OUSL Research Project on the Implementation of Commonwealth Digital Education
Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) – Phase 3
Final Report
Name of PCT: Seiyathu Ahamedu Muzammil
School: T/T/ Nilaveli Kaileshwara Collage
Province: Eastern
Date Submitted: 15-11-2022
Introduction
My school, T/T/Nilaveli Kaileshwara Collage, is situated in the Northern part of Trincomalee District in Sri Lanka. It is a Type 1C School with 450 students, and 30 teachers. I have been working as an Information Communication Technology (ICT) teacher since 2014. I have also completed Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in the year 2018 from the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL). I have followed the C-DELTA programme (Phase 1) and successfully completed in the year of 2018. Based on the previous experience I have been selected as a Provincial Level Coordinator (PCT) of C-DELTA Phase-3 in year of 2021 for Eastern Province in Sri Lanka.
I had been invited to participate in an inauguration via Zoom on 02-03-2022. Prof. S. P. Shironica Karunanayaka (Project Team Leader of C-DELTA Phase 3 programme) explained in a very good manner what was my role in this project. And on 18.03.2022 a special orientation workshop was held in this regard. Through various group and individual activities, we were guided by the research team in relation to the project. Simultaneously our previous experience, our projects, the challenges we faced, and their solutions were discussed and analyzed. Furthermore, we were informed the name and other details of the School Level Coordinating Teachers (SCT) in our Province.
An Orientation Workshop via Zoom meeting was held on 2nd of April 2022 for all SCTs. During that workshop 5 teachers were identified from Eastern Province. Out of those five teachers 3 teachers agreed to continue with the project. These 3 teachers (including 1 male (Sinhala medium) and 2 female (Tamil medium) agreed to introduce the C-DELTA programme in their school level with my coordination (Eastern Province). Out of these 3 SCTs one Sinhala Medium SCT dropped out from the middle part of the project due to the economic crisis, frequent power cuts, and instability of internet facilities and sudden closing of school. Accordingly, out of 5 SCTs selected, only 2 SCTs were able to complete the project successfully.
Activities Planned and Conducted
Explanation to the School Level Teachers (SCT)
On 04th of April 2022 I discussed with the three school coordinating teachers (SCTs) about the importance of the C-DELTA project and how lucky we are to get this opportunity to follow this project, as this is a good time to get online-based practices. I also explained that all our students will get the chance to know how to use and behave in online platforms safely, with good manners and good awareness of the internet.
I also talked with SCTs how this kind of programme will help our students’ online exams, especially those who are going to sit for General Information Technology (GIT) examination in the near future. I have talked with SCTs about this course and the future of the education system. I shared my experiences with them, what are the problems I faced and how managed it and my students, and my feelings were.
On 22nd of April 2022, I discussed with the SCTs, about the project plan for the implementation of C-DELTA in schools, and about the completion of 3 modules and their issues and solutions. Also, we have come up with our own plan which is shown Table 1.
Table 1: PCT’s Plan for the implementation of C-DELTA in Eastern Province
Conducting awareness seminar for SCTs and Students
An awareness seminar was conducted by me, regarding the C-DELTA program to promote digital education skills among school students. As a PCT there were 3 SCTs who were allocated for me to coordinate for the Eastern Province. Details are given in Table 2.
Table 2: Name of the Eastern Province SCTs
Use of C-DELTA by SCTs, Students and Teachers
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the C-DELTA project activities related SCTs were introduced via ZOOM the beginning of 2022. After that Sri Lanka faced a huge economic crisis. It affected school activities. Therefore, SCTs faced several problems related to smooth implementation of the C-DELTA project in the school level. However, the SCTs were able to implement the C-DELTA activities with their students’ peer teachers. The Table No 3 shows the particulars about the completion of pre-test, post- test, and modules by the SCTs, their students and peer teachers.
Table No 3: Completion of Pre-Test, Post Test and Module
According to the Table No 3, there were 71 students and 11 teachers selected. Some of them have completed their pre-test and post-tests. Even though the Eastern Province did not get the expected achievement, it is commendable that it has achieved such a result in this difficult situation. Mr. P. Ramathass (Senior Lecturer/OUSL, Project Team Member for Eastern Province) provided excellent advice and guidance regarding the implementation of our project. More than 35 students were involved in this process. It is a huge success considering the prevailing situation of the country.
