cURRENT RESEARCH

Research on Human Interest Alignment and Optimization
Introduction:

Over the past four years, a dedicated group of researchers from the University of Wisconsin(Professor Athula Gunawardena (UW-W), myself, Professor Sobitha Samaranayake (UW-W), Professor Robert Meyer (UW-Madison) & Vivek Deshpande (UW-System) has been at the forefront of exploring innovative ways to align human interests with various aspects of life, particularly in the realms of career choices and educational dynamics. Comprising computer scientists and mathematicians, this interdisciplinary research team has made significant strides in mathematically aligning personality vectors with career vectors, offering promising applications in education, human resources, and academia.

Achievements:
Congruences for Optimal Alignment:

One of the notable achievements of the research group is the discovery of congruences that have been proven to be among the most effective in aligning individuals with suitable career paths.  By mathematically mapping personality vectors to career vectors, the team has developed a robust framework that has the potential to revolutionize the way schools, colleges, tech schools, and organizations guide and assist young individuals in making informed career choices. This application could serve as a valuable tool for career counseling services, empowering individuals to align their interests and aptitudes with suitable professional paths.

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(Abstract of the Colloquium given by me on September 22, 2022 at UW-Platteville.)
References

Gunawardena, A.D.A., Meyer, R.R., Kularatna, T. et al. Interest-Aligned System for College Degree Planning and Career Path Selection. SN COMPUT. SCI. 3, 221 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-022-01107-y

Bilinear Congruences for HR Applications:

The research group’s exploration extended beyond individual career alignment to encompass the realm of Human Resources. Utilizing Bilinear Congruences, the team has been investigating the alignment of career vectors with shortlists of job applications. This innovative application has significant implications for HR personnel, providing them with a refined and efficient method for matching applicants with the most suitable positions. This approach streamlines the hiring process and enhances the likelihood of finding candidates whose career trajectories align seamlessly with organizational needs.

Dynamic Course Assessment Model for Professors:

Another groundbreaking discovery by the research group is a dynamic assessment model designed for professors. This model enables educators to dynamically assess their sections and activities, particularly at the beginning and middle of the semester. By aligning teaching methods with students’ evolving needs and preferences, professors can create a more engaging and effective learning environment. This tool holds promise for enhancing the quality of education by tailoring instructional approaches to each student cohort’s unique characteristics and interests.

References
  • Gunawardena A., Premadasa K., Samaranayake S., Meyer R. “A new technique for Course Assessment using Mathematical Optimization.” International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches in Science 2021.
  • Gunawardena A., Premadasa K., Samaranayake S., Meyer R. “Mathematical Optimization for Course Assessment.” Sabbatical Showcase, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 2023.
Implications and Future Directions:
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The implications of these achievements extend far beyond the academic realm. The applications developed by this research group can potentially influence educational institutions, HR practices, and the overall trajectory of individuals’ professional lives. Future research directions may involve refining and expanding these models, considering the ever-evolving landscape of careers, education, and human development.

Products

I have, through Four Corners Software, already created a product that used our person-environment discoveries to align people with college majors, optimal careers, etc. (Please visit www.passionscope.com)

Conclusion:

The University of Wisconsin research group’s four-year journey into human interest alignment has yielded remarkable insights and practical applications. By combining mathematical rigor with interdisciplinary collaboration, the team has opened new avenues for aligning individuals with suitable careers, optimizing HR processes, and enhancing education dynamics. As these discoveries continue to unfold, the impact on individuals, institutions, and industries is likely to be profound, ushering in a new era of personalized and purposeful alignment in various facets of life.

Research on Teaching and Learning

For the last 15 years, I have been involved in research in Teaching & Learning and published (& presented) extensively. Please find below some of my publications, books, and presentations.

