What I learned from PPD......

PPD molds us into an efficient individual who is ready to face the world and solves all the problem confidently and effectively......
 It is your way to a better life, to become an improved version of yourself. As a University students we want to pay more attendance to this unique subject then we can learn a lot through this PPD lesson. Throughout this year we did so many useful activities such as:

Trust Walk
CV Writing
Self Reflection
Expert and Pen Game
Session in WSO2
Emerging Technologies
Cake Activity
How to face an Interview
Story Chain
Paper Rocket
Every session of PPD tought us many lifelong lessons which we have to follow in our professional as well as personal life.
Leadership Quality
Communication Skills
Decision Making
Self Confidence
Team Working
Creativity
planning Skills
Presentation Skills
Public Speaking
Problem Solving
Time Management
Overcome obstacles and achieving goals
Adjusting to the changing environments
Improving personality and confidence.

CV writing

CV writing

Have you ever thought how important a CV is when you apply for a job position?
When applying you always worry about the interviews. But the CV where we give the first impression on us also plays a major role in selecting for a job.

Our CV is the first chance we get to make a good impression on a potential employer. A top quality CV will considerably boost out chance of getting face to face interview. So it is worth spending time and effort on the content and presentation. It will make all the differences= in obtaining the position we want. We must therefore highlight our skills,expertise and value.

It should be in our own format. We should not copy from someone else format. It should be concise and accurate. We should provide with true details. We should tailor it specifically to he job we are applying for and include the skills,qualifications and experience which are most suited to the job.

It is good to make the CV using word processing SW
Highlight the headings - different font size
Keep the email as a hyperlink
Do not mix font styles
Document should be able to copy and paste
Maintain the years in one line

CV should consist with many information.

Photograph - should be a professional photograph with good dress. (Not with fancy dresses or a selfie) Head and shoulders. At the top right corner.
Personal Details - Name and address, a phone number, and your email address.
Personal Profile - A statement about our self, summarizing the skills and carrier interests
Skills - Soft skills and technical skills
Educational Qualifications - Write in chronological order a brief list of school and university qualifications, such as O/Ls , A/Ls , etc., together with the grades we obtained. Then list any further qualifications we have obtained, together with the names of the awarding bodies.
Projects
Work Experiences - Start with current or last employer and work backwards. We should include the dates of employment,  job title,  responsibilities, duties and achievements.
Volunteering, Conferences, Extra curricular activities, Training - Recent activities first.
References - There is no need to write the details of your referees on your CV. Simply state that they are available on request, but make sure that you know who your referees are and that you have asked their permission to use them.

Trust walk

Trust Walk

As we live with other people or in other words we live in a society with different kinds of people. TRUST is something very important when we live with those people. We should not trust people blindly but with good understanding.

In last ppd session we were asked to find a partner (not a life partner .. hikz). Then we were instructed to cover the eyes of the partner. The other person had to give instructions to the blind person about the obstacles, paths, where to turn etc. So there the one person played the role of a listener and one played the role of an instructor. The instructor should navigate the listener to the final destination. This activity had two rounds where the listener of the first round became the instructor in the second round and vice versa.

When we proceed the path we had to go over  stair cases where we had to instruct the blind person with the no. of steps and where to stop. There were white board markers on the path and if somebody put the leg on it, he or she might definitely fall. That is why we were instructed to listen the instructor well. At the first round we had to go along the path and tap a brick. While in the second round we had to tap on two concrete blocks and the brick. In the first round all most all the students walked and tap the brick with the correct instructions. But at the second round some students forgot what to do. Some forgot to tap on the brick after tapping he concrete blocks.

When we trust someone we should not trust him or her blindly. Even though we can not see anything we have a brain to think and analyse. We can choose what we should do and what should not. We can instruct the other person when he or she does a wrong thing. In this occasion also some instructors forgot to tap the brick after tapping the concrete brick. If blind one communicated with the instructor well they won't do such a mistake. Miss Sarasi never prohibited the communication between the instructor and the blind person.

When someone keeps his or her trust on us, we have a responsibility of protecting it. Trust is like a glass. When it is broken we can't fully make it in to what it was. Some times some people keeps their life on another persons hand trusting him. In this activity also the blind one keeps trust on the instructor. If one step was taken in a wrong way sometimes the blind one may fall. So we should e a good instructor to the others. Protect the trust that someone lay on us.

Blind person also should give the maximum support. If he does what he wants to do, it is really disturbing for the instructor. We should be a good listener and trust the partner. Help hi or her to do their task. Correct their path when they deviate.

These things are really important when we live in the society. When we work we have to trust so many people and follow their paths. Be wise. Trust the people. But do not blindly trust...

Self reflection

Self reflection

    Last ppd session was very important for all of us. It was very interesting session because, there was a very interesting topic for the day. It was "Self Reflection".
    At first, Sarasi madam asked about the extra curricular activities that we are doing in the university, other than our academic things. But, most of us were very weak in extra curricular activities. Then she explained about the importance of doing extra curricular activities.
    The topic was the day was self reflection and she delivered the session on the topic of self reflection. And I got a lot of things to my life during the session.

    "Reflection" means thinking about something and "Self Reflection" means thinking of yourself and it is a very important term. Sarasi madam explained it very well. She told some examples as well that she got in her life. We can judge ourselves and be good character. WE can judge our own qualities. Self reflection is like looking into a mirror. The most important thing is our character in the society. If we have good qualities, the society will identify us as good persons.

    When we think about self reflection, there are some factors that we have to think about. The most important things are strengths and weaknesses. We must identify our strengths and weaknesses and we shouldn't afraid to the challenges that we meet. Every time we should be very strong and should take right decisions. Other than that we have to identify our skills and improve our own skills. Some times there can be hidden skills that we couldn't identify ever. We have to improve such skills.
    There can be lot of problems in our lives that we face. We should face those problems strongly and think about the solutions wisely. And we have to face lot of challenges as well. We should have a strong mind to face those problems and challenges. Always be yourself and be kindhearted. If you are a person that can get the pain of other peoples', you are a great character for the society. Be a man that lives forever in others' heart even after your death. People will hold your good qualities forever. Somehow I got a new lesson to my life through the session. At last, what I want to say is that "be yourself" and be a great character in the society.

Find the expert level & Thread and pen

Find the Expert Level

In last PPD session Miss.Sarasi has instructed the class to engage in a new activity which has been very interesting. Unfortunately I was unable to attend.

On that day Miss. Sarasi has divided the class in to 4 groups and has asked to pick 3 areas that the group members are specialized in. Then come up with an innovative product which can be implemented with those specialized 3 areas.

When we work it is really difficult to find people with same ideas, same talents etc. We should have the ability to manage the abilities according to the need. It is really essential when we become professionals and perform as a team.

Our teams have come up with many ideas and presented it.

Team 1
       Areas: Handmade things, Bike riding, Reading
       Product: Eye glass cover

Team 2
      Areas: Taekwondo, Painting, Gaming
      Product: Taekwondo video game

Team 3
      Areas: Gaming, Chess, Painting
      Product: Chess video game

Team 4
       Areas: Cricket, Painting, Gamimg
       Product: Cricket video game

This activity can guide us to practice think beyond the box and make new products.

The next game was Thread and Pen. It was also a different kind of game and we were seated in the same groups, that we separated earlier for Expert Game. Now what madam did was, she gave us a paper, pen, Thread and a Selotape. Now what we asked to do is we want to plan a strategy and wrote down the word "Viper" on the paper without touching the pen and the paper with the use of Thread and the Selotape. Luckily all the teams were managed to do that work correctly. From both of the games we learnt how to work as a team, how to manage given resources.
Thank You.

Visit to WSO2

Technical writing

On the 12th  of September us, the 2nd year batch of software engineering degree program visited WSO2 company which is one of the leading software companies in Sri Lanka. It is kind of a dream  that most of the software engineers has to work in WSO2. It was a good experience to start our new semester.

At the entrance we were given a very nice note book and a pen. What I first notice at there was they were well prepared and has organized every thing before hand. We went there at 8.30 am because we wanted to give them a good impression on Software Engineering students in Kelaniya University as it was our first workshop at WSO2.

In the first session they gave us an introduction about what the technical writing is. It is kind of a very interesting job. Though it calls as technical writing, a technical writer has do writing only about 5% from their total job. All other things deal with requirement gathering, study about the product etc. There are lots of job positions associated with the technical writing.

 A user manual should be in a very simple manner with clear and correct language which should help the user to understand the product and product functionalities. To attract a customer it is really important to have a good user manual. A technical writer has to think in user perspective and compose the document. A technical writer should posses a good writing skills with clean and clear language and with the ability to quickly learn and deals with new technologies. It is really challenging thing to learn about new technologies, new products etc.

 We learnt about some grammar parts in English which we ignore most of the times. It is really important use the correct words at correct places. A single full stop can change a meaning of a sentence upside down.

Most of the times workshops get boring with the time. But the technical writing crew at WSO2 did some games associated with the workshop which everyone actively and happily participated. The winners were given very attractive gifts like t-shirts and chocolates. And also they provided us with refreshments.

This workshop showed me some new areas which I should improve in myself. It is okay, we can write in English, can deals with subject verb object. But it it hard to become a professional in writing. We have to read a lot. We have to write a lot. Blogging will help us to improve our language.

As under graduates it is essential to learn about the industry. By having workshops in companies, industry visits it makes us to adapt to the professional background. Those places were really clean and all the works were done on time. The WSO2 crew was really friendly which showed the ares that we need to improve to become a professional.

Facing an interview

Facing an Interview

In our last ppd session we had a nice experience. In there, we all faced to a small interview which was conducted by our own friends.

We were asked to follow what we learnt from interview ppd sessions. We walked with confidence, kept a smile on our face, answered what our friends asked. At that moment we really thought about job positions about our strengths, weaknesses . So from that we realize what are the things that we want to improve as well as to do to show our strengths in an interview. In some occasions we forgot to keep eye contacts. Sometimes forgot to rearrange the chair when we got up. Forgot to say thank you.

Most of us made simple mistakes during our interviews. May be it is because we have very little experience. In some cases, that was the first time in an interview.
Experience gives us many things to learn and realize. So it is very much important to practice the procedure of an interview with a friend until you are confident.



                              Cakes....

Can You cut a cake in to 8 pieces only with three cuts.

Miss. Sarasi has grouped our friends and has given a small piece of cake. Then she has asked above task. Only 1 minute has been given to do that. All the groups have imaginary  tried it in different ways. But only one group has won the task.

The way that has to do it is vertically cut the cake into 4 pieces using 2 cuts and one horizontal cut.
 We should think before dong somethings. In some cases we can have a trial. But some occasions we have to try at once. We must think creatively.

How to face interview

HOW TO FACE INTERVIEW

How to face an Interview
On 22nd of June In our PPD session we learnt a very important thing.

That is "How to face an Interview". From the beginning i thought it is not that much important, but later i got to know it is the best session to learn. So i share something about interview which i have in my memory.

Before enter the interview


1. Search well about that company
2. Prepare to answer common Questions.
3. Prepare to ask two Questions
4. Practice with your friend
5. Understand why you are the most individual to select
6. Organize certificates
7. Dress Professionally
8. Arrive 10 minutes before


After Enter the Interview
1. Shake Hands Strongly
2. Don't share too much personal things
3.Thank the interviewer
4. Back the chair where was it


Finally our madam told us to ready to face skype interview also

Story Chain

 we did our 2nd second activity and it was a group activity.

This time we separated into three groups and we are the group number three.


Our Group Members:



Suthesana

Prasanth

Aashik

Chamod

Karshan




What happened was we all turn back and the purpose of it that we can't see the white board and also we were strictly ordered that we can't talk to each other. Then madam got three permanent marker and gave a marker for each of the group and started the game. Then the person who had the marker ran to the white board and wrote a word and back to the place and gave the marker to the next person of the group. Then that guy ran and write another word but the challenge was it must have the continuation.  So like wise all of us ran and wrote a word and the game was to write a simple story within the time and every members of the group got 4 rounds and we are the first group who finished first.


After all the groups finished, madam started to read the stories that we wrote and it was quite funny and none of the groups finished perfectly.



Mistake that we made:


We all hurry to finish the game first but we didn't carefully read words that wrote earlier. So in our story there were two words that didn't matched and it was the reason that our story missed the continuity.


Lesson from the session:


Without any conversations / less of conversation  with our neighbors, it's very difficult to do a work even a small work, and if  we managed to do it, then it should not be a perfect one. So the healthy and meaning full conversation is very important between us.

Paper plane

Paper Plane

Group Members

·     Suthesana
·     Sakuna
·     Yashiru
·     Sivakajan
·     Chamod
·     Sehara
·     Sithara
·     Suthesana



Paper plane is the first work that we did in our PPD session in this year. All the students of our class were separated into two groups. There were eight members in our group. First madam gave our team to 6 blue papers and others to 6 yellow papers. The task was, we were asked to do as many planes as possible by using those papers. She gave 3 minutes time to make a plan and balance time to make planes, however 20 minutes we had to do the first task.



We took a new same size white paper and tested it by making a sample plane to determine the size of the plane. We decided to make 6 planes in each paper. Finally we made although 36 planes in 6 papers. Our opponent team made only 29 planes in the timeout.


After the timeout two members of each group wants to throw the planes over the boundary line to get points. We selected the appropriate 2 persons there were Yashiru and Sivakajan.


Firstly our opponents started to through planes to over the line they made some bad through and also foul through too. Finally they made 18 planes to over the line and got 18 points. Now our turn and our teammates started to through the planes they also made some bad through and foul through too but it was less than our opponent made. Finally we made 24 planes to over the line and won this overall task.


Reason of our win




We selected right persons to through the planes to over the line. We had use well that 3 minutes she gave us to make plan.


Mistake that we made


Unfortunately we made some bad through and foul through.


Lessons

·         Time management.
·         Team Corporation is highly wanted skill.

Looks Back

Looks Back

This is the interesting session in my carrier. we learn lot of think through this lesson. I  need to give big think thank for our Madam Sarasi Seanadheera. because she spent lot of time with us for our career. in this session we did indoor activities and outdoor activities.

We started PPD sessions also in the first semester. At the first day we had to come in front of the class and introduce ourselves for about 4 minutes. On that day we got to know about every body. From that day onward we did various activities.

In every week, we had a new experience.
Paper Tower

lava river

Egg Protector

barter puzzle

Life goals

 week by week, we had improve our skills to work in a proper manner. 

Most interesting moment of the ppd session was out bound training program in navy camp trincomalee. In that beautiful environment we had our most unforgettable ppd session. Working with a group is more difficult than working alone.

What we have learned from PPD

• A good leadership.
•  How to work as a team.
•  Follow a good strategy.
•  How to take necessary decisions in unexpected situationssituation.
•  Respect others' opinions.
•  Punctuality.
•  Good communication with each other.
  

  

Outbound Training Program

Outbound Training Program

On the 9th and 10th ,we went to Outboud training to Trincomalee Navy camp.

On 9th morning ,we started travelling at 3.30 am .Our bus stopped in Kandalai river.There we could see the beautiful river in one side of the road .There we took some fresh air and then started our journey back.


We reached Trinco at 10.30 am.Then we were given time to get ready. then we got ready and took our lunch there. After that our training activities were started.

We devided for 04 groups and we have different tasks to acheive.
 
First activity



There is a wood frame were hanged and 8 members have to go from one side to other side without any touching on that frame. So when one of us pass the square other members help to pass the square to him.So we learn how to work as a term through this activity.

