Dr.(Mrs.) D.V.M. De Silva

Senior Lecturer Grade I

BSc (OUSL), PGDE (Merit) OUSL, MEd OUSL, PhD (UOC)

Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education
Education
Contact:

Colombo,

Office: 0112881302, Ext: 302 Mobile: 0718414494

E-mail: dvsil@ou.ac.lk


Dr. (Mrs.) D.V.M De Silva (Vajira De Silva) is a Senior Lecturer (Grade I) attached to the Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education of the Faculty of Education. She has been an academic at OUSL since 2010.Prior to that, she has gained experience as a Graduate Science teacher  in the secondary school system in Sri Lanka for 16 years. Her main research areas are Educational Psychology and Educational Technology. Currently she is the Chairperson of the Faculty Quality Assurance Unit (FQAC) of the Faculty of Education, Open University.

 

Areas of Specialization:

Education

Research interests:

Educational Psychology, Educational Technology, Guidance and Counselling in Education

Affiliations:

• A life member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Education (SLAAED)
• Council member for the executive committee- Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of
Education (SLAAED)
• A life member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)
• Member of the Science Education Committee of SLAAS, for the year 2019
• Member of the Scientific Committee of AAOU 2021 (Annual conference of the Asian Association of
Open Universities)
• Member of the Curriculum development of National College of Education (NCOE) in primary B.Ed
Programme.

 

Contributions:

National contribution /Services rendered to other Institutions/Seminars participated in other Institutions
• Reviewer of International Conference on ‘Social and Cultural Nexus of S&T Development’ (2019)
which is organizing by The National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka
• Member of the interview team for enrolling the students for Higher Diploma in Drama and
Theatre conducted by the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation (2017-2020)
• Member of the panel of setters of science subject of G.C.E. (O/L) Examination 2014
• Marking examiner for evaluating Masters Dissertations and Ph.D. thesis of Faculty of
Education, University of Colombo
• Represent the Faculty Quality Assurance Cell of the Faculty of Education at the International
Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) 15th Biennial Conference
2019.
• Education Resource person of the Third-Party Validation conducted for AHEAD (Introduction of
the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development Operations to Universities and
Higher Education Institutions.)
• Secondary Education Sector Improvement Programme- SESIP
Verification of DLIs -2021
worked as the Consultant for verification of DLI 7- All Key Sector Indicators including sex-
disaggregated data from MoE, NIE and DoE made publicity available on the new NEMIS website and
published as annual sector performance reports.
• Third Party Validation (TPV) of achievements of activities/programmes related to Disbursement
Linked Indicators (DLIs) in Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development Operation
(AHEAD)- Research assistant
• Team Member of the verification study on DLI 9 (Expanded School Health and Nutrition Programme

Developed and Implemented and Results Achieved) of the School Health and Nutrition Programme

Faculty Level Contribution

• Member of the SER (Self-Evaluation Report) writing team of Bachelor of
Education (Drama and Theatre) Degree Programme
• Contributed for the preparing evidence files for the Programme Review of
Bachelor of Education Honours in Drama and Theatre and Bachelor of Education
Honours in Natural Sciences Degree Programmes as the Programme coordinator.
• Contributed as a team member for preparing action plan of the Bachelor of
Education Honours in Drama and Theatre and Bachelor of Education Honours in
Natural Sciences Degree Programmes for the period from 2018 to 2022 for the
implementation of the recommendations in the review report.
• Member of the sub-committee which was appointed at the 188th Faculty Board
Meeting to review the proposal presented by the National Youth Services
Council seeking an opportunity for their students to follow the Bachelor of
Education Honours in Drama and Theatre Degree Programme offered by The
Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education of the Faculty of Education.
• Chairperson of the Faculty Quality Assurance Unit (FQAC) of the Faculty of
Education, Open University.

Session Chair

  • Session chair at the International Conference on Future of Education 2018 “Education at Reach”, Colombo, Sri Lanka (26th-27th June2018)
  • Session chair at the online parallel session on the theme of Learner engagement and motivation of AAOU 2021 (Annual conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities)

Reviewing research papers

  • Theme – Education- (iOURS 2018), OURS 2019, OURS 2020
  • OUSL Journal
  • AAOU 2020
  • [JL4D] Journal of Learning for Development

Online Course Material Development:

  • Bachelor of Education Honours in Primary Education- EPU3234-Curriculum studies and Practicum- Health Nutrition and Safety Measures- Developed Online course (Supplemental)
  • Master of Teacher Education (MTE)- STP9540- (Teacher educator as a teaching learning specialist) – Online course development team member
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)- STP8404 (Educational Technology)-Foundations- Online course development team member
  • Master of Education (M.Ed)- STP9619- Guidance & Counselling in Education-Developed the Blended online course

Committee Faculty/University Level

  • Faculty representative to the Senate Sub-committee on Learner Support
  • Faculty representative to the Inter-Faculty committee meeting of Environmental studies unit- M.Sc in Disaster Management
  • Department coordinator of Operations Committee meeting of the Industry Liaison Center (ILC-OUSL)
  • Faculty coordinator of Internal Quality Assurance Unit. (IQAU)
  • Member of the organizing committee – Thirasara Yugayaka Haritha Udanaya
  • Exhibition, at the B.M.I.C.H. on 31 st March-4 th April 2017 (Facilitated by the Presidential Secretariat)
  • Member of the main organizing committee of OURS (Open University Research Sessions) – 2019, 2020
  • Member of the main organizing committee of OURS (Open University Research Sessions) 2021 and the Theme Convener-Education
  • Member of the main organizing committee of iOURS (International Open University Research Sessions) 2022 and the Theme Convener-Education
  • Member of the steering committee of SER-APQL (APQN Quality Label as Regional/International Accreditation of Internationalization) preparation
  • Member-Faculty of Education research committee
  • Member-Faculty of Education board meetings
  • Member of the committee appointed for preliminary Investigation on violation of student discipline
  • Scientific committee member- The Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) -2020
  • Working Group member of the SER-OUSL 2019 – CRITERION 2 (Governance and Management) of the Institutional Review OUSL, 2019
  1. Contributions in the Field of Teaching
    • Course Material Development – Print Material Development
Programme Course code & Title Title of the session (lesson) Task Medium
1 Bachelor of Education Honours in Natural Sciences ESU4301/STU6801

Psychology of the adolescent

 

Personality Development of Adolescence Session writing E
2 Bachelor of Education Honours in Primary Education EPU3234

Curriculum studies and Practicum- Health Nutrition and Safety Measures

Role of school in ensuring health & Wellbeing of young children Session writing E
3 Bachelor of Education Honours in Primary Education EPU3234

Curriculum studies and Practicum- Health Nutrition and Safety Measures

 Ensuring health & physical wellbeing of young children Session writing E
4 Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) STP8306

Guidance and Counselling in Education

Adjustment and development of well-adjusted personality New study guide -Session writing E
5 Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) STP8301

Educational Psychology

Theoretical Perspectives of Personality Development New study guide -Session writing E
6 Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) STP8404

Educational Technology Foundations

Techniques of Teaching New study guide -Session writing E
7 Master of Science in Environmental Science STPA305

Environmental Education and Communication

Why we need environmental education Session writing E

 

 

Programme Coordination:

• Bachelor of Education Honours in Drama and Theatre Degree Programme (2017-2020)
• Bachelor of Education Honours in Natural Sciences Degree Programme (2017- 2021)
• Master of Arts in Education Degree Programme (from 2021)
• Master of Philosophy in Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Education Degree Programme (from
2021)

Course Coordination:

• Master of Education (M.Ed)- STP9619- Guidance & Counselling in Education – Course Team Leader
• Bachelor of Education Honours in Drama and Theatre Degree Programme- Guidance & Counseling in
Education (ESU3128)- Course Team Leader (2017)
• Bachelor of Education Honours in Drama and Theatre Degree Programme- Guidance & Counseling in
Education-(STU5328)- Course Team Leader (2018)
• Bachelor of Education Honours in Natural Sciences Degree Programme – Guidance & Counseling in
Education – (STU5314)- Course Team Leader (2018)
• Bachelor of Education Honours in Natural Sciences Degree Programme STU6801- Psychology of
the Adolescent- Course Team Leader
• Bachelor of Education Honours in Drama and Theatre Degree Programme STU5525-Educational
Psychology- Course coordinator
• Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)- STP8404- Educational Technology Foundations- Course
coordinator
• Master of Teacher Education (MTE)- STP9540- Teacher educator as a teaching learning
specialist – Course coordinator
• Master of Science in Environmental Science- STPA305-Environmental Education and Communication
– Faculty Coordinator
• Module Leader of Module No. 4-Teaching Learning II: Enhancing Course Skills of CTHE 2022

Researches:

National and International Conference Proceedings/ Presentations

Dilhani, K., De Silva, D.V.M., Fernando, M.N.C., Karunanayaka, S.P. (2011). Impact of School based projects implemented by student teachers of the Post Graduate Diploma in Education Programme. paper presented at annual academic sessions, Open University, Sri Lanka.

