Research Papers - School of Natural Sciences
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Publication Open Access THE USE OF BLOOM’S TAXONOMY TO ASSESS STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE EFFECTIVELY IN WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS(2017) Peiris, S; Peiris, C. N; Wickramasinghe, SBloom’s Taxonomy is widely used, to bring out thinking ability in students, as an assessment method. In this article we emphasize four types of methods generally used in evaluating the intended learning outcomes in written examinations. How questions should be structured in each level of cognitive domain is discussed with an example in multiple choice questions (MCQ), short answer question (SAQ), structured type questions (STQ) and essay type questions (ETQ). Common biological applications were used as example questions. The questions were developed to show how students’ thinking ability was brought out when questions were structured in line with the levels of cognitive domain in Bloom’s Taxonomy. In conclusion, this paper defines how the application of Bloom’s Taxonomy helps in developing complete answers which come out not from the students’ memory but from applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating.Publication Open Access WEB BASED MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENTS IN UNIVERSITIES(INQAAHE Conference, 9-11 April, 2013-Chinese Taipei, 2013-04-09) Peiris, C. N; Wickramasinghe, S; Peiris, S; Meegama, R; Upeksha, G; Hettiarachchi, SExternal Quality Assessment (EQA) is the major component of QA framework in Sri Lanka. The main function of EQA is to review the standard and quality of the HEIs and its programmes of study and to provide the outcome to stakeholders to observe their expectations. Due to lack of organized mechanism to monitor and evaluate the outcome of the EQA conducted in universities the improvement in quality is not visible. Also the System users are in different geographical locations and therefore, no access to observe the outcome of EQA’s. A web based approach was developed, as a method to achieve the expected outcomes of EQA’s. The system provides user friendly, accurate and up-to date information of EQAs and also it provides a feedback mechanism through online forms/questionnaires. The easy access of information would provide the authorities a basis for decision making to improve higher education sector in Sri Lanka.Publication Open Access Establishment of embryogenic cell suspension culture of chilli (capsicum annum L. var. accuminatum fingerh) for somatic embryogenesis(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1996) Nandakumar, J; Bandara, J. M. R. S; Peiris, SChilli [Capsicum annum L. var. accuminatum Fingerh] is one of the important spice crops ofSri Lanka. Embryogenic suspension cultures of chilli were developed with an objective to induce somatic embryogenesis Successful callus induction was obtained from both leaves and cotyledons of two weeks old seedlings in MS medium containing 1 ppm 2, 4 • D, after incubation in the dark for two to three weeks. A combination ofKinetin (0.x ppm) and 2,4- D (1 ppm) promoted callus proliferation at a high rate. Cell suspension cultures were established using 2 g of four week old leaf and cotyledon calli in 20 ml of liquid MS medium with 1 ppm 2, 4- D in 100 ml Erlenmeyer flasks. Weekly sub culturing was performed. MS medium with 2. 4-D (1 ppm) stimulated embryogenesis on cotyledon callus after 12 weeks in culture. Embryogenic calli formed are pale yellow to brown, compact, organized and nodular in appearance. It comprised of small, richly cytoplasmic cells without large vacuoles. Both initiation of embryogenic cells and the subsequent development of these cells into embryoids occurred in the. same MS (2, 4-D 1 ppm) medium. Within a period of five to seven days, 12 week old, 20 ml of embryogenic cell suspension produced 14 proembryoids After 7-14 days they developed into heart stage and to mature embryoids Plantlet development has not observed until now in the tested MS media, containing activated charcoal, zeatin, IBA and GA3.Publication Open Access An evaluation of genetic diversity in micropropagated anthurium using starch gel electrophoresis(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1992) Peiris, S; Mantell, S. H; Peiris, C. N; Senanayake, Y. D. AAnthurium andreanum Lind is a cut flower which is in high demand in the local and export cut flower trades in Sri Lanka. For commercial production of export anthurium cut flowers, it is essential that the selected elite qualities of the flowers borne on this original mother stock plants are maintained consistantly through many generations on vegetative multiplication. Tliis paper reports on stanch gel electrophoresis which was adapted successfully on anthuriums to evaluate genetic diversity if any, in plants derived either from seedlings, conventional stem cuttings or micropropagated clonal plants. Buffered leaf extracts were compared by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis to check the variability in cv. 