Institutional Repository

U n i v e r s i t y of P e r a d e n i y a

The Institutional Repository of the University of Peradeniya is the University's digital gateway to scholarly knowledge and research excellence. Established as the next phase of the Digital Library initiative launched by the University Library in 2011, it preserves, showcases, and provides open access to the intellectual output of the University community.

Through a rich collection of research articles, conference proceedings, theses, dissertations, and other scholarly works, the repository enhances the visibility, accessibility, and long-term preservation of knowledge, extending the global reach and impact of the University of Peradeniya’s academic and research contributions.

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Recent Submissions

Digital immigrants: how to survive in an open and distance learning environment (A semi-structured literature review)
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2023-09-20) Sandamali, K.A.D.
Digital immigrants, who were not born in a digital world, face a challenge in adapting to the present digitalized learning environment. It is more challenging for them to survive in an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) environment, which is commonly utilized in every national university in the post-Covid 19 era. Therefore, it is crucial for both teachers and digital immigrant students in higher education to understand emerging challenges in their learning environments and how to overcome those challenges. This study was conducted as a semi-structured literature review based on two objectives: to examine the challenges faced by digital immigrants in an ODL environment and to investigate strategies to mitigate those challenges and become active learners. After formulating the research objectives, the literature was examined using key words such as digital immigrants, higher education, open and distance learning, and challenges faced by digital immigrants. 66 articles were identified under the process of identification which was done through database searching. 20 articles were included in this review after excluding the articles that are not relevant to the present research scope. Most of the literature was presented in online journals and after a thorough investigation, analysis, synthesis and disseminating the findings were done. The data gathered through the systematic review was analyzed under two themes (Challenges faced by Digital Immigrants in an ODL environment & Strategies to mitigate Challenges faced by Digital Immigrants in an ODL environment) utilizing the thematic analysis method. The findings of the study revealed communication issues, lack of interaction, lack of confidence, lack of technological competency, and lack of interest as the student related challenges that are faced by digital immigrants. Connectivity issues and teacher related issues also stand as challenges for digital immigrants. Using blended learning approaches instead of limiting to online modes, utilizing social network tools, strengthening their own skills such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking, and creating authentic learning situations to relate their own experience to learning will support to mitigate the afore-mentioned challenges. Based on the research findings, it is crucial to identify the nature of the learning styles of digital immigrants and their expectations towards learning methods when facilitating them in an ODL environment. Using effective blended learning methods and providing continuous guidance with authentic examples will enable them to survive in their learning journey within the ODL environment.
Exploring fertility dynamics: a comparative analysis of ethnic groups in segregated and integrated living spaces in Sri Lanka
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2023-09-20) Masakorala, P.P.
There is a social claim that the fertility of minority ethnic groups is increasing at a rate greater than that of the majority Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. Addressing this issue is important because it affects the ethnic integrity of the society. Despite there being substantial studies on fertility in Sri Lanka, previous research has not looked into the spatial and ethnic differences of fertility, despite its significance. This research aims to analyze ethnic fertility differences from a spatial perspective. The data was collected from 480 women aged 18 to 81, spanning three generations where different ethnic groups liveintegrated and different ethnic groups live segregated. Summarizing the study's results, it can be concluded that ethnic differencesin fertility vary according to spatial context. In integrated spaces, there are no significant ethnic differences in fertility. However, ethnic differences in fertility becomes distinct when ethnic groups live in segregated areas. Sinhala women, compared to minorities, exhibit significantly lower levels of fertility when living in segregated environments. Previous studies have also reported a decreasing number of childbirths among Sinhalese over the past several decades, with no underlying reasons identified. Moor women, on the other hand, have the highest level of fertility, compared to Sinhala women. Factorssuch as higher fertility levels among the Moors and deliberate avoidance of family planning due to community pressures, as highlighted by community leaders, are crucial contributors to high fertility among the Moors. It is important to note that this difference may not persist into the future, as it is primarily present among older generations of different ethnicities and not as prominent among the younger generation. As a result, it can be inferred that ethnic differences in fertility will likely diminish in the country. However, the level of fertility has transitioned from below to above replacement level across all ethnic groups in each space. Thus, it is recommended that further studies be conducted with a theoretical framework rooted in ethno-nationalism and majority- minority concepts.
Effectiveness of traditional and skills-oriented teaching to enhance generic skills in Chemistry in junior secondary schools: a case study in Central Province, Sri Lanka
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2023-09-20) Balasritharan, K.; Jayasundera, A. C. A.; Chandrasena, W. D.
In the teaching-learning process, assessments have become an essential key topic. It is very important to revisit the instructional and assessment systems from the 21st century perspective as it demands real-world learning with skills as learning outcomes. This study examines the effectiveness of traditional teaching and assessment versus skills-oriented instruction and assessment in enhancing generic skills in learning Chemistry in junior secondary schools in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. This is an experimental study employing a mixed methods approach. Two sub-units from the Grade Seven Science curriculum were selected for instruction. Nine schools were selected from the Central Province with a sample size of 636 students by convenience sampling. Two parallel classes of Grade Seven in each school were selected. A Pre-test was administered to both classes to ensure comparability of the groups. One class was considered as a control group and the other class as an experiment group. In the 2nd sub-unit these groups were interchanged. The first lesson was conducted using a traditional method for the control group, while using a skills-oriented instructional and assessment method for the experimental group. The parallel classes were switched over in the second lesson employing the same teachers. After the teaching-learning process, post-tests were administered to both groups for both lessons. While conducting both traditional and skills-oriented learning, generic skills were observed by the researcher with the help of three other teachers with scoring rubrics. The difference between the mean scores of the pre-tests, the post-test, and the generic skill test were compared. According to the results, skills-oriented groups showed significantly higher performance than the traditional group. Furthermore, the observational data analysis demonstrated that the students of the skills-oriented instructional group demonstrated better orientation to real life situations. The findings from focus group discussions with students and teachers revealed that the skills-oriented instructional and assessment cultivate much higher generic skills than traditional instruction and assessment. Thus, it is concluded that the skills-oriented instruction and assessment methods could be successfully applied for conceptualization developing generic skills in Grade Seven Science in the selected schools.
An investigation on non-linguistic cognitive benefits of bilingual adolescents to introduce an appropriate CLIL model for the bilingual education programme in Sri Lanka
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2023-09-20) Kalegana, K.K.C.S.; Ekanayake, E.M.P.C.S.
Bilingualism is the ability of the user to use two languages for communication. Self-Efficacy is described as a Non-Linguistic Cognitive benefit of being Bilingual. Adolescence is the age that an individual realizes the value of use of English as a connecting language in communication. In past studies, since it is revealed that Early Bilingualism gives more cognitive benefits, a hypothesis was tested in this research and the Academic Self Efficacy levels were measured in a survey. The study carried out to compare the significant differences among the Bilingual Adolescents exposed to two languages under the four diverse age slots of life during their childhood which were identified as FB, KG, PS, BE. The Convergent parallel Mixed Methods Research Design was used, employing 300 bilingual adolescents from six selected 1AB schools, and 8 bilingual adolescents were observed and interviewed in a multiple case study. Quantitative data were analyzed in SPSS, One Way ANOVA and no significant differences were noticed to say that the age of bilingual exposure could be a reason to outwit early bilinguals than late bilinguals. Through data triangulation, the learning environment, the motivation of the school, the economic and social backgrounds of the parents, and the competition for university entrance were identified to be the most striking factors, than the effect of the age they were first exposed to a bilingual environment. To improve the academic consilience of language teaching process in Sri Lanka, it is crucial to develop a suitable CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) model which meets future endeavors of Social Sciences in the country.
A study on the potential of fansubbing as English language learning activity: Fansubbers’ perspectives
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2023-09-20) Ratnayake, I.M.
The study of the English language can assist learners in understanding and enjoying the culture of the target language community and in sharing what they enjoy in their language community or other communities with the world through translation. In developing the success of language learning, there are numerous means outside the traditional classroom walls by which learners can learn a language more practically while enjoying the learning process. Fansubbing, or amateur production, is one such activity which is a newly added area into the subject domain of Audio-Visual Translation, in which a foreign film or foreign television program is translated by fans and subtitled into a language other than that of the original. The present study particularly focuses on the potential of fansubbing as a language learning activity with special reference to the English and Sinhala languages in the Sri Lankan context. An exploratory questionnaire was distributed among ten selected fansubbers of baiscope.lk, a website that provides Sinhala subtitles for a wide range of English movies/TV series/programs in Sri Lanka. One reason behind selecting the aforementioned sub-community of fansubbing is that it was chosen as the 5th among the most popular websites in Sri Lanka according to the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing. Data gathered through the questionnaire were then analysed using the Content Analysis Method. The objective of this study was to collect data concerning fansubbers’ involvement in fansubbing, their point of view on this fansubbing activity in general, and their perspective on it being utilised for language learning to determine its potential for application as a language learning activity. The results revealed that most of the questionnaire respondents agreed with fansubbing as a language learning activity and that they experience benefits both linguistically and socially as a result of fansubbing.