Through PPD…

Through PPD…

We have done PPD session for two years, and here we have come to the very end of our journey together. Every begging has an end that we do not expect to come. What matters is, at the end what we have gain to our life and what we have become throughout the considerable period. As changing is the only thing that does not change. According to my point we all (my colleges) have somewhat change through that period.

Everybody faces their own types of difficulties during the undergraduate life in university life. It can be academic issues or financial issues or relationship problems. PPD lesson have become life learning session although everybody does not realize the true value of it. Although the life has become tough or become cruel to me, I have learned to overcome or sometimes ignore all the things and move on the life.

 Life is not an easy thing to be handled or take control. All thing come to us day today is unexpected as the activities and task we face at PPD. Some small activities make me think about me and it make me realize that I was work with a small society as same as the big one that I have to face tomorrow.

As this is the end of my PPD life, I would like to thank all, who came with me all these things and specially our conductor (person who was behind us all the time) for making such an effort for our betterment. And thank for teaching us that even a small thing that we may missed is how important to make the change that we want.

Trust walk

Trust walk

In this week PPD session we have done a very interesting fun activity. Trust walk can be considered as a game which we can learn so much thing by engaging. First, I would like to describe about the game briefly for the readers. We had to find a partner for the activity and one of two players should be blindfolded and the other person should be his guide. The guide person should guide his blindfolded partner to the given destination without touching the obstacles.

There were very tricky objects as obstacles such as brooms across the floor, pens, staircase, bricks etc. The game is mainly about trusting the partner you have chosen.  First, we have wait up in the staircase of the class room and after moving here and there we had to come down with our blindfolded partner. The most challenging thing in the game was avoiding the obstacles. Sometimes it is very had to give the direct commands to the blindfolded partner because if he make a mistake, he can get physical injuries as well by getting hit himself in obstacles.

How ever in this game there were so much things to learn for us.

  Listen to the partner.

  Provide correct and clear guidance.

  Trust the partner.

Sometimes, we have to trust the partner blindly when there is no option.

We have to use our sense to make sure where we are without just listen to the partner.

Anyhow that was the last activity of our two years PPD life. It was unforgettable.

How to write a CV

How to write a CV

Curriculum vitae (known as CV) acts a very important place in our professional life. CV can be considered as the self-reflection, it should be able to make the first good impression of you as well. As software Engineering undergraduates, it really matters when we are facing our internships in next year.

First, we should select a decent picture of ourselves and include it in the top of the CV. (That picture should not be a casual photo). Then personal details should be included at the first. Name, email address, home address, contact numbers. Then there should be a brief description of yourself as well. That description should be small but self-reflective.

Afterwards, educational qualifications should be included to the CV. The most important thing is the format consistency. When we include details to CV consistency should be kept all the time. You can include your O/L and A/L results and the degree information to that part.

Then professional qualifications should be mentioned. Under professional qualifications you should include your qualifications that you gain through, different courses and diplomas which helps you to be a more qualified person compared to other candidates for that position. The consistency of format should keep here as well.

Then Work experiences should be mentioned. Under this you should include details of past job positions you have done. Job title, duration, responsibilities of the job and company and its address should me mentioned.

Then training and Workshops part comes and under that trainings and workshops that you have participated should be included. Then you can mention your skills under skills parts. Furthermore, you can divide skills into 2 parts as technical and soft skills.

Then you can include your personal achievements and awards. Then extra-curricular activities that you have done and finally references should be included. That referencing people should non relatives and people who know about you really well.

Expertise game and Pen & Thread game

As the last week PPD session we did some special game that is called expertise game. So there were around 20 students in the class and then we grouped for the game and my team had 5 members including me.

Firstly Ms.Sarasi gave time to us for think what is the my expert area and she said that think about small area not complex things. Then she asked what the expert areas of each of us is and my expert area was riding bikes. Also there were cricket player, book reader, handcrafter and good tv watcher.    

Then our task was to combine the 3 expert areas and make the product. We had 30 minutes to think and make the product. Then our team product was eye glass case and expert areas were book reading, bike riding and handcrafting. In this 30 minutes we had to think on a marketing plan, what are the advantages of product and also price of the product.   After that we had to do a presentation about the product and simply we had to market it. Our eye glass case price was Rs.1000.

In that task we gain many soft skills as well as enjoying in. Simpler of thinking can make many more great thing that is main thing that I learnt. With some creativity we can do so many things.  

After that, we had done a small task which very interesting for all of us. We were provided with a pen, celotapes, thread and a paper. What we had to do was, we should write the given word without touching pen and all members should touch the thread as well. Then we came up with a small equipment to do the particular task. Somehow we manage to do that correctly. Communication skill and leadership skills took a major role in this task.

