Seminar at Sigiriya

  28^th of October 2011 was selected as the day to hold the seminar about Information Technology in Sigiriya Central College. Malinda Kumarasinghe, Semil Hashan, Geeth Tharanga, Thilina Premasiri, Rukshan Chathuranga and Anushka Mahesh left the Moratuwa area at 2.00 am to head for the venue. The coordination with the school was done by Thilina Premasiri.

                We arrived to the school at about 7.00 am and started to set up projectors and Notebook computers for the seminar with the help of school staff. The seminar started at 8.30 am and about 125 students attended. The principal of the Sigiriya Central College did the welcome speech to introduce us and to give a brief speech on why students should acquire IT skills.

The first of us to address the seminar was Anushka Mahesh. He delivered a presentation on the Importance of Information technology in Sri Lanka today. This was followed by a demonstrative lecture by Geeth Tharanga on Basic of Microsoft Windows operating system. After that, Malinda Kumarasinghe explained to the students on how to work with Microsoft Word and Shemil Hashan did a presentation on Computer Hardware. The last Lecture to hold before the Interval was about Tecnology and Working with Internet by Rukshan Chathuranga.

There was an interval for about 40 minutes before continuing with our seminar. And after the Interval Malinda Madushan delivered a presentation on programming languages and demonstrated coding 2 small Visual Basic 98 programs. We concluded our seminar with the thanking speech by Thilina Premasiri. Students were asked to give feedback on the seminar and one student came to the stage and thanked us on behalf of the school. We also received notes of feedback from many students. After finishing the seminar, we were thanked by the staff we met and we left Sigiriya Central College at about 1.30 pm.

                Based on all of the feedback we received, we came to the decision that the seminar in overall was a success. This seminar would not be success without all the help from the principal and the staff from the school, staff of the CSE and CS&ES and all our friends who supported us on this task.

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Outreach at Horana

Another session of CSE outreach project was held at Galapatha Vidyalaya,Galapatha on 2^nd November 2011 from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm. The coordination with the school was managed by Ahsan Bayar and the rest of the team was Sachith Dhanushka,  Tharindu Rusira, Janindu Arukgoda, Tiroshan Madushanka, Mohamed Infaaz, Chalitha Perera, Dinu Mahakumarage, Laksheen Mendis, Vishmi Money and Dananji Liyanage.

The topics covered are as follows,

• ·         Introduction to Information Technology
• ·         Computer Hardware (a brief introduction)
• ·         Internet and email
• ·         Microsoft Word, Power Point and Paint software
• ·         Career Opportunities in the IT field

Although the students of Galapatha Vidyalaya didn’t have that much of a knowledge on information technology, they were keen in listening and learning through the sessions. The active participation was higher than anticipated and it made the sessions more interactive.

In the session of internet and email, we’ve conducted a skype session between two of the students to show them how much the technology has developed and they were really amazed. And during the sessions of Microsoft word, Powerpoint and Paint we divided the students into groups and provided each group with a laptop so that they can follow the session more closely and practically.

At the end of the seminar, the students were so keen that they asked us to continue it till the evening, but we were asked to conclude it just before the school is closed.  It has been an amazing experience for all of us. And we would really love to do more of these seminars in the coming year.

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Sri Narada Maha Vidyalaya - Balangoda

On 3^rd November 2011 another stage of the project; CSE OutReach-2011 was conducted at Sri Narada Maha Vidyalaya, Vikiliya, Balangoda with around hundred students from grades nine to twelve.

The journey began from the university at around 3.30 a.m., with Fathima Fahima, Deepal Priyadarshana, MIlinda Fernando, Sasikala Kottegoda, Manuri Amaya, Dinithi Sumanaweera, Damith Senanayake, Yasura Vithana and Hashini Senaratne. The team arrived at the school at around 8 a.m. The principal of the school had already got everything ready for us to start straight away. While we were setting up the things the Principal addressed the gathering and introduced us to the students.

After that he handed over the audience to our team. Then the seminar began. First some videos of inspiration were shown. After a brief introduction by the school coordinator Fathima, Hashini gave an Introduction about IT and the topics that were to be covered during the seminar. The next speaker was Milinda who did a lecture on Computer Hardware. Then after the interval Yasura conducted a lecture on Internet. Deepal carried out a Microsoft Excel session which was followed by Damith’s session about Career Paths and Opportunities in the field of IT.

After each session students were asked questions and a small gift was given to each one who answered to encourage their interactive participation, and even they were give opportunity to practice what was taught in the lectures. The students were very enthusiastic throughout the whole seminar as we displayed videos of advances in new technology in between the lectures.

The students and the staff of the school showed great hospitality by serving us refreshments during the seminar. At the end of the seminar, students’ feedbacks were collected to measure our effort and to improve ourselves. Through the feedbacks it was understood that the seminar was very useful to them and they were eagerly expecting more and more events of that type.

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Seminar at Tissamaharama

Another step of CSE  Outreach – the rural school IT seminar was completed on 3^rd of November 2011. Selected school was Yodakandiya Sri Dewananda Maha Vidyalaya which is situated in Hambanthota district. This was conducted by nine students from CSE ’10 batch . Chamika Kasun - the school coordinator, Sudeera Palikkara, Shashika Muramudalige, Lahiru Lasandun, Anushka Mahesh, Kelum Deshapriya, Sameera Rukshan,Shashreeka and Akila Pemasiri were the people who took part in this.

