Walden University

The Doorway to Professional Learning Communities

I studied in the Rajapaksha Central College, Weeraketiya and passed the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination. Then I followed the Physical Science Degree in the University of Ruhuna, Matara and graduated in 1984. I joined with University of Colombo and followed the Master of Science in Computer Science Degree in 1997. I passed the Post Graduate Diploma in Education at the National Institute of Education in 2000.

Studies on my school time, first degree and Master Degree, I learnt mostly with lecture method , discussions, brainstorming sessions and drill and practices etc. When I followed the degree - Post Graduate Diploma in Education, I learnt with other various methods and I practiced also.

Most of my university teachers and several school teachers used conventional methods of teaching. They gave a lecture, described the lesson, dictated a note and gave an exercise. Finally the exercise was marked with grades or without grades. Several university teachers dictated their note which was dictated by their teachers. These teachers performed teacher centered teaching.

But most of my school teachers did brainstorming sessions to start the lesson. They did not explain the concept to be taught. They guided us in the discussion to achieve the expected result. According to the concept they gave us some individual projects/exercises and finally the feedbacks were given. Sometimes, concepts were described after our exercises.

Although they did not know new concept like 5E, competency based learning , good teachers used similar methods. Most probably, we did something to learn with these teachers. But we explained rarely our findings. Most probably, we worked individually except practical classes. These are only the major differences between current 5E, competency based system and the system used by earlier best teacher. The group work and explanation are very useful in learning teaching process.
5E learning Cycle, Competency Based Curricula was introduced to Sri Lankan Education System in 2006. The Grade 6 and 10 curricula were converted to Competency Base in 2006. Similarly grade 7 and 11 introduced in 2007. Grade 8, 12 and Grade 9, 13 were converted in the consecutive years. These syllabuses and TIM Teacher Instructional Manuals are available at the National Institute of Education (NIE) web site.

Instructional Design and Learning Theories

As discussed earlier, a good teacher should be prepared to the lesson well before the conducting the lesson. Then a teacher also performs a roll of instructional designer. An instructional designer should be competent in learning theories. Similarly all the officers who develop material to help the teacher should be competent in learning theories. Otherwise, the students may not achieve the expected results well. If they are competent to apply these theories on the materials, students will learn easily and competent well with the expectations of the lesson. Hence learning theories are very important for an Instructional Designer.