Research Publications
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Publication Open Access Enhancing Interactive Learning in English-Medium Science: A Practitioner Intervention within the CLIL Framework(School of Education, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Mukarrama, M; Wijesekera, H.DInteractive learning is essential for meaningful engagement in science classrooms, especially in Sri Lanka’s bilingual education (BE) system, where students transition from Mother Tongue Instruction (MTI) to English Medium Instruction (EMI) in Grade Six. Student reluctance to participate in EMI science lessons, often due to limited English proficiency, remains underexplored in this context. This study investigated the root causes of student reticence and implemented targeted interventions to enhance interaction through collaborative group work, evaluating the efficacy of these interventions. The research involved 21 Grade 8 Tamil-English emerging bilingual female students from a government school in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, who exhibited varied levels of English proficiency. None had prior exposure to Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), the specified teaching approach to EMI, which is the main strategy deployed in the study. For this purpose, a single-group, quasi-experimental mixed- methods action research design was employed, structured around Lim’s (2007) balanced model. Data collection occurred over three stages: before, during, and after intervention, using academic records, structured oral tasks, focus group discussions, classroom observations, and questionnaires. The intervention used collaborative group strategies within a CLIL framework, incorporating multimodal scaffolding, translanguaging (navigation between L1 and L2), and motivational techniques to foster engagement. Qualitative data underwent Thematic Content Analysis (TCA), and the quantitative written and oral evaluation marks from pre-test, test during the intervention, and post-test were compared using a Paired t-test. Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Anxiety (FLCSA) was inferred through pre-test qualitative indicators. The mid-intervention and the post-test findings confirm that collaborative CLIL activities, when novel, cognitively stimulating, and linguistically supportive, can significantly enhance interactive learning, reduce anxiety, and promote engagement in bilingual EMI classrooms. This study offers practical implications for science educators seeking to apply integrative pedagogical approaches tailored to the linguistic and cognitive needs of BE learners. Further research should explore long-term retention and use validated anxiety measures within control group settings.Publication Open Access Collaborative learning designs using PyramidApp: computer supported collaborative learning in classroom sessions(CIDUI Congrés Internacional de Docència Universitària i Innovació, 2021) Amarasinghe, I; Hernández Leo, D; Manatunga, K; Beardsley, M; Garcia, J. B; Carrió, M; Pérez, J. C; Santos, D. L; Pastor, S. L; Moreno, J. M; Rodríguez, P. S; Vujovic, MDesigning effective collaborative learning activities for classroom is challenging. The PyramidAppis a tool that facilitates the implementation of the Pyramid pattern, shaping a collaboration structure that promotes the participation of all students and fruitful social interactions. This paper shows how this educational strategy can be applied to different types of tasks and subject matters, shedding light about how computersupported collaborative learning can be incorporated in the classroom.Publication Embargo Collaborative Learning Designs using PyramidApp(BEYOND COMPETENCIES: NEW CHALLENGES IN A DIGITAL SOCIETY, 2021-09-22) Amarasinghe, I; Hernández-Leo, D; Manatunga, K; Beardsley, M; Garcia, J.B; Llach, M. C; Chacón-Pérez, J; Jimenez-Morales, M; Santos, D. L; Pastor, S. L; Moreno, J. M; Rodriguez, P. S; Vujovic, MDesigning effective collaborative learning activities for classroom is challenging. The PyramidAppis a tool that facilitates the implementation of the Pyramid pattern, shaping a collaboration structure that promotes the participation of all students and fruitful social interactions. This paper shows how this educational strategy can be applied to different types of tasks and subject matters, shedding light about how computersupported collaborative learning can be incorporated in the classroom.Publication Open Access Readiness for" Social Learning Management System"(Social LMS) in Sri Lankan Universities: A case study research based on the students' perspectives.(International Journal of Advanced Studies in Computers, Science and Engineering, 2018-11-30) Gunawardhana, D. N. T; Perera, H. S. CPaper discusses the readiness for the Social Learning Management System in Sri Lankan Universities. The main objective of the study, was to identify the factors to be reconsidered in the existing Learning Management Systems. This is a multiple case study research based on two universities in Sri Lanka. Undergraduate students in the University of Colombo and the University of Moratuwa were included in the population and the sample method employed for the data collection in this research was Stratified Purposive Sampling. Learning Management System has become a support system of vital importance in higher education. Social Learning Management System is formed because of the Collaborative Learning methods in an online learning environment. The findings reveal that the willingness of undergraduate students to work in the social network environment for learning and grouping. The Social Learning Management System is a new concept and it has not yet been initiated in universities in Sri Lanka. The students’ responses have indirectly shown the importance of 'Social LMS'. That is, they have been explaining the features of 'Social LMS' in their responses. They have discussed the functionality of ‘Social LMS’ pointing out the lack of collaborative learning environment of existing LMS. The research has discovered that students already possess the mental and knowledge readiness towards the building of Social Learning Management System in Universities of Sri Lanka.