankan learners have positive or negative attitudes regarding group work. The findings of this study shed light on the attitudes about group work among Sri Lankan students in particular and Asian students in general.