Second activity

In this activity,we had to pass a marble through a PVC pipe.We had to join the PVCs ending to prevent it from falling down.We did our best in this activiy and finished before five minutes.From this task we learnt work with strategy and coordination.

Third activity
In this game they gave us bricks and each of every one in the team wants to keep the brick in their stomach and the person who in front wants to keep that brick without falling down by pushing it with his back and also the other condition was every one wants to keep their hands on the back side of the head then the group asked to move to the boundary line without fall down any bricks if any brick fall down then the team wanted to start from the beginning. But this time we didn't finished it correctly.


Fourth activity
In this time we were asked to fill the tube with holes.what we did was we asked one of uur team member to remove his t-shirt and then he lay down and we kept the tube on his stomach and all we hurry to fill that tube and we all ran to sea and get the water into our mouth and in both hands and ran back and poured the water into the tube. like wise we did it repeatedly and we made a huge success from our team work that means we filled it just in 2 minutes then the Navy officer took a photograph of our group.

Fifth activity
Its like a volley ball game.four of us keep a cloth and we have to throw the ball over the net and another one in other side of the net has catch the ball.This is really challenging game.we learnt Team Work from it.

Sixth activity
The last activity is tug war. In the first round our team won and the second round we lost it.because our boys got tired.

Camp fire and Dinner
Near 6pm we return to accommodation and get ready for dinner in formal dress.after that we returned the same place and make a camp fire and do some activities like drama,singing songs and dance.
after that we had our dinner .

Second Day
On second day we got ready at near 7.30am and had our breakfast. After that we were divided into four groups.and the task is we have to go through the forest by using compass.it's really amazing and interesting.inside the forest one of the officer acted as a injured man so we have to act how to help him.that is very interesting also. finally we reached the destination and had a Tea.


After that we visited to the Navy Museum. that is very nice and interesting place.one of the officer explain all the things in there.That's a very nice experience to us and it helped us to know something about ships and other some sea related things.

BARTER PUZZLE

Last PPD session was an amazing  session. First we were divided in to 3 groups and was given a picture.We have to keep that picture in our mind.Then the team leader had tear it in to 100 pieces. After that Miss Sarasi took 10 pieces from each group and mixed them all and divided them among groups. What we had to do was to make the picture with a given time by using any strategy. We were given the opportunity to get the pieces through negotiations or through trading team members. We wanted to decide it as a group.

First we tried to separate pieces according to the picture and see what we can make.So we divided in to small groups and did it.

We solved the puzzle very well, but only one piece we missed. The second group lost 6 pieces to connect the puzzle, the third group lost 3 or 4 pieces.

Finally she decided that our team was successful.

What we have learnt from this session

Working as group.Planning before working.Time management.Situations handling.Decision making.

Life Goals

In the last PPD session, all of us shared our future goals.
We devided our goals into 3 categories. Those are

1.  Academic Goals
2.  Personal Goals
3.  Professional Goals.

Sarasi madam asked us to represent our goals in a Bristol board  & paste them on the wall. Everyone of the class came one by one and described their goals. Sarasi Madam put marks for our presentations.
When my turn came, I went to front & told about my future goals.
My
Academic goals

• Attend lectures daily & study well
• Improve the english knowledge 
• Participate in atleast 1 game
• Finish the university studies within 4 years

Professional goals

• Get a good job after finished my studies
• Create innovative software

Personal goals

• Build a new house
•  To Get married

The egg protecting cover

The egg protecting cover 

This time our activity is to make a protecting cover for the egg.When we throw the egg the cover should prevent it from breaking.
First the whole class was devided into three groups and then madam gave  1egg,five A4 papers and and cellotape for each team and told us to make the protecting cover within the time period of 45 minutes.
After the  given time was finished the eggs were thrown from the top.
Unfortunately 2 teams eggs were broken and one team made it successfully.

The lessons we got from this activity

• Plan before you do anything
•  Working as a team.
• Winning and losing is just a part of the game.Participation matters a lot.