We arrived to the school at about 8.00 am. The school principal Mrs. Ramyalatha Wijesinghe and vice principals warmly welcome us to the school. It took about half an hour to us to make arrangements for the seminar such as setting up the projectors and covering the seminar hall such that all the students can have a proper view.

We could start the seminar at about 8.30 am. Nearly 100 students participated for the seminar. Chamika gave a brief introduction on our purpose and handouts were distributed meanwhile. Anushka started the session with the topic “Introduction to IT” .Then Lahiru conducted “Introduction to computer Hardware’” session which was followed by the session on “Introduction to computer Software’” by Sudeera. After that Kelum conducted the “Inspiring Video” session which was attracted by the students a lot.

Then a fifteen minute break was given and we enjoyed the refreshments that had been arranged by the school.

After the break “Internet” session was conducted by Sameera. After that “Introduction to Excel”, “Introduction to Word’” and “Introduction to Power Point” sessions were conducted by Shashika , Akila and Shashreeka orderly. The last session “IT Career Guidance” which inspired the students was done by Chamika .

Remarking the end of another successful step of CSE  Outreach – the rural school IT seminar series Chamika delivered the vote of thanks. Then the IT teacher of the school also delivered his speech. There he specially mentioned that it is their luck to be selected for this program among thousands of schools in the province. We were very impressed by the speeches which were delivered by a sister and a brother of the school. By their words we felt that we have done really a good job.

After talking with staff of the school we departed at about 1.30 pm.

This program would be just a dream if we didn’t have the support from the school principal Mrs. Ramyalatha Wijesinghe, the vice principals of the school, other teachers of the school and last but not least, the academic and non-academic staff of CSE UoM and CS&ES.

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First Seminar at Nikaweratiya

13th October 2010 was chosen as the day to hold the inaugural seminar of the CSE Outreach – the rural school IT seminar series. The Venue was Rasnayakapura Navodya Central Collage – Nikaweratiya. Nine students from CSE ’10 batch gathered near the front gate of UoM at 4.00am to start their journey to Rasnayakapura. Suneth Vijayindu – the co-chair of the project, Madhushi Bandara – the school coordinator, along with Vidudaya Bandara, Rashmi Woranga, Supun Nakandala, Akila Pemasiri, Pubudu Gunatilaka, Udith Arosha and Meuru Muthuthanthri were the people who had the privilege of conducting the first seminar.

We arrived at Rasnayakapura Navodya Madya Maha Vidyalaya at 8.20am. The principal of the Rasnayakapura Navodya MMV and the divisional IT teaching consultant Mr. Jayasooriya warmly welcomed us to the school. After having tea at the school, we set up the projector and sounds with the help of friendly prefect brothers. Then talking with the divisional IT teaching consultant we came to know that though many schools in the area had computer labs of small scale, the students haven’t realized the value of learning IT or using the facilities provided. Therefore most of the computers remain unused and the school administration had to bear the maintenance cost, even without having a proper usage. So, he requested us to awaken interest on IT among students participating to the seminar.

Due to the transportation problems of students we had to wait until 9.00am to start seminar. Students from Kotawehera had to come past an area with a threat of elephant attacks. They came for the seminar despite such difficulties and we were more than glad to share our knowledge and experience with them.
Nearly 150 students participated from 3 schools. Them being;

• Rasnayakapura Navodya Madya Maha Vidyalaya
• Abukkagama Muslim Maha Vidyalaya
• Kotawehera Madya Maha vidyalaya

The seminar started in the presence of the Principal of Rasnayakapura Navodya MMV, divisional IT teaching consultant and ICT teachers from the said schools. After the welcome speech by the Principal of Rasnayakapura Navodya MMV and the introduction of the program by the divisional IT teaching consultant, the handouts were distributed. 

Madhushi and Vidudaya conducted the ‘Introduction to IT’ session which was followed by the ‘Introduction to computer Hardware’ session by Pubudu. Meuru conducted the ice breaking sessions and then Madhushi started the ‘Introduction to Word’ session. After that a 15min break was given for tea.
After the break Akila and Supun conducted the ‘Introduction to PowerPoint’ session which was followed by an ‘Internet’ session by Vijayindu. Udith then did the ‘Introduction to Excel’ session. The last and the most important session, ‘IT Career Guidance’ was done by Rashmi. Finally the Principal and Mr. Jayasooriya thanked us by marking the end of the seminar.
Then we had the lunch at the school and we departed from Rasnayakapura at 2.00pm.

This would not be a success if it weren’t for the support we got from director and assistant director of Divisional Educational Office of Nikaweratiya, Mr.Jayasooriya , the divisional IT teaching consultant, Principle and the friendly staff of Rasnayakapura Navodya M.M.V. and all other teachers of the schools and last but not least, the academic and non-academic staff of CSE UoM and CS&ES. 

We finished the first seminar of CSE Outreach with the determination of continuing the project throughout the country sharing IT knowledge and inspiring more and more young minds.

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