The session at the WSO2

The session at the WSO2

First of all I would like thank Ms. Sarasi Senadheera for organizing such a valuable event for us. As software engineering under graduates visiting to an one of leading IT company in Sri Lanka, was a very enthusiastic one. For most of our batch mates, including me this was the first visit to the WSO2.

Although it was not a spacious place, the outer appearance of the company was nice. At the lobby there were some game boards as a playing area and I saw few people enjoying themselves. I was quiet impressed by what I saw, because that small detail shows how much the authorities think of their employees.

 Then we have to go to the 7th floor and the session was in a special room. They were well prepped and organized. And we were received with WSO2 notebook and a pen.

The session was very informative. It was about technical writing. Most of us have never heard of technical writing. And the session was conducted by senior technical writers. They acknowledged us about technical writing path as well as the way of doing it and the importance. As they said, early days programmers did the technical writing as well developing. As it was not that much of success companies have realized about the importance of technical writing.

And they taught us about few grammar tips with interesting exercises. There were very interesting fun games. Time flew very fast without knowing, and the session was ended at sharp 12 as scheduled.

Self-reflection

Self-reflection

“Unless you learn to face your own shadows, you will continue to see them in others, because the world outside you is only a reflection of the world inside you.” Sometimes, some people might think that self-reflection is not a very important as long as you are doing the right thing and you know who you are, but according to my point of view that is a selfish thought and person who think like that cannot survive in the society.

Who you are to the society is really matters, what is the role that you decide to play in the society is really matters as long as you are a part of the society. There are no pure black or a pure white soul. But we should be considered how you are going to deal with that in public.

 According to the teaching of Lord Buddha, the noble eightfold path or “Arya Ashatanga Margaya” is very good example that leads us into a middle path life.

  Right understanding

  Right thought

  Right speech

  Right action

  Right livelihood

  Right effort

  Right mindfulness

  Right concertation

By following these steps of Lord Buddha’s teaching, not only we can avoid our evil side that hidden bottom of the soul but also, we can rise some good things that we never see in our selves inside our souls.

Maintain a good self-reflection in the society of we co-operate is thousand time difficult than making good impression at first. Finally, what I learnt is, as the educated new generation, if we pay more attention to our own self-reflection this place will be so much nicer.

How to face an interview...

How to face an interview

As undergraduates, the way of facing to an interview, is very important. In this week PPD session we were acknowledged how to prepare for an interview

1.      Research the company

First thing of all that we should do is, do some research of the company and have some sort of picture about it. By going through the mission of the company and knowing about company environment and company culture make confident ourselves in order to impress them.

2.   Research your interviewer(optional)

Not only about the company but also by doing some sort of research on the interviewing board can be helpful according to situations which are can be occurred in an interview.

3.    Prepare to answer common questions.

We do some searching on the internet and about common interview question and we can get ready. By doing this we can face the interview with confidently.

4.    Practice with a friend

Although we have confident that we can able to face it successfully at that moment we can get nervous.  Therefore have little practice of interview help us to overcome that obstacle.

5.      Prepare to bring everything you need

 We should be well prepared for the interview with all documents which are required. By preparing at the last minute can caused many unfortunate situations that will ruin your interview. Therefore better preparation makes everything successful.

6.      Arrive at least 10 minutes early

 For an interview, punctuality is one of the most important facts. By arriving 10 minute early it will become more helpful to be adopt to the company environment.

All of this point I think the most important thing to be done  is to be prepared well for all kind of situation.

Story writing

Story writing

In the first day of activity session, as there were time left after doing air plane flying task, Our conductor decided to do a little activity. Therefore we were divided into 3 groups and had to do a mini task.

The task was to write a story on the white board. But the most interesting part of the task was, one member can write only one word at a time and other members cannot see what is on the white board and cannot discuss about the task. There were 4 rounds and each member got chance to write on the board about 4 words in the whole story.

At the end of the written part we got chance to read our stories. That was a great moment. It was a great pleasure to read all the stories because the end of the story was so different from the beginning. The flow of the stories was a mess.

In this mini activity, the fact that we should focus was, good communication makes everything better.

Air planes making

Air planes making

As the first blog of this semester, I would like to convey that the idea of PPD again as a reminding. PPD is program which was the main desire is personal progress development of undergraduate of University of Kelaniya.

In this week session we did this air plane making activity and it was very interesting one as well.

First of all we were divided into 2 groups. Each group was provided by 6 color papers (blue and yellow). The task of the day was to build maximum number of airplanes (size does not matter).And the conductor marked 10 feet distance on the floor. Our planes should fly over that marked line.

We were given 3 minutes to come up with a strategy for the task. Therefore we got really exited and started discussed about the size of the plane. After few trials we decided a certain size and we all get to gather and make airplanes as much as we can. By the end of the given 20 minutes were able to make 36 planes.

