Abstract
The objective of this paper is to share the success of multiple online teaching and learning technologies employed by Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) during pre and post Covid 19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is experiencing the worst economic downfall in it’s history. Therefore, the challenges to the higher education sector in Sri Lanka have become unique to Sri Lanka.
The challenges for face-to-face teaching and learning were threefold. The human to human contact was restricted due to the pandemic. Transportation in the country was severely affected by the fuel shortage and extremely high fuel prices. Electricity to different parts of the country became unavailable due to scheduled power cuts.
The solution to the first two challenges would be to teach online via synchronous delivery. However, unavailability of electricity to all students at the same time added a further challenge. Inorder to overcome this challenge lecture capture technology had to be introduced along with a lecture video management system and a learning management system.
In this paper, we present the design and deployment aspects of the lecture capture and the lecture video management system. We also discuss the challenges faced during the roll out. In addition we present the student feedback of their experience in transiting from face-to face learning to online learning.
80% of students claimed that online delivery is working well and it enabled them to continue with their studies. We also present the student feedback on different factors of online learning covering lecture delivery, technology, support services and overall assessment, covering two semesters in 2020 and one semester in 2022.
Biography
Dr. Malitha Wijesundara obtained his Bachelor of Engineering degree with Honours in Electronic Engineering from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom in 1998.
He was then offered a scholarship and entered the National University of Singapore, where he completed his PhD in Computer Engineering.
He then joined the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology in year 2005. At present he is the Dean – Faculty of Humanities & Sciences at SLIIT.
He has also held the positions of the vice-president of Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the secretary of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL).
In 2018, he launched an Edu-tech start-up called “Eduscope” to develop technologies for online teaching and training, that won the e-Swabhimani Gold award from ICTA, in the category of Teaching and Learning Innovation in 2019.
After completing M.Sc. and Ph. D. Degrees from the Pennsylvania State University, USA, Prof. Colin N. Peiris served as an academic for 35 years in the University of Peradeniya and finally as the Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, confer the Doctor of Science degree for his contributions to Quality Assurance.
He was hired by the World Bank as a QA Specialist in Sri Lanka and became the founder Director of the QAA Council of Sri Lanka. He was in the Director Boards of APQN and INQAAHE, leading QA Networks in the world.
Mr. Pramadhi Atapattu Arachchi obtained his Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Information Technology from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology.
He successfully commercialized his final year Med Tech research project in partnership with a leading pharmaceutical company in the country.
He is also the first entrepreneur to receive the official approval for a Sri Lankan Innovation in the field of cardiology from the National Medicine Regulatory Authority under the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka.
In 2018, he joined an Edu-tech start-up called “Eduscope” as the Chief Executive Officer to develop technologies for online teaching and training, that won the e-Swabhimani Gold award from ICTA, in the category of Teaching and Learning Innovation in 2019. Eduscope also won the Gold Award in the Category of Education at National ICT Awards NBQSA in 2022 and was also the awarded Overall Silver Winner.