Karunanayaka. S., Fernando, M.N.C., De Silva, D. V. M., Dilhani, K. (2011). An Analytical study on the Project component in Teaching practice stage Two of the Post Graduate Diploma in Education Programme, paper presented at annual academic sessions, Open University, Sri Lanka.  

Karunanayaka, S.P., De Silva, D.V.M., Fernando, C. (2013). Perceptions of Student teachers of an Online learning Environment on Open Educational Resources for Science Education, paper presented at annual academic sessions, Open University, Sri Lanka.

Karunanayaka, S., De Silva, D.V.M., Fernando, C. (2013). An OER -integrated Online learning environment to enhance knowledge construction in Chemistry at Secondary School Level, paper presented at the International conference on Chemical Education, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

De Silva, D.V.M. (2014). Encourage Self-regulated learning among Open and Distance Learners: A literature review of existing instructional strategies and specific tools for encouraging self-regulation, paper presented at annual research symposium, University of Colombo.

De Silva, D.V.M. (2015). An investigation of the present status of self-regulated learning skills of university students studying in the open and distance learning environment, paper presented at annual research symposium, University of Colombo.

De Silva, D.V.M. (2016).  Developing self-regulated learning skills in university students studying in the open and distance learning environment. paper presented at annual research symposium, the Faculty of Education, Open University, Sri Lanka.

De Silva,D.V.M. (2017). Adopting Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire to assess self-regulated learning skills in university students. Research paper presented at annual research symposium, University of Colombo, held 21-22 November,2017, in Colombo.

De Silva,D.V.M. (2018). Developing self-regulated learning skills in university students studying in the open and distance learning environment. Research paper, presented at an international conference on Future Education organized by International Institute of Knowledge Management with the partnership of University of Colombo, University of Tampere, Finland, held on 26th-27th June 2018, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

De Silva, D.V.M. (2019). Developing Self-regulated Learning skills in university students studying in the Open & Distance Learning Environment by using KWL method. paper presented at Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum, Edinburgh, Scotland

De Silva, D.V.M., Anuruddhika, B.G.H., Rathnayake, R.N.P., Alwis, K.A.C., Kugamoorthy, S., Ketheeswaran, D.D.I., Chathurika, D., Weerakoon, W.M.S. (2021). Difficulties encountered by the students in completing the research project in undergraduate degree programmes. Research paper presented at the Open University Research Sessions (OURS) organized by the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), 16-17 September 2021, Nawala, Sri Lanka.

Thesis

De Silva, D.V.M. (2018). Developing self-regulated learning skills in university    students studying in the open and distance learning environment, dissertation Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Colombo.

De Silva, D.V.M. (2008). Social needs of School Aged  

            Adolescents and responses of Parents of different socio-economic levels, dissertation Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education, Open University of Sri Lanka.

 

Research Supervisions:

Research Projects/dissertations/Thesis

Supervising research dissertations of Master’s Programme,   Supervising Thesis of M.Phil,   Supervising              research projects of Bachelor of Education Honours in Drama and Theatre, Bachelor of Education                        Honours in Natural Sciences, Bachelor of Education Honours in Special Needs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publications:

Journal Publications
De Silva, D. V. M. (2020). Developing self-regulated learning skills in university students studying in the open    and distance learning environment using the KWL method. Journal of Learning for Development, 7(2), 204-217.
Karunanayaka, S., De Silva, V., Fernando, C. (2013). Designing an online learning environment on Open Educational Resources for science education. AAOU journal, 8(2), 1-11.

Book Chapters

Karunanayaka, S. Fernando, C., Jayasinghe, S., De Silva, V., & Hewapathirana, C. (2014). Change through Technology: A Journey. In S. Karunanayaka & S. Naidu (Eds). Integrating OER in Educational Practice: Practitioner Stories. (pp. 93-122). Nugegoda: The Open University of Sri Lanka. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2jzeDu1

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