School Level Integration of C DELTA
It is a great experiential learning and teaching innovation. Even though power cuts, transportation problems, lack of computers, unusual conditions of the country were a huge challenge, under the leadership Prof. Shironica Karunanayaka (Project Team Leader of C- DELTA) and Mr. Sunil Weerakoon (Senior Lecturer/OUSL, Project Team Coordinator C- DELTA) and Mr. P. Ramathass (Senior Lecturer/OUSL Project Team Member for C-DELTA) who provided tireless continuous instruction and guidance helped me and teachers (SCTs) in my team to reach the final stage.
Students’ Learning
Now, the students have more confidence in doing online examinations. This will help them to do their online GIT exam successfully. Our Eastern Province students got online certification. They are happy to go online in the best way. Now they know how this digital world changes one’s identity. These online certificates and the online badges will be a credential in their resumes. This course certainly helped me and our teachers, (SCTs) and their students. They are now aware of using online exams and confident with their skills.
Teachers’ pedagogical practices
The SCTs are now aware of the usage of the internet and know about the impact of it. Now they begin to integrate their school subjects with the internet. They have started to study the C-DELTA modules for better understanding.
Impacts of C DELTA
The C-DELTA program has created new teaching and learning styles among the teachers and students. They realized the value of digital education and the impact of digital education in their future carrier and studied anxiously. Teachers were not very much aware of the internet, but this kind of C-DELTA online practice helped them to think about new, easy and efficient teaching methods.
The SCTs have shifted to use multimedia materials and online activities in their teaching. They were very interested in gathering knowledge about digital identity, and digital footprints. They are happy that their first and own stories are going to be published in a reputed international web page of C-DELTA.
Challenges Faced
Initially, I conducted awareness seminar for the SCTs to promote digital education on behalf of Commonwealth of Learning. I was given selected the SCTs, those who have self-motivated and have basic ICT knowledge.
Implementing the project was much challenged due to the current situation in the country such as power cuts, and transport problems faced by teachers and students. Due to transportation problems the number of school days were reduced (3 days per week only for selected grades). Also internet connectivity was instable. The SCTs struggled to find the time to conduct C- DELTA activities. One of the biggest challenges I faced was shifting the time due to the shortage of school days. Our SCTs had to put extra time to find the students. Whenever they had time to meet the students, they tried their level best to promote them, and they discussed the C-DELTA activities. However, after the formation of WhatsApp groups SCTs were able to conduct C-DELTA activities via Zoom.
Another major challenge faced by the SCTs was the limited English language proficiency of the teachers and students. To overcome this problem, students and teachers were trained to use Google Translator. This Google Translation mechanism helped students and teachers to enable them to engage in C DELTA activities.
Future Plans
Personally, this project gave me lots of experience in updating knowledge, working with a team and implementing new ideas. I have got support from the Research team members and the SCTs.
This project is a success because there were no such completely online projects done before. Awareness of C-DELTA was very useful to students and teachers. This project gave a big challenge to work in the difficult situation. Apart from the issues all of them have been encouraging the students to follow the programme.
I would like to give this opportunity to all students in my school. This year I am going to introduce the C-DELTA project to peer teachers in my school.
A Self – Reflection:
I was selected to promote C-DELTA in our Eastern Province. The three-day capacity building workshop gave me a better understanding, with the previous C-DELTA project experience. It was well explained and given encouraged. It was a wonderful experience. My experience helped me to understand the C-DELTA, but the online method was new and challenging.
The first meeting was great with the SCTs and them being willing to know about the C-DELTA in practice gave me satisfaction. Implementing the project in schools was the biggest problem due to shortage of school days due to the current situation of my country. Only 2 SCTs and their students’ were keen to participate in the project, and it gave me a happy thought.
Overall, my satisfaction with my work comparatively not the best due to the current situation of our country even though we have got all the experienced support from the Project Team Members. I have planned to continue this program with our teachers by introducing the C-DELTA.
I am proud to say that we (SCTs and myself) were the leaders of the C-DELTA project in our Eastern Province. Now I have more confidence to learn by myself and share and coordinate with our country’s students.
Digital Education Leaders in Action 