'Crinkled Red'. Isoenzyme banding patterns of malic dehydrogenase (MDH), 6 phosphogluconic dehydrogenase (6 PGDH), phosphogluco isomerase (PGI) and diaphorase (DIAP) were used. Extracts of 105 seedlings, 60 clonal plants produced through rhizome cuttings and 150 in vitro propagated plants were compared to detect possible somaclonal variations in the daughter plants produced. Results of starch gel electrophoresis showed that extracts of seedling plants contained variations, expressed as percentages showing deviant patterns in all five isoenzyme systems assessed: MDH 14%, 6 PGDH 13%, GOT 12%, PGI 14% and DIAP 16%. None of the clonal plants or in vitro propagated plants tested using this technique showed variations in any of the isoenzyme compared. Tlie results of this study showed the genetic diversity in anthwium seedling plants and confirmed that stability was maintained in vegetatively propagated and in vitro propagated plants. Since in vitro propagation produces a large number of uniform and genetically stable plants, in vitro multiplication would appear to be suitable for use in the Sri Lankan floriculture industryPublication Open Access Biodiversity of fruit and other tree species in the Huruluwewa watershed with emphasis on their economic utility(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1997) Amarasinghe, A. A. Y; Peiris, B. C. N; Peiris, SThis stud}1 attempted to determine species and genetic diversity in the Huruluwewa wa'ershed considering basic information on native tree species with emphasis oi i fruit and other tree species of future economic utility. This study :vas carried out in different phases, namely, "reconnaissance survey" leading to specific information of the Huruluwewa watershed to determine the species diversity and "Identification of genetic diversity of fruit tree species" through starch gel electrophoresis techniques. Few groups of fruit tree species showing close similarities were used to establish the "Finger printing" through starch gel electrophoresis to identify the genetic diversity. The existing high degree of species diversity in the Huruluwewa watershed can be categorized into different groups based on their economic utility. These are fruit ti ee species, medicinal plants, firewood species, timber trees, ornamental plants food crops, shade trees, cover crops andfodder crops. Different banding patterns in the starch gel electrophoresis established for fruit tree species with closn morphological similarities, indicated the genetic diversity within and among fruit tree species in the watershedPublication Open Access EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE AT PROGRAM LEVEL: STANDARDS & PERSPECTIVES(APQN AGM and Conference, 7-8 March, 2014-Hanoi, Vietnam, 2014-03-07) Peiris, S; Peiris, C. N; Wickramasinghe, Sare public/private institutions and responsible for quality and standards • University accountability for quality and standards is a key factor in promoting and safeguarding public confidence • To identify and share good practice in the provision of education • To enable funding judgments to be taken on the basis of the outcomes of reviews • To safeguard the standards of awards and the quality of deliveryPublication Open Access SRI LANKA QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK (SLQF) AND SIGNIFICANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION(Yunnan Publishing Group Corporation and Yunnan People's Publishing House, 2015-04-18) Wickramsinghe, S; Peiris, C. N; Peiris, SThe Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework (SLQF) is a nationally consistent framework for all higher education qualifications offered in Sri Lanka. It recognizes the volume of learning of students and identifies the learning outcomes that are to be achieved by the qualification holders. With the objective of having a uniform system in naming a qualification, the designators and qualifiers of each qualification have been identified in the SLQF. The purposes and characteristics of each qualification as well as the minimum admission requirements are also stated in the SLQF. SLQF integrates the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) developed by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission and the pathways of lateral mobility between the vocational education sector and higher education sector have also been identified. SLQF helps in the recognition of accredited prior learning in order to facilitate the vertical mobility within the higher education system. Until the development of SLQF there had been no mechanism to evaluate the qualifications offered by higher education institutions in Sri Lanka. In addition, the SLQF will be helpful to the potential employers to know the level of learning and the attributes of a particular qualification holder. SLQF is useful to the higher education