Peer Reviewed Publications
  • T. Wijetunge & K. Premadasa “Mathematics word problems: What do students recall”. International Journal in the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, Submitted December 2023
  • T. Wijetunge, K. Premadasa, Gayan, Gayan W. Liyanage, Ben Collins, A. Appuhami & J. Ratnayake. “A Tale of Two Continents: Factors Influencing Students to Major in Mathematics”.Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice (ISSN# 2158-3595), December 2022.
  • A. Gunawardena, S. Samaranayake, Robert Meyer, Vivek Deshpande & K. Premadasa. "Information Technology for Decision Support in College Degree Planning". Computing Technologies and Applications: Paving Path Towards Society 5.0, published by CRC Group of Taylor & Francis Group,2021
  • Samaranayake G, Premadasa, K., Amarasinghe, R & Paneru K. (2018) “Teacher Change through Collaboration via Lesson Study” International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies
  • Premadasa, Bhatia, K. & Wijetunge T. “Using cellphones as virtual clickers in a math classroom” Electronic Journal of Mathematics and Technology; October 2016
  • Kirthi Premadasa. “SoTL as Sherwood Forest: A Review of the SoTL Commons Conference 2014” Teaching & Learning Inquiry: The ISSOTL Journal Vol. 2, No. 2 (2014), pp. 115-116.Published by: Indiana University Press
  • Premadasa, K.,& Samaranayake, G.(2012). “Using "1=2" to inspire and learn.” American Mathematical Association for Two Year Colleges Educator May 2012.
  • Bhatia, K., & Premadasa, K. (2011). Using Think Alouds to Remove Bottlenecks in Mathematics. RUME XIV Conference Proceedings, Volume IV 2011.
  • Amarasinghe, R., & Premadasa, K. (2008). Conducting a mathematics professional development workshop across the world over video conference facilities. Proceedings of the Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITE) International Conference.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. “On the self-homotopy equivalences of BO(n)” Proceedings of the fifty third annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science – 1998
  • A. Gunawardena, K. Premadasa & S. Samaranayake. “Mathematical Optimization in Course Assessment”, Sabbatical showcase, UW-Platteville, Platteville, USA
  • A. Gunawardena, K. Premadasa, R.Meyer, S.Samaranayake &V.Deshpande. “A new technique for Course Assessment using Mathematical Optimization”, ICMAS 2021INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES IN SCIENCE 2021, Cololmb0, Sri Lanka, 24-26 November 2021.
  • Kirthi Premadasa (2018) “Optimizing potential of students through a growth mindset” Education Perspectives, The Journal of the Ministry of Education Sri Lanka
  • Premadasa, K., Martin, P., Sprecher, B., Yang, L. R., Dodge, N. (2016). "The Soda Can Optimization Problem: Getting close to the real thing" PRMUS Problems, Resources, and Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies
  • Bhatia, Kavita, Kirthi Premadasa and Paul Martin “Teaching Integration Applications Using Manipulatives” PRIMUS: Problems, Resources & Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies; Jul 2014, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p335-346, 12p
  • Premadasa, K., & Bhatia, K. (2013). “Real life applications in mathematics: what do students prefer?” International Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, July 2013
  • Martin, P.,& Premadasa, K. (2011). "Student Project for Reducing Home Utility Costs." Journal of College Mathematics of the Mathematical Association of America, March 2012)
  • Martin, P.,& Premadasa, K.(2010). Effective use of Wikis in college mathematics classes. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics, and Informatics.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. “Uniqueness of Classifying Spaces: a methodical attack” Proceedings of the fifty fourth annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science - 1998
Books published
  • Premadasa, K. Amarasinghe, R. Vega, Advanced Algebra for Teachers. (2010). Published by University Readers (California State University Fresno has adopted this book).
  • Premadasa, K. (2007) Mathematical Mysteries that stirred the world. Published by the Wijesuriya Grantha Prakashana, Sri Lanka.
  • Premadasa, K. (2006) One Equals Two. Now, how can that be? A collection of Mathematical fallacies for all ages. Published by the Department of Mathematics, University of Colombo.
  • Amarasinghe, R & K. Premadasa.(2006). Lesson Study: To improve Teaching and Learning of Mathematics. Published by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council of Sri Lanka.
  • Premadasa, K. (2007) History of Algebra through the equation. Published by the Wijesuriya Grantha Prakashana, Sri Lanka.
Conference Presentations (Last nine years only)
  • Kirthi Premadasa (2021). The intrigue of Ln(Trig) type integrals. Mathematics Presentation at the Mathematical Association of America’s WI section annual meeting (Virtual)
