Success in teacher education: a comparative study of the factors affecting student success in teacher education programmes conducted through distance mode

This thesis seeks to identify factors which affect 'seU-perceived success' among graduate teachers taking courses at a distance and to apply the findings to the development of a Sri Lankan distance taught teacher education programme. Interviews with eight part-time PGCE students (UK) and discussions with the PGCE and OUUK course co-ordinators together with knowledge of Sri Lankan situation helped the development of two questionnaires (Teacher Education Questionnaire I for students and II for tutors). Data were collected from the 564 0l!SL (PGDE) I 299 OUUK (Advanced Diploma) and 57 part-time PGCE students and five tutors from each of the three programmes. A series of factor analyses of 28 'agree- disagree' statements for the OVERALL and the OUSL and OUUI< samples separately produced similar results and allowed common scores to be calculated. These scores, together with data from other items were then grouped into seven sets. Each set represented a possible area of influence on 'seU-perceived success'. Discriminant analysis was used to establish the major differences between the OUUI< and OUSL student populations. The two populations only differed in terms of support systems developed by the two institutions (OUUI< and OUSL). Both factor and discriminant analyses provided evidence that the development of a common model was possible in the understanding of 'self-perceived success' (represented by items measuring overall satisfaction, course will give skills, confident about passing and satisfaction with progress) among teachers taking courses at a distance. Then, the seven sets were submitted to a series of stepwise regression analyses to identify their importance in predicting 'seUperceived success'. The order in which the seven sets of variables were entered into the regression equation is as follows: (1) Self-related Demographics (2) Family Factors (2) School-related Variables (4) Study Time and Style of Study (5) Course-related Variables (6) Contact with Fellow Students (7) Contact with Tutor. The results demonstrated that all the seven sets of variables had a role to play in predicting 'self-perceived success' with Course-related Variables playing the strongest part. 'High transfer to practice', 'workload, level and methods suits' and 'important to pass' were the best single predictors of 'self-perceived success' but some variables related to tutor contact, contact with fellow students, school, family and self and study methods also significantly contributed either in the regression process (process model) or at the final stage of the analysis (final model). Separate analyses for the OUUK and OUSL samples confirmed. that seven sets of variables counted in both populations. The contributions made by noncourse factors in explaining 'self-perceived success' were more pronounced in the OUSL than in the OUUK regression. Finally, on the basis of the major findings of the study, suggestions for changes to the Sri Lankan PGOE programme are made. It is suggested that 'self-perceived success' of the PGDE students can be strengthened by various means, including improving the applicability of the course, strengthening support for Teaching Practice, promoting more and better student-tutor contact and student-student contact and also, improving OUSL- school contact

The Impact of Socio-Economic Changes in Female Employment Patterns in Sri Lanka

The introduction of free education system [1943] and the open economy [1977]in Sri Lanka have established a reversal of gender rolesand increased the femalerepresentation in the local job market and the migrant sector worker category. Thetraditional domestic housewife role changed to an active worker who contributesimmensely to the wellbeing of the self, family and the country. The scholars wereinterested in this phenomenon and they identified two types of „sexual division oflabour‟ in feudal society based on gender; „horizontal and vertical‟. Barret (1988) callsthis „industrial apartheid‟ and Coulson et al (1975) too have discussed the role thehousewife play in capitalist economy. Barron and Norris (1976) identify the sexualdivision of labour of the workers in the economic sphere as „primary and secondarysector‟. The main objective in this research is to find out how the female employmentpatterns in Sri Lanka have changed from „horizontal secondary sector‟ to a „verticalprimary sector‟ due to the influence of free education and open economy. The researchdesign used was survey. A structured questionnaire was used as the method of datacollection. Randomly selected sample of 500 females [250 urban and 250 rural] weregiven the questionnaire to be completed. The official statistics issued by differentDepartments, Ministries and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka were utilized in preliminaryliterature survey. In the study it was identified that the contribution made by the SriLankan females in all sectors of economy has been outstanding and the urban femalesenjoy more opportunities than rural females. In a social dimension there has been arecognizable move from „horizontal secondary sector‟ to a „vertical primary sector‟.Key words: Sexualdivision of labour, Industrial apartheid, Primary and secondarysector, Horizontal and vertical division of labou

重要植物の持続可能な効果的生産方法の開発

国立大学法人長岡技術科学大

Perspective Chapter: Social Work Education in University Curricula for Sustainable Development

Universities of both global North and South have been changing from the traditional teaching-learning centers to cater to sustainability issues of those countries. Yet, there is a remarkable difference between the universities in the developed and the developing world. It has been found out that the different disciplines of university curricula can be integrated to address and minimize the adverse effects of unsustainability issues. The graduates of the universities will be the future leaders who have to cater to the needs and cope with the challenges of the next generation. There is a dearth of professional social workers to provide the necessary services as numerous catastrophes occur. The global society needs individuals who are equally sound in the knowledge of theory and the experience of practice. As the contemporary global issues become complex, the world needs competent social workers who can serve in different fields of practice. Social work could be the pivotal discipline in understanding common tragedies of the people to apply problem-solving model with the practitioners who are equipped with twenty-first century skills. Social work has to take a transition from a unidisciplinary to a multi- and trans-disciplinary perspective in achieving this objective

The Changes of the Readership in a Digitised Age

The unprecedented changes the information and communication technology[ICT] revolution brought to the human society have been immense. In all elements theinfluence of technology can be seen in a remarkable way. In studying the accumulationof knowledge also it is understood that the older generation relies more on the printedmaterials like books, newspapers, journals and magazines. But the present, youngergeneration has become more interested in utilizing the sophisticated technology in theireducational and recreational purposes. Castells‟ [2005] concepts„network society‟ and„the informational mode of development‟ indicate the nature of technologicalglobalization. Simon [2001], Carol et al [2008], Siemens and Nahachewsky [2010]andMardis et al [2010] have studied the e-reading of the children whereas Twyla et aland Doiron [2011] on the adult readers. Li [2008] and Schlozer [2011] have studied thee-reading industry in detail. This particular study aims at investigating the type ofimpact the technology has imposed on the present younger generation especially inrelation to e-reading. Simultaneously it tries to gather the changesthat have gotestablished among parents and children in utilizing technology in reading. The present,younger generation is prone towards digital technologies than their parents. In thissurvey hundred [100] families of Colombo have been selected randomly and the readinghabits of the parents and children were compared by using a structured questionnaire todocument the changes established in relation to readership. In analyzing the quantitativedata it was understood that mostly the youth have become addicted to the digitized formof materials like e-book reading or referencing while the elder generation too utilize it ina limited manner.Key words: Readership, Digitised age, Information and Communication Technology,Information society, E-book readin

Internal quality failures of apparel industry: A case from Sri Lanka

Apparel industry in Sri Lanka has recorded a consistent development advancing from the customary low-wage driven model into mind bogging worldwide recognized apparel hub in South Asia. Since quality holds a significant importance in the garment exports of developing countries, this research is a case based qualitative investigation to explore factors leading to quality failures in a medium-scale export oriented apparel manufacturing company located in the Colombo district of Sri Lanka. The study has employed thematic analysis to explore and analyze the inner experience of participants with regards to the quality aspects of garment manufacturing. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from ten employees through purposive sampling whom are directly responsible in the product line operations and for quality inspections. Findings suggest that the quality assurance, quality control and the operators’ skill levels are vital in minimizing the quality failures in the selected company. Beside these, workers’ absenteeism, machine problems and less awareness on quality standards contribute to quality failures. The findings further elaborate that the semi-skilled or un-skilled operators contribute to the internal quality failures of the selected apparel company. Findings of the study are beneficial to the practitioners of the apparel industry to enhance their understanding on factors which contribute to quality failures and would offer new insights on how to cater the customers with high quality apparel products

A TRACER STUDY OF A COHORT OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN OUSL: PERCEIVED BENEFITS FROM PARTICIPATION IN DEGREE PROGRAMMES

An exploratory study involving students enrolled in Law and Science degree programmers of The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) was conducted to identify students' progression in the programmers, the perceived benefits in terms of occupational and social mobility, and economic returns, and any other non-pecuniary benefits. Especially developedquestionnaire was administered to a sample of students to get. their views on the benefits obtained. Results of this study unveiled crucial information of perceived and non-perceived benefits of the OUSL degree programmers. It could be observed that a substantial number of students have experienced a change in their employment and a huge increase in their income after completing the programs. Other interesting feature is that the number of students, who were in the lowest income level, had decreased substantially

The Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) to Three Freshwater Invertebrates With Different Life Strategies: Hydra vulgaris, Daphnia carinata, and Paratya australiensis

The toxicity of manufactured nanoparticles varies greatly depending on the test species in consideration and estimates of toxicity may also be confounded by test media in which the organisms are cultured. For a more comprehensive toxicity evaluation, species at different trophic levels or with life strategies, tested in different media should be included. In this study, we examined the toxicity of tyrosine-coated silver nanonparticles (tyr-AgNP) to three Australian freshwater invertebrates: Hydra vulgaris, Daphnia carinata, and Paratya australiensis. Tyr-AgNPs were synthesized, characterized and their behavior was examined in different media used for acute toxicity tests. Additionally, the sensitivity of tested organisms to tyr-AgNPs was compared to ionic silver (Ag+). Based on the LC50 values of both tyr-AgNPs and Ag+ ions at different time points, D. carinata was found to be the most sensitive species followed by P. australiensis and H. vulgaris. NP stability studies revealed that tyr-AgNPs were least stable in hydra medium followed by daphnid and shrimp media. This study demonstrates that significant differences in NP toxicity to aquatic organisms exist and the test media and the life strategy of the species play a key role in these differences. Therefore, it is recommended that a multispecies approach is used in predictive risk assessment of NPs and to ensure protection of native species from possible toxic effects from NPs released into aquatic systems. Also recommended is to carefully investigate the fate and behavior of NPs in different media in assessing NP toxicity and emphasize the need to use native species in developing relevant regulatory frameworks

The toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to three freshwater invertebrates with different life strategies: Hydra vulgaris, Daphnia carinata, and Paratya australiensis

The toxicity of manufactured nanoparticles varies greatly depending on the test species in consideration and estimates of toxicity may also be confounded by test media in which the organisms are cultured. For a more comprehensive toxicity evaluation, species at different trophic levels or with life strategies, tested in different media should be included. In this study, we examined the toxicity of tyrosine-coated silver nanonparticles (tyr-AgNP) to three Australian freshwater invertebrates: Hydra vulgaris, Daphnia carinata, and Paratya australiensis. Tyr-AgNPs were synthesized, characterized and their behavior was examined in different media used for acute toxicity tests. Additionally, the sensitivity of tested organisms to tyr-AgNPs was compared to ionic silver (Ag+). Based on the LC50 values of both tyr-AgNPs and Ag+ions at different time points, D. carinata was found to be the most sensitive species followed by P. australiensis and H. vulgaris. NP stability studies revealed that tyr-AgNPs were least stable in hydra medium followed by daphnid and shrimp media. This study demonstrates that significant differences in NP toxicity to aquatic organisms exist and the test media and the life strategy of the species play a key role in these differences. Therefore, it is recommended that a multispecies approach is used in predictive risk assessment of NPs and to ensure protection of native species from possible toxic effects from NPs released into aquatic systems. Also recommended is to carefully investigate the fate and behavior of NPs in different media in assessing NP toxicity and emphasize the need to use native species in developing relevant regulatory frameworks

Habitat Selection in Dung Beetles (Family Scrabaeidae; Subfamily Scarabaeinae) in the Wasgomuwa National Park

A study was carried out to investigate habitat selection of dung beetles in terms of bothhabitat and dung types. The present study was considered necessary as information on theecology of dung beetles in the dry zone of Sri Lanka is lacking. A total of 125 pitfall trapswere set in five habitat types (dry-mixed evergreen forest, riverine forest, stream/river banks,scrubland and grassland) and using five types of mammalian dung (leopard, ungulate,elephant, bear and buffalo) as baits. The pitfall traps were laid in the morning and kept openfor 24 hrs. A two-way ANOVA was conducted to discern significant differences betweenspecies richness and abundance of dung beetles across habitats and dung types.A total of 455 individuals belonging to 22 species and 7 genera were recorded from the pitfalltraps. This included one endemic species. Significant differences in species richness wasapparent (P&lt;0.05;F=3.34) between the different habitat types with the highest number ofspecies of dung beetles in the riverine habitat (20 species) and the lowest in stream/river bankhabitats (8 species). No significant differences were recorded with respect to abundanceacross the habitat types. However there was a trend that, from among the five habitats, thestream/river banks showed highest abundance whilst the scrubland had the lowest abundance.Considering preferences of dung types, significant differences were apparent for both speciesrichness (P&lt;0.05; F=4.09) and abundance (P&lt;0.05; F= 0.02). The highest species richnesswas supported by leopard dung (19 species) whilst the lowest number of species (11 speciesin each) was observed in both bear and ungulate dung. Highest abundance of dung beetleswas on bear dung whilst the lowest was on ungulate dung. Moreover some species wererestricted only to a few habitats or dung types (Onthophagus cervus only in riverine habitatand Onthophagus quedentatus only in buffalo dung).This study has for the first time revealed habitat and dung preferences among dung beetles inthe dry zone Sri Lanka. Such information would be essential for the maintenance of a healthypopulation of dung beetles, which in turn would benefit natural ecosystems because of theirinvaluable ecological services.