Look Back

Last year, we started schooling at University of Kelaniya. When we looked at the subjects, we had to get registered for a GNCT subject that was compulsory in both first year and second year. But not including any credits and mentioning that everyone has to pass the subject to obtain the degree. It was well known as PPD.






What is PPD ?
personal progress development




















Did you get it?

If it is, wow! you are so nice! Personal progress development has been added to software engineering degree as a core module to enhance the personality oft he undergraduate as it matches with the industry need. So, this unit was consisting a lot team works, challenging activities and much more experience.

There was always something to learn in PPD, about the society and how to survive there.

There was a whole team to guide us for PPD activities in the first year. But when it comes to second year, only Mrs. Sarasi Senadeera was left for the subject. So, it is appreciable her job to give us the essence of PPD which sense the personality of the career.


Did I learn something?
hope so.


About what?
people, how to interact with them, how to lead your team for success, how to obey your leader.

Can i remember all the activities we did?
Nope

We did theoretical + practical activities;

Outbound Training

It was a Saturday. Early in the morning. I looked at my watch.  The time was about 4.30. We were at Science faculty gate. Both first year ad second year students had got together to go for outbound training which was due to hold in Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee.
.................................

in the bus - on the way to Trincomalee

When we reached Trincomalee, it was about 10 a.m. We got into a resting area as we arrived. Then we were offered lunch. It was served in a cafeteria situated in a beautiful atmosphere. I loved it personally. After the lunch, we went to the beach for some team activities. Actually they were really enjoyable. Leadership skills, team spirit and feeling of each other were learnt through those activities.

playing

team games inspected

In the evening, we had a camp fire on beach along with a talent show. The next day we had our breakfast around 7 a.m. Then we were grouped and given a task to go through the jungle with only a map and a compass. It was a thrilling experience. Then we visited the naval museum.

in the jungle

@ naval museum

After journey through jungle

in underground armory

 We left the Academy after having lunch on the second day.

I am so grateful to officers and lecturers for giving us a such chance.

Table Etiquettes

We were been to Sri Lanka Intitute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Colombo. They warmly welcome us with a welcome drink. Before going for table ethiquettes and dining session, we were explained how to maintain our posture along with grooming and how worth it is. And also, how important it is to have a decent manners in social parties and what the best way to behave there.

After that clear explanation we went along with table ethiquettes session. We were taught from identifying our area on the table to finish the meal and get off. The lecturer from SLITHM, well explained them all by presenting himself.

Then we moved into the real dining area. It was very nice looking. I felt the five star feeling there. We were served food in star grade style. And we had to dine too in the same manner what we just learned there before. Actually it was a delicious experience. And very useful too. In our life, as software engineers when we are in the industry we will be eating from five star hotels and participating social functions. So, it is important to have that practice to appear well on those occasions.

Thank you very much Sarasi madam and SLTHM, for giving such an useful experience.

Latest Software Engineering Trends

hSenid Mobile Solutions is a company situated in Sri Lanka that is on the way of Telcos to Business. Through the invitation made by lecturer Miss. Sarasi Senadeera, they visited us to conduct a session which introduces us the new trends in Software Engineering.

It should be admired the HR manager and the team who came to University of Kelaniya and conducted the session.


IOT - (Internet of  Things)

It is a network of physical devices that comes with connectivity. The remote access to each device or the system can be done. This has emerged as a new trend in the world now with the technology enhancement in connectivity, miniaturization and automation.

Open Source Software Products

New trend in Software Engineering domain. In the past people preferred a lot to use costly, very iconic and restricted software made by popular or any known company. But with the technological knowledge dispersion all around the world and every level of society the concept of open source
software came into play. So they are free to use use, adopt, maintain by anyone. Through the contributions made to those companies or the organizations, they survive.

Machine Learning

The fundamentals to the artificial intelligence. Based on several algorithm that can predict the next value along with data it is already fed into the system.  It consists two parts that includes data insertion to the algorithm and the calculation to derive a pattern with them. As the world's new expectation in technology is artificial intelligence, this sub-domain in software engineering has become more popular and demanding.

So, in that session as software engineering undergraduates we found these trending technologies and the concepts to focus to enter the industry with a sense of currently on the field.
So, thank you madam for giving us such an opportunity.

Art - Life

Am I living?

It was an amazing guest lecture, conducted by Dr. Ajith Rohana Colonne. As he started to deliver his lecture, we all began to question ourselves whether we are living. He entered to the topic by questioning us, why do we live. Actually, what is the purpose of this life? We all will die one-day within about 60-80 years if we don’t get an emergency death. And even that can’t be assured whether you live in the next moment. In this short and doubtful period of time, we face so many situations. As Dr. Colonne had identified he explained the purpose of the life through three types of outcomes.

               1.Happiness

               2.Success

               3.Enjoyment

Happiness

What do we mean by happiness? Should we have a lot of money to be happy? And how much is it?

That lecture took the audience into a pool of questions. But it showed us what we have missed in our lives If we can start appreciating the nature, we will be able to be happy time a long time.

How the nature enhances man’s wisdom

It is an amazing incident that we can observe in the nature. Yes, mother nature supports us. 

Take nothing, but Photographs and leave nothing behind, but Footprints

This is something to keep in our minds. That will reserve the nature for the future too. We are not to destroy this nature. Of course, you can appreciate and enjoy it, but not the destruction.

Success

What is called the success?

Success is what getting a step forward from where you began.

The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect

What can direct a man’s life towards the success

Positive Thinking

Self-Confidence

Reasons Beyond Control

Strategic Thinking

Knowledge

Spirituality

Superstitions

What matters the most in life is not how fast we can rise, but how fast we can recover after a fall

Beauty of UOK

University of Kelaniya – My University

It is like a miracle to enter this wonderful place. After facing a tough series of exams and passing them, I could embrace the sweet smell of my university. Placed in Dalugama, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Opening the doors to the knowledge coming from all around the world as it is situated near by the economic capital, Colombo though not full of the disturbances as situated in the city.  

 

At the first look of the giant name board placed in front of the university premises, a viewer feels the strength and the proud history of the university. And that is a famous landmark for most of travelers passing by.

Let’s have a look at these beautiful premises….

You can see this green main play ground as you pass by the Wewelduwa road, while you walk under the “May trees”. The sight of some are playing here will make you feel, you are bit away from head burning academics and other stuffs.

Thal Weta (A line of Palmira trees)

Giving the shade to anyone coming university, it is hailing through decades. Situated at the entrance of the faculty of science. Most of undergraduates are having sweet memories here.

The beautiful and popular it gaha

It is a great relief for everyone coming to it center. Even to spend their leisure, students come to this place. The huge and spread tree helps everyone and it is adding an unique beauty to the university

Not only the beautiful places, the beauty of the university comes through even with the people who are in. As the university is famous in art streams and having a prominent name on particular subjects, A lot of art students are coming in to the university. That has made a more percentage of girls are to come, in to the university. So, many beautiful faces are here. Do you want to see?

Mee Amba Sewana

A beautiful and a relaxing place in the university. If you want to spend some time with your lover, then this would be an ideal place. Getting  a little away from concrete buildings.

Wala

Situated near the sub play ground. Used by students from any faculty to show-cast their stage performances. And if you want to have some relax in your mind by getting away from your studies, make a visit.

Not just the beauty, the mental relief 

The statue of lorld buddha is in the middle of the university, facing the road going by.



So, Love UOK. It is a beautiful place.

My dream trip

It is looks like a topic given to a primary school boy to write on. But the essence of the activity is not such primary or a kid’s understanding. Even I felt it as something hilarious when I heard the lecturer’s voice saying “Take a piece of paper and write how you plan your dream trip. Imagine you have performed well at your office and your boss is happy to allow you going on a trip with unlimited budget for only one month. And you are married and having two kids “So I began dreaming and writ it on a paper.

               

My dream

I will be going with my lovely wife and my own kids. I can’t leave them with my relations or neighbors. If I had this chance before I had them, it would be so romantic.

First, I will visit Japan. The place where most civilized people live in. I will enjoy their culture. But I may not practice any martial arts. I will be walking on the clean roads of that beautiful country, through even those beautiful summits. After being there in one week of time, I will be flying to Armenia. I don’t know much about that place by now. But later may be. As I have heard it is a very beautiful place. I may spend 2-3 days there. Then I will be in France. It is a cute and expensive place to be. I’ll enjoy most delicious French foods. I will surely buy a pack of French perfume bottles. Then I will try my best to enter Germany and have some rides in most luxurious and powerful vehicles made there. I have heard that the Ferrari company is situated at there. And I will surely visit a vehicle making factory.

Seems I have forgotten my kids. But it is not. When I visit Japan, I will take them to the Disney world. I am pretty sure that they will enjoy it. I will let them to play in a green playground, while I and my wife use to look at how they play. In Armenia, we all will be travelling in most beautiful streets together. I will surely hug them all at an Armenian se shore.

 Then I’ll come back home. I’ll have good rest with my family with every facility having the use of unlimited free budget I am given. I will spend my last days of vacation. I will be helping poor much as possible the unlimited budget.

 End of the dream-----------

So, was it what expected by the lecturer. No. I realized that after she explained it later. Yeah, we were given a vacation and an unlimited budget. So, does that mean everything is fine and we have only to g on the trip… The bad assumption I and most of my peers made. I had to plan so many things before going on. How to hand over my works and settle my wife’s job and kids school… A lot to take care of. It gives the sense of planning to the maximum before taking any action. Even when you are going to entertain something. It remembers us, we are not free people. We are burdened with so many. They can be relationships, duties and responsibilities. So think of every side, when you are with something.

The Expert GAME

Are you an expert?

• Yeah, may be you are...

Have you gathered with any other experts?

• Why not? When you meet friends! 
• They might have been experts. 
• But may be in different areas.

Have you tried to come up with a new product or a service???? 

I don’t know whether you had. But it was my first experience in trying to come up with a new one product or service with three non-matching fields 

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      The  game was designed and the lecture asked us to  select three expertise from each group as she had divided us into. Then those expertise had to explain his fellow group members about his/her expert area. There was the chance to question the expert about his/her field

·         

·        All right , in my group we had three expertise 

•             They were experts in

1. o   -cooking
2. o   -cricket
3. o   -riding bikes

What an amazingly different areas..

The real game was at the later part of the whole activity.

• To make one outcome of those  areas. 

Yeah, you have experts in those areas right?

Actually we did it. I couldn't believe that we can do it until we come up with our service. Actually it was a kind of business plan

shortly called - F.C.D.  (Food Cricket Delivery) ???

Our main objective was to deliver food to the international cricket matches! but it is not an easy to have such a contract. So we decided to make a plan to achieve that target. 

First, we would have some shows of bike stunts. Normally they attract a huge number of people. So we can find money by asking them to buy tickets for the show. And ,with that money we would open few stalls and earn some money with it. Any way we have now two ways of income. Then we would go for another, owning a theater. So we can show live cricket matches when there is one. And when not, films. By the time, we would have our reputation. Then we would go for our main objective, to supply foods to international cricket matches.

This activity remembered us that there is nothing non-matching, inter-related field(area) in the world. Everything you see, depends on your mind set.  And if you find there is no way to do, remember that there is a way to do. May be you have not seen it yet. So open your mind! 

Pen and paper game

Write the given word on a blank paper without touching your pen! Everyone to participate.

We were given,

-team doing activity-

• one blank paper
• a long thread 
• a pen

The team had to think of a way to do it. At first we thought of covering the whole pen with thread provided. But the lecturer asked us not to use that technique. Then we thought of another plan. We tied the pen from above and below as one person could handle it. But couldn't write with as we expected. The reason was that the downward force needed to write with a bolt point pen was not provided. So we tied another piece from above and all other members gave the downward force while one man wrote nice on the paper using the thread.


Think creatively. Identify the need. Find the most appropriate option to do the task.

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Barter Puzzle

Are we to WIN or DEFEAT?

Barter Puzzle

-solving the puzzle-

I heard the name for the first time in my life when doing the activity in the PPD class room. But it was something we had done before as kids. But here some rules were changed as matching to ourselves to learn something valuable to our life. At first it looked a dull game. We were assigned into few groups, and the group leaders were asked to come front with a supporting person. Then they were asked to cut into 75 pieces each picture given to the team.

 Then the lecturer collected those parts into separate bags and exchanged some picture pieces with other pictures. And teams were given those bags as they have been exchanged. None got the set of pieces which they cut in. Then we tried to solve the puzzle. It was a terrible thing to imagine what the picture was. Even not knowing what we were making we were creating the picture!!! Amazing!

-our team-

We began to solve that puzzle from one end. Then we added matching parts into that and grew up the picture. As we had some picture parts which belongs to another picture in another group, we were asked to necessary actions on that. So, we did exchanging parts with what we had from others.

-team work-

The society is so cruel! Everyone wants to make you down! No matter whether they win or not, They want to make you not to win

-a small solved part of picture-

It was like a social experimental activity; the barter puzzle took us along a long journey in learning about who is next to us. As the first finished team becomes winner, some other fellow groups had stolen some parts of our picture, while we were continuing with rest. Anyhow we could realize that thing in the meantime. And they had not become genuine as we used to be. When we were exchanging the pieces, we gave them the whole part we had. But they had cheated us. They had teared the parts they had into few small pieces. Actually, this thing was done by one team. They were the ones who stole pieces from us too.  And they had stolen from other groups too. And that made us not to finish the picture anyway. How to get the rest of parts, without having anything left with us? No any team, helped us! They wanted a piece!!!

Competition-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

is it to,

WIN or DEFEAT????

I am asking you to conclude it. I don’t want to say anything. Decide yourself. That’s how most people are.  So, get yourself secured. Otherwise though how good you work, it will be useless.

 

Personal Progress Development

Learning to LIVE!!!

Welcome to join with my experience in learning P.P.D.

Hope a dawn in your career?

It's not you, if you consider only the 

academics or the job what you do.

A person is having two kinds of skills that make him remain in  the society and the world. 

• Soft Skills
• Academic/Professional skills            

 In most of time we have seen that people consider  much about the academic or the professional skills.  They have mistakenly forgotten their inertia.  As  result of this we can see most of people are not  gaining the fruitful outcome of what they do...

 So PPD helps to develop a person's soft skills.

•     How to work in a team
•     A training to lose stage fear
•     Creative thinking
•     How to entertain your work.. etc.

For whom?

All the humans!!!

Basically PPD is a subject that teaches everyone how to shape up their life.

For Undergraduates and Employees, it is worth a lot. 

Ride your boat, Even at heavy storms...
May be you know how to sail.
But at a heavy storm???

- Shamitha Chandrasena