institutions, both in the public and private sector in designing their courses as the minimum level of learning effort required for each qualification is indicated by way of the minimum number of credits that should be earned by a qualification holder. Thus, the SLQF will contribute towards strengthening the quality of higher education qualifications offered by the universities and other higher education institutions in Sri Lanka.Publication Open Access RELATIONSHIP AMONG STUDENTS'LEARNING STYLE, ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES AND STUDENTS'PERFORMANCES(Horizon Campus, National School of Business and Management , Sri Lanka, 2017) Peiris, S; Peiris, C. N; Wickramasinghe, SLearning Outcomes are statements that describe significant and essential learning that learners have achieved, and can reliably be demonstrated at the end of a course or a program. In other words, learning outcomes identify what a learner will know and will be able to do by the end of a course or a program. Assessment is a systematic process of looking at student achievements within and across courses by gathering, interpreting and using information about student learning for educational improvement Curriculum is a planned educational experience in a given discipline implemented within a specified time period to foster the desired academic & professional development of learners in that discipline. Our main objective is to train quality specialists capable to meet the national/international requirements. This paper extensively discusses the importance of assessment, learning outcomes, students‟ learning styles and the relationship between Students‟ Learning Style and the assessment of Student Learning Outcomes. The survey outcomes depict that the identification of Students‟ Learning Style is very important during early stage of a module as it is greatly helpful to prepare assessments and teaching methods which can be used in delivering the module. Students with different learning styles perform differently during assessments in practical and theoretical classes. Most of the lecturers do their best to finish the module according to the given time period. But the important thing is how students achieve the learning outcomes of the particular module. By considering these aspects, it is clear that there is a close relationship among Students‟ Learning Style, Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes and Students‟ Performances.Publication Open Access THE USE OF BLOOM'S TAXONOMY TO ASSESS STUDENTS'PERFORMANCE EFFECTIVELY IN WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS(Horizon Campus, National School of Business and Management , Sri Lanka, 2017) Peiris, S; Wickramasinghe, S; Peiris, C. NBloom’s Taxonomy is widely used, to bring out thinking ability in students, as an assessment method. In this article we emphasize four types of methods generally used in evaluating the intended learning outcomes in written examinations. How questions should be structured in each level of cognitive domain is discussed with an example in multiple choice questions (MCQ), short answer question (SAQ), structured type questions (STQ) and essay type questions (ETQ). Common biological applications were used as example questions. The questions were developed to show how students’ thinking ability was brought out when questions were structured in line with the levels of cognitive domain in Bloom’s Taxonomy. In conclusion, this paper defines how the application of Bloom’s Taxonomy helps in developing complete answers which come out not from the students’ memory but from applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating.Publication Open Access DEVELOPING WEB BASED QUALITY INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AT THE HORIZON CAMPUS(Horizon Campus, National School of Business and Management , Sri Lanka, 2017) Peiris, S; Wickramasinghe, S; Peiris, C. NQuality Information Systems (QIS) provide quality related information to stakeholders. In elearning applications, QIS should provide e-learning materials to the lecturers and the learners who use them. In Student Management Systems (SMS), QIS provide all the facilities to run the administrative functions smoothly. Electronic Research Repository (such as DSpace) enhances the quality of the institute as it reflects the research competencies of the academic staff of the institute. Horizon Campus QIS include eLearning, SMS, DSpace, Library Management System, all based on a single platform. QIS provide better service to their stakeholders anywhere, anytime effectively and efficiently. Students‘ pass rate has been increased after introducing the Learning Management System (LMS). eLearning platforms immensely facilitate the teaching and learning process as they offer an environment-friendly and efficient mechanism for ensuring learner centered teaching and learning. As QIS implemented in a Cloud based System, it is easy to maintain and run with minimal cost.