Then the flying time was arrived. Then Sivakajan and I volunteered to make our airplanes fly. We were able to make 36 air planes and 24 of them were successfully landed over the line.

Therefore we won that task and behind the victory our contribution of every member was the secret of our success. As well as I think we got the maximum use of that given 3 minutes came up with a proper size.

Looking Back..

Looking back…

“In  a look back, I see nothing to regret and little to correct.”
_John C. Calhoun_

Week by week, we gain new experiences in the ppd sessions. In order to develop our soft skills such as communication skills, working skills, leadership skills. We had joined the ppd sessions willingly. There were many enthusiastic events in each sessions which was organized by the lecturer for us to do.
Most exciting events are;
01. Laava River
02. Paper tower
03. Egg shell
04. Life goals
05. Barter puzzle
06. Out bound training program

For me it was a pleasure to be a part of a team and play given activities. When I analyze those activities, most of them were group activities. Therefore I like to discuss about group works that we done.
In Lava River we were provided in 4 plates we had to cross the Lava River ( 8 members) by not loosing those plates.
In egg protector we were provided by paper and celotape. We had to make an egg protector to prevent breaking when it drops from ten feet height.

In barter puzzle, we had to make the puzzle properly. Some items of the puzzle were mixed with the other teams .Therefore we had to those missing items and fix it
In paper tower we were provided papers and celotapes, we had to make the tallest tower which can stand without any external support.
By joining these mentioned activities we got to know about work ethics we try to develop. There is true leader inside us in everyone who takes decisions, who direct the team to the destination. In ppd  we had improve many leadership skills.
  _____________________________________thankyou______________________________________

Out Bound Training Program

Out bound training program

We have done many outdoor activities for our ppd sessions in our university premises. This is our first out bound program that we have experienced . We went Trincomalee naval camp on 12th December 2017.

As under graduates we learnt so many things by joining this wonderful program for our future. There were different kind of exciting activities which were organized by naval camp for us. We were divided into few groups and we did those activities.

It was a great opportunity for us to gain not only new memories but also new experiences we make us stronger for our both personal and professional life as well. We had to concern on leadership qualities in order to play those activities.

In the evening we had a great opportunity to show our inner talents. We had a small verity show. We perform some aesthetic items and added more colour to that event.

And we had a another good opportunity to see the naval museum which they highly admire as a one of their important place that show their pride as the naval force.  The evidence of the victory that they gain from 30 years war were nicely shown at the museum.  It was the most attractive place fpr everyone.

When we consider the over all on our out bound program in the naval camp we had a nice time by learning great things.

BARTA PUZZLE

Barta Puzzle

First of all, I would like to explain about the barta system. Barta system is very old system of exchanging where goods or services are directly exchange for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange like money.

In this week Ppd session we have done a puzzle solving game by using this barta system. We were divided into three groups and we were provided an advertisement of a magazine by the conductor. Then she asked two members from each group and asked them to cut the paper into hundred pieces. Then she took ten pieces from each group and mixed all the thirty pieces. After that she gave ten pieces for all groups. The task of the day was to set the puzzle within the given time period which was ten minutes.

During the game we had to find our missing parts from the other two groups and fixed the puzzle properly. Our group leader held the mixed ten pieces. Then she separated unwanted pieces and she took care of these pieces. We divided our group into three subgroups and we fixed the puzzle separately. Finally we brought them all together. Because of that the process of the fixing the puzzle and the finding mixed pieces of the puzzle were easy.

We were able to complete 95% of the puzzle within six minutes. Then we had some issues of finding our pieces from other groups. Due to lack of communication and misunderstandments we were unable to get the final piece of our puzzle within the given time period. We learnt many things from this activity. When we work on team, there should be good communication, team spirit, hardworking, dedication, among all the members.

Life Goals

Life goals, the chart

In previous ppd sessions, we did different kind of group activities to develop our skills to work with a team, to work with people. Those developing skills help us to build a good personality for our own betterment.

But in this week we did a kind of a different, individual task to think only about ourselves and to think “what are the things that we really wanted to happen to us”. In the last day of our first semester, we were asked to bring a cardboard and color pencils. Then we had to draw our own life goals chart within the given time.

First of all I took a piece of paper and I roughly jod down my goals. The we were asked to divide those goals into3 categories.

1. Personal goals

2. Academic goals   

3. Professional goals

 In this week we have done a small presentation to our chart. It was an interesting session, because listening to others’ life goals are pretty interesting. We had to explained  clearly , our life goals in the chart.

In this activity, we mainly focused about our future plans and we had to think that  "what we are planning to do” and “what are the things that we have done in order to achieve those goals. Therefore we realized that we have to spend more time to achieve our goals  in order to have good life.