This presentation will discuss how Sri Lanka Institute Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) staff members are using CourseSites to provide technology enhanced learning environment to facilitate better learning opportunities to their students. The SLIATE is government funded higher education institution in Sri Lanka that predominantly delivers courses face to face. With limited resources student's learning has been restricted to the classroom environment which is limited to couple of hours a week for each subject. However with the government initiatives to reduce education divide, staff members were encouraged to undertake professional development activities and research to introduce innovative course development and delivery methods. With introduction of MOOCs and other professional development activities, SLIATE staff members were exposed to variety of teaching and learning tools, and new course delivery methods (Warusavitharana, 2014). A team of staff members from SLIATE Dehiwela branch trialled a blended learning approach using CourseSites, the free Learning Management System provided by Blackboard. The pilot project explored whether use of Learning Management System with online resources and quizzes could be used to improve classroom participation, student engagement, and provide feedback to student while reducing academic workload. This session will present the insights of the development, implementation, and results from the projects. It will also highlight the benefits and challenges that staff and students found during the pilot. Delivered at Innovate and Educate: Teaching and Learning Conference by Blackboard. 24 -27 August 2015 in Adelaide, Australia.

1. Technology Enhanced Learning
with Course Sites
Dr. Kulari Lokuge Dona
Priya Amali Warusavitarana, Dilani D Epitawela, E.P. Madhawi
U.Edirisinghe, M.A.C. Harshani Piyathilake Udayangani K. Herath,
N.Nirosha P. Dias
Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education, Sri Lanka,

2. Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education
Post Secondary Higher Education institution in Sri Lanka
Government Funded
Pilot with CourseSites
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3. Higher Education and the government policy
• Sri Lanka is a developing country.
• It has a vision of having a knowledge hub by 2020.
• Sri Lanka has to step in to different way of addressing the
future issues of higher education.
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4. Importance of alternative education
• 2010 the university eligibility – 40.7% (based on the
candidates who sit for the GCE (A/L) examination)
• Admissions to state universities was 15.5% (UGC annual report
2012)
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6. Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological
Education(SLIATE)
• SLIATE is the key government organization that provides
opportunities for students who wish to widen their knowledge
in different disciplines as an alternative higher education
institute. More over the need for higher education is been a
demanding factor and a vision of the government.
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7. SLIATE con..
• SLIATE has 17 branches
• Broad range of multi-disciplinary programs targeting at year
13 (A/L) qualified students in Sri Lanka.
• Conducts pathway courses :
– Higher National Diplomas
– National Diplomas.
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9. Present teaching and learning
• Semester system
• Evaluation on credit system; credit hours are based on direct
contact hours of teaching.
• Lectures are delivered face to face.
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10. How Blackboard came to SLIATE…
• In the year of 2014 several staff members at Dehiwala branch
completed the Carpe Diem MOOC.
• Staff members experienced the importance and advantages of
course sites.
• Attempt was made to uplift students knowledge by
introducing and exposing them to an technology Enhanced
Learning experience via CouseSites offered by Blackboard.
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12. Benefits of using Blackboard CourseSites - institute
• Comply the vision of the country.
• Embark on innovative teaching and learning.
• Apply modern techniques of teaching.
• Enhance the quality and recognition of the institute.
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13. Benefits - students
• Exposed to innovate leaning
• Driven to use technology
• Accept challenge and capacity building
• Confidence
• Extended hours of learning
• Repetitive practice
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14. Benefits - teachers
• Privilege to use innovate teaching
• Reduce manual work
• Ability to share knowledge easily
• Quick response to student queries
• Increase student engagement
• Motivate to learn
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15. Learning Spaces at SLIATE
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16. Strategic management unit
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17. Participation
• Over 250 Students
• 6 Staff members
• Full-time and Part-time students
• 7 units of study
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18. Challenges faced by students
• Limited resources
• Limited experience with technology
• Access to internet
• Fear of unknown
• Language barriers
• Lack of confidence
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19. Challenges faced by teaching staff
• Change the attitude
• Conduct demonstrations
• Continuous follow-ups to support independent delivery
• Guides for the system
• Solving individual student’s access and usage issues
– e.g. providing additional time to submit
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20. Feedback
• Many student found the system effective and helpful for their
study
• Convenience was appreciated
• Ability to practice and get feedback quickly
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21. References
• Warusavitarana, P.A., Lokuge Dona, K., Piyathilake, M. A. C
.H.,Epitaerla D.D., Edirisinghe, E.P.M.U.(2014) MOOC: A higher
education game changer in developing countries, Paper
presented at the ASCILITE, Dunedin, New Zealand
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22. Thank You!
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