The Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization, proudly presents the below research by Meleesha Jayaratne and Tharuthi Dharmaratne, Whyteleafe Junior Researchers (Sri Lanka), in support of the 2022 #WorldScienceDay theme’s #BasicSciencesForSustainableDevelopment, along with encouraging students toward further research-based projects.

The theme of World Science Day on 10 November 2022 is Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. It is being celebrated within the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, which kicked off on 8 July 2022. Scientists, science communicators, and science enthusiasts are encouraged to prepare their events to celebrate #WorldScienceDay.
“The annual observance of theInternational Week ofScience and Peace, 9-15 November (A/RES/43/61), is making an important contribution to the promotion of peace. The Week encourages greater academic exchanges on a subject of universal importance while also generating greater awareness of the relationship of science and peace among the general public. Based on observances of Science and Peace Week to date, it may be expected that participation each year will increase, contributing to greater international understanding and opportunities for co-operation in the applications of science for the promotion of peace throughout the year.” #ScienceForDevelopmentAndPeace 
Source: https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-science-day/week

Whyteleafe Junior Researchers Series

Suitability of E-learning Techniques for School Children in the Sri Lankan Context
by Meleesha Jayaratne and Tharuthi Dharmaratne, Whyteleafe Junior Researchers 
29/09/2022

Introduction

E-learning is the computer and network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge. E-learning processes include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual education opportunities, and digital collaboration. Content is delivered via the Internet, intranet/extranet, audio or video tape, satellite TV, and CD-ROM. It can be self-paced or instructor-led and includes media in the form of text, image, animation, streaming video, and audio. E-learning can also be termed as a network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge, and the delivery of education is made to many recipients at the same or different times.

The investigation was carried out on students. The subject was selected from those schools having E-Learning facilities in some districts in Sri Lanka. 145 school students and 55 parents were included in the study. The age range of the school students was 11-18 years as they were selected randomly. Self-made questionnaires were used for sample surveys.

E-learning is the computer and network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge. E-learning processes include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual education opportunities, and digital collaboration. Content is delivered via the Internet, intranet/extranet, audio or video tape, satellite TV, and CD-ROM. It can be self-paced or instructor-led and includes media in the form of text, image, animation, streaming video, and audio. E-learning can also be termed as a network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge, and the delivery of education is made to many recipients at the same or different times. 

It is a widely known fact that now technology is becoming the medium for teaching and learning. This technology-enabled instructional method is aimed to improve the quality of education. They lose interest quickly in addition to traditional methods of learning such as book reading, and a variety of online learning resources provide an atmosphere of fun and interaction designed to keep children engaged. When we look around the world E-Learning has become an integral part of education. In conclusion, beginning online learning for children at an early age is an important step to consider, given that education can lead to a more successful lifestyle, better social integration, and greater self–confidence.

 The investigation was carried out on students. The subject was selected from those schools having E-Learning facilities in some districts in Sri Lanka. 145 school students and 55 parents were included in the study. The age range of the school students was 11-18 years as they were selected randomly. Self-made questionnaires were used for sample surveys.

First, we will be introducing our research objectives and our research questions. Then we will inspect the existing exchange of views about the topic we are working on. To perform this research, we will be using 2 questionnaires sent to parents and children between the age of 11 and 18 which will be analyzed using mixed methods. In summary, most children and parents don’t recommend E-learning.

Research Question:

 Is E-Learning suitable for school students in Sri Lanka? And how has it been affecting them?

Many studies have been conducted, mainly in a university environment, and researchers have identified both advantages and disadvantages of e-learning. But very little is known about the applicability and suitability of e-learning to students. So, the research we chose to carry out aims to answer the question: “Is E-Learning suitable for school students in Sri Lanka? And how has it been affecting them?”

Research Objectives

• To find out how suitable and applicable is E-Learning for school children in Sri Lanka.

• To find out how E-Learning has been affecting school children in Sri Lanka.

Materials and Methods

The data for this study was taken from online surveys shared among the society and answered by children aged from 11-18 and separate surveys for adults which will be analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. In the 1st survey, a sample of 145 students was taken to the study from Colombo, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Monaragala, and Kalutara and in the 2nd survey, a sample of 55 parents was taken to the study from Colombo, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kagalle, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Galle. The response rates of Colombo and Ratnapura are higher than the other districts rated in the 1st Survey and the response rate of Colombo is higher than the other districts in the 2nd survey. Tabulation and analysis were done with the help of Microsoft Excel. A T-test was used for data analysis.

The objective of this research is to find how suitable E-Learning is for school students aged between 11 and 18.

 Under this main purpose, from this study, we could find out whether,

a) E-Learning increases students’ learning abilities

b) E-Learning enhances students’ efficiency as a student

c) E-Learning helps students’ academic engagement 

d) E-Learning improves students’ teamwork skills

e) It’s easy to concentrate on E-Learning for students

f) E-Learning is better than physical learning

g) Students feel comfortable taking online classes

h) E-Learning motivates a student to learning

i) Students enjoy E-Learning

j) Students and parents recommend E-Learning

Results

We found that E-Learning doesn’t seem to enhance a child’s learning abilities and efficiency as a student. We discovered that E-Learning helps most of the student’s academic engagement. This study revealed that E-Learning doesn’t seem to be improving teamwork skills among students. This analysis shows that students are having trouble concentrating while learning online. According to the analysis, a great number of students and parents don’t consider E-learning better than traditional learning. Drawing from the discussion, the majority of the students don’t seem to be comfortable taking online classes. We also found out that E-Learning doesn’t motivate a student to learn. We came to know that half of the students seem to enjoy online classes while the other half don’t. And ultimately this study showed us that the preponderance of school students and parents aren’t under the impression of recommend E-Learning.

Conclusion

We did this research to find out the suitability and applicability of E-Learning to school students in Sri Lanka and how it has been affecting them. 

We found out that E-Learning doesn’t seem to be,

• enhancing students’ learning abilities and efficiency, 

• improving teamwork skills among students and motivating them

• preferable to traditional learning

 Most importantly, students and parents don’t seem to be recommending E-Learning. According to our findings, the following actions can be taken to improve the existing system of E-Learning in Sri Lanka

• Making the teaching methods more creative so students will concentrate on the lesson.

• Making the lesson more entertaining so the students won’t lose interest. 

• Assigning more team projects for students to increase the synergy.

• Organize plenary sessions about the importance of learning to motivate school students.

We came to a conclusion that even though there’s a lot of advantages of E-Learning, it might not be suitable as it seems for school students aged between 11 and 18 in Sri Lanka. So, we think that the government should take actions and proceed to make E-Learning more applicable for school students, otherwise they won’t be educated efficiently.

– . –

Declaration

We the undersigned solemnly declare that the project report is based on the work carried out during our study. We assert the statements made and conclusions drawn are an outcome of our research work.

We further certify that 

I. The work contained in the report is original and has been done by us under the general supervision of our supervisor, Mr. Nalaka Swarnathilake

II. Whenever we have used materials (data, theoretical analysis, and text) from other sources, we have given due credit to them in the text of the report and given their details in the references.
– Meleesha Jayarathne and Tharuthi Dharmarathne (29/09/2022)

Whyteleafe Academy

Dedicated to the 2022 World Science Day & International Week of Science and Peace byThe Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization (LMGlobal.Org; 2001, New York); associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (formerly, UN.DPI) since 2005. www.lmglobal.org

Social Media: Facebook@lightmillennium | Linkedin@The Light Millennium | Twitter@lightmillennium | Instragam@lightmillennium Facebook@bircan.unver.35