scholarly journals Undergraduate Student’s Perspectives on E-learning during COVID-19 Outbreak in Sri Lankan Universities

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 64-72
Author(s):  
P. J. Kumarasinghe ◽  
M. A. K. Sriyalatha

As education moves e-learning all over the world due to COIVD-19 pandemic, students spend more time on e-learning than ever before. This is also equally applied to the Sri Lankan education system. Thus this study examines the undergraduate students’ perspectives on e-learning during the COVID-19 outbreak in universities in Sri Lanka. Primary data was obtained from undergraduate students in Sri Lankan university using a structured questionnaire via Google form. The perspectives on e-learning education during the COVID-19 pandemic was investigated using descriptive statistics and frequency analysis. The majority of the undergraduate students felt that the e-learning version of education saved travel time and cost of accommodation. Furthermore, the study revealed that the majority of students were happy with the e-learning form of education during the pandemic since it allowed them to finish their degrees faster and access the labor market without a delay. The biggest challenges with e-learning, according to the student responses, were internet access, device availability, visionary issues, technical issues, and stress. As a result of this COVID -19 pandemic, if higher education officials in Sri Lankan universities want to keep e-learning education on going, they must focus on offering cost-effective, high-speed data connections while minimizing technological hurdles. At the same time, it is important to update and revise the curriculum content according to this new mode of education since this is a completely new situation for all. There is relatively little research on students’ perspectives on e-learning education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Sri Lankan context and it will provide some important highlights to the researchers, parent and academics as well.

2021 ◽  
pp. 243-252
Author(s):  
Mridul Gupta ◽  
Sai Keerthana Thammi

Technological developments in the field of education have paved the way for e-learning. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) and online certification courses have become widely popular among students especially those in higher education. Today, E-learning platforms have provided the end users the opportunity to pursue online certifications, gain knowledge and skills, and learn from experts in different fields from the comfort of their homes. Students are an important stakeholder in this knowledge transfer process. Therefore, it is important to understand their attitude towards e learning and their expectation from such platforms. This paper attempts to study the concept of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in e-learning among undergraduate students in India to understand their perception and behaviour towards e-learning. The main research methods used were: the questionnaire for primary data collection, journals and research articles for secondary data collection. Excel and Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) were used to process the collected data, test the hypotheses, statistical analysis, analyse the results and achieve research objectives. Microsoft Word was used for textual representation of final results and interpretations. Hypothetical model based on TAM was framed and six research variables were identified for the study: Perceived Usefulness, Capability, Perceived ease-of-use, Intention to Use, Trustworthiness, Actual Use. The research helped to understand the components of TAM, analyse and identify the relation between TAM and E learning, and revealed that undergraduate students in India have positive perception of E-learning.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-306
Author(s):  
Aruni Wickramaratne ◽  
Akira Kiminami ◽  
Hironori Yagi

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation of external relationships and entrepreneurial infrastructure on the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of tea manufacturing firms. An empirical survey was conducted with tea manufacturing firms located in a low grown area in Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected by administering a structured questionnaire at 109 tea factories. The findings indicated the importance of external relationships; specifically, relationships with supply chain partners and relationships with government facilitating institutions enhance the EO of tea manufacturing firms. However, relationships with other tea factories and educational and research institutions are not significant influences on firms’ EO in the context of the Sri Lankan tea industry. When considering the dimensions of EO, risk taking is influenced by external relationships and not innovativeness and proactiveness. Further, the entrepreneurial infrastructure provided by related institutions except other tea factories have positive links with EO. Such contributions are important to managers and policy makers to enhance the EO of tea manufacturing firms when facing competitiveness in the global market.


Author(s):  
Hamidu Jada ◽  
◽  
Ali Giginyu ◽  
Muhammad Mutah ◽  
◽  
...  

The study assesses the Psychological Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Academic Performance of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The population of the study comprises of the total number of undergraduate students in Federal University Dutse (FUD) which is 10,710 of both male and female. While the sample size of the study was based on Research Advisor (2006) table, which is 370 respondents. Simple Random Cluster Sampling was used for this study. However, after the data was collected, it was analyzed and interpreted using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 21) computer software program. Primary data were mainly obtained using structural questionnaire. The specific objectives are as follows; to: determine the Psychological Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Academic Performance of FUD, identify the relationship between COVID-19 Pandemic and Students’ academic performance of FUD and determine the Challenges militating against Students’ Academic Performance during COVID-19 Pandemic of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The collected data for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics i.e. frequency distribution and percentages. The study covered regular FUD undergraduate students, thus, postgraduate students, IJMB students, remedial and others were delimited. The research is significant which could serve as a document and a guide to government policy makers, National Universities Commission etc, a guide for those who want to study psychological effects of COVID-19 pandemic on student academic performance especially in Nigerian Universities and provides some vital information on psychological effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Students’ academic performance of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Result revealed that 79% as a majority of the respondents agreed that Covid-19 Pandemic has Psychological Effects on Students’ Academic Performance of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The research if published will be significant to provide a way out for Students’ Academic Performance during Pandemic. The following recommendations have been made as: government should provide available and effective e-learning programmes, effective and functional entrepreneurships must be provided in University and other institutions, therefore, the study also recommended for further study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omary Mejjah ◽  
Husna Ngulyavyangu ◽  
Thandiwe Peter ◽  
Stanley Mwita

Entrepreneurship of young graduates is fundamental in mitigating the challenge of unemployment, while the role of universities is considered to be very important in developing entrepreneurial behavior. Thus, the present study aims to assess entrepreneurial traits and intention among undergraduate students at Catholic University of Health and Allied sciences -Mwanza, Tanzania. The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in May 2021 at Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences. Three hundred and thirty-one (331) undergraduates were selected by stratified random sampling. Pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Data were fed into Microsoft excel and then exported to STATA version 14 for analysis and data were presented in frequencies, percentages and mean. The level of entrepreneurial traits of the students was moderate with overall mean of 3.6. Majority (285, 86.1%) of students thought of themselves as capable of opening and sustaining a business to success, reflecting positive feasibility and perceived themselves as people who willingly act on their individual decisions.The major motivating factor for entrepreneurial intention indicated by the respondents was “preference for personal creativity” (295, 89.1%). However, the major perceived barrier to starting their own businesses indicated by the respondents was “lack of funds to start” (268, 90%). This study showed that there was overall moderate level of entrepreneurial traits among the undergraduate students. The findings have shown that there is high intention and that students are interested to become entrepreneurs.


Author(s):  
Atharva Khandekar

Abstract: This research paper provides an insight into the comparison between VoLTE and 4G. 4G Wireless Systems or Fourth generation wireless system is a packet switched wireless system with wide area coverage and high throughput. It is designed to be cost effective and to provide high spectral efficiency. VoLTE (voice over LTE) supports voice calls over 4G LTE network. With advanced VoLTE technology, the 4G network now provides high-speed data services, high-quality voice and video calls at affordable price. This paper first presents the challenges and benefits of both 4G and VoLTE and then compares them with consideration of different points. Keywords: GSM, LTE, VoLTE, 3G, HSPA, RAN


Author(s):  
Ioannis Chochliouros ◽  
Anastasia S. Spiliopoulou ◽  
Tilemachos D. Doukoglou ◽  
Stergios P. Chochliouros

In the context of the present work, we discuss several fundamental issues originating from the work already performed in the scope of the Discovery Space (DSpace) Research Project, founded by the European eTEN Work Program. The Project has been awarded as the “Project of the Month - November, 2006” and the “second best European research activity” in the scope of e-learning thematic activities (http://www. discoveryspace.net/). The prime purpose of the work was the development of a virtual science center, able to integrate robotic telescopes from all over the world into one “virtual observatory” through a proper Web-based interface, to provide an automated scheduling of the telescopes to end-users (i.e., students, teachers, and researchers) and access to a library of data and resources for lifelong learners. Potential users can benefit from professional-quality data from their local sites, using modern broadband (Internet-based) facilities (European Commission, 2002). Following the echo from the market request for more cost-effective and compelling applications to be delivered over the currently-launched broadband networks supporting the expansion of the global information society (The European Survey of National Priorities in Astronomy, 2004), the relevant service application aimed to take advantage of the convenience of the high-speed Internet access to involve its various users (originating from distinct thematic categories) in extended episodes of playful learning. The basic issue was the creation and presentation, to the market, of an entirely interoperable worldwide service, able to support options for further enhancement of e-learning facilities for teachers, students, researchers, and other practitioners. The approach has been considered the existing Internet-based facilities as the basis to “transform the today’s classroom to a research laboratory” and to develop further the European e-learning market (Chochliouros & Spiliopoulou, 2004; Danish Technological Institute, 2004).


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 88-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuoyuan Song ◽  
Cameron Mazzola ◽  
Eric Schwartz ◽  
Ruirong Chen ◽  
Julian Finlaw ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this paper, a bioinspired, compact, cost-effective autonomous underwater vehicle system is presented. Designed to operate in a heterogeneous, multivehicle collaboration hierarchy, the presented vehicle design features 3D printing technology to enable fast fabrication with a complex internal structure. Similar to a previous vehicle prototype, this system generates propulsive forces by expelling unsteady, pulsed jets, inspired by the locomotion of cephalopods and jellyfish. The novel thrusters enable the vehicle to be fully actuated in horizontal plane motions, without sacrificing the low-forward-drag, slender vehicle profile. By successively ingesting water and expelling finite water jets, periodic actuation forces are generated at all possible vehicle velocities, eliminating the need for control surfaces used in many conventional underwater vehicle designs. A semiactive buoyancy control system, inspired by the nautilus, adjusts the vehicle depth by passively allowing water flowing into and actively expelling water out of an internal bladder. A compact embedded system is developed to achieve the control and sensing capabilities necessary for multiagent interactions with the minimum required processing power and at a low energy cost. The new vehicle design also showcases an underwater optical communication system for short-range, high-speed data transmission, supplementing the conventional acoustic communication system. Experimental results show that, with the thruster motors powered at a 60% duty-cycle, the new vehicle is able to achieve a 1/4 zero-radius turn in 3.5 s and one-body-width sway translation in 2.5 s.


Author(s):  
O. K. R. De Silva ◽  
M. P. S. R. Perera ◽  
G. D. D. T. Karunarathne

This research was conducted to assess the existing locational characteristics of Sri Lanka which could influence on attracting tourists to the country. The major problem of the study is identifying the critical locational characteristics that cause to attract more tourists to Sri Lanka. It has been observed that there are three major locational characteristics such as Natural attractiveness, Cultural attractiveness and Climate which have discussed by the scholars and applicable to the Sri Lankan context. The main objective of the study is to identify the most important characteristics which help to attract tourists to Sri Lanka. The secondary objectives are determining the impact of the influence of the characteristics on tourist attraction & exploring the influence of the characteristics for future tourist attraction. The research coverage areas are Colombo District and Hikkaduwa Narigama area. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. The findings are based on the primary data collection and, they have been analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 and the SmartPLS (Partial Least Square) 3.0. There were 62 sample size and whole sample responded for the questionnaire. Findings of the study exposed all three characteristics are important for tourist attraction. According to the result of Path Coefficient, all the three variables are statistically significant and natural attractiveness (0.454), cultural attractiveness (0.247) and climate (0.213) are a significant moderately strong relationship with tourist attraction. Therefore, all three variables positively impact to the tourist attraction and natural attractiveness is the major among them. It is also found that there are specific things to be taken into account for the accomplishment of attracting the expected group of tourists to the country.


2021 ◽  
Vol 253 ◽  
pp. 01006
Author(s):  
J. Collado ◽  
V. Gonzalez ◽  
A. Gadea

State-of-the-art arrays of detectors, that require digital processing, may have a sizeable number of digitalized signal links. This is the case in several experimental nuclear physics instruments. Moreover, the data rate of the sampled signals, defined primary by the signal bandwidth of the individual detectors, may not exhaust the capabilities of a single FPGA transceiver input. The preprocessing is usually carried out in a modern FPGA with transceiver data rate capabilities over 10Gbps. Moreover, cost effective FPGA have a limited number of transceivers for given FPGA processing capabilities. The investigation of a cost-effective and efficient solution to the mismatch between both data rates, optimizing simultaneously the use of the FPGA resources, is the topic of the present work. We have developed a solution based on the Time Domain Multiplexing link aggregation, in the form of a Mezzanine board. This mezzanine combines four channels from an optical or copper input up to 2.5 Gbps to one up to 10Gbps, and serves them to the FPGA via the mezzanine connector. The board itself is controlled by a small FPGA by the Two Wire Interface (TWI) protocol as a standalone intelligent device, so minimum slow control is needed. The solution has been also developed for a motherboard housing a SoM module and FMC connector as an alternative implementation. An associated firmware has been developed to de-aggregate the data in the FPGA and recover the original sampled data, based on JESD204 communication protocol, inside the FPGA. The method has been validated and applications, beyond the development of the AGATA electronics, may be envisioned.


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