  • Tharanga Wijetunge & Kirthi Premadasa. (2018). How do students select questions in a math exam? Paper Presented at the American Mathematical Society Meeting, San Diego, CA.
  • (Submitted) Musa Ayar, Kirthi Premadasa, Terry McGovern, Suresh Chalasani. (2018). Teaching in the Flexible Option Business Degree Program: Faculty Impressions Paper to present at the OPID Spring Conference, Madison WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa, Kavita Bhatia & Geetha Samaranayake. (2017). A College Lesson Study Experience in Mathematics. Paper presented at Lily conference, Anaheim, CA.
  • Kavita Bhatia & Kirthi Premadasa. (2017). Creating New Horizons for Developmental Mathematics through Math Literacy & Algebra Paper presented at Lily conference, Anaheim, CA.
  • Tharanga Wijetunge & Kirthi Premadasa. (2016). Does process oriented student feedback, help college math achievement? Paper presented at SoTL commons conference, Savannah, GA.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2015). Calculus problem solving: can a flipped classroom help? Paper presented at the SOTL commons conference, Savannah, GA.
  • Kirthi Premadasa, Ayar Musa, and Mike Jacobs. (2014). Twitter Back- channeling to enhance learning and engagement: A multi-disciplinary study Paper presented at SoTL commons conference, Savannah 2014.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2014). Using Flipped Classrooms to Enhance Performance in a Calculus II Classroom Paper presented at UW Colleges Colloquium, Fond Du Lac, WI.
  • Kavita Bhatia, Ibrahim Saleh, and Kirthi Premadasa. (2013). Concept maps for Calculus Concepts. Paper presented at ISSOTL conference, Savannah, GA.
  • Premadasa Kirthi & Gregory Bard. (2013). Emerging technologies in Mathematics instructions participated in a Panel at the annual meeting of the Mathematical Association of America's Wisconsin Chapter, April 2013.
  • Kirthi Premadasa and Kavita Bhatia. (2013). Class, take your cell phones out: using cell phones for classroom voting Paper presented at SoTL Commons conference, Savannah, GA.
  • Kavita Bhatia and Kirthi Premadasa. (2012). Use of Think Alouds and Lesson Study to resolve Calculus bottlenecks Paper presented at Conference of International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and learning, Ont.
  • Kavita Bhatia, Kirthi Premadasa, and Paul Martin. (2012). Use of Think Alouds and Lesson Study to Address Integral Calculus Bottlenecks. Paper presented at annual conference of the Mathematical Association of America's Wisconsin chapter, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2012). Creating a Twitter backchannel in the classroom for problem-solving Paper presented at annual meeting of the Wisconsin mathematical Association for Two-year College's conference, Wausau, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2012). Cell Phone as a Learning Tool: Back-Channeling, Classroom Voting, Computing and Visualization Paper presented at UW Colleges Colloquium, Fox Valley, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa, Kavita Bhatia. (2011). Calculus bottlenecks. Can a Polya rubric help? Paper presented at Conference of International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and learning, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Kavita Bhatia and Premadasa Kirthi. (2011). Why can't they solve it? Paper presented at SoTL commons conference, Savannah, GA.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2011). From where do these functions come? Paper presented at Mathematical Association of America's Wisconsin chapter meeting, Stout, WI.
  • Premadasa Kirthi. (2010) A story time for Math. Paper presented at SoTL Commons, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, GA.
  • Martin Paul and Kirthi Premadasa. (2010). Effective use of Wikis in College Mathematics Classes. Paper presented at International Conference on Education, Training, and Informatics: ICETI 2010, Orlando Fl.
  • Bhatia Kavita, Kirthi Premadasa. (2010). Using Think Alouds to remove Bottlenecks in Mathematics. Paper presented at annual meeting of Wisconsin Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, Wausau, WI.
  • Premadasa Kirthi. (2009). How to give a Math D2L Quiz. Talk presented at Mathematics Department’s Teaching Seminar, Wisline, WI.
  • Premadasa Kirthi and Geetha Samaranayake. (2009). Using Fallacies to correct common student mistakes Paper presented at MAA Wisconsin Chapter annual meeting, UW-La Crosse, WI.
  • Premadasa Kirthi. (2009). Inspiring College Algebra students through lesson Study Paper presented International Lesson Study Conference, Chicago, IL.
  • R. Amarasinghe, K. Premadasa. (2008). Using Lesson Study to develop strategies to close the achievement gap and intervention Paper presented at Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching (CAMT), Dallas, TX.
  • Evangelist Fe, G. Samaranayake, J. Letellier and K. Premadasa. (2008). Lesson Study at the College Level: Just Do It. Paper presented at Lesson Study Conference, Chicago, IL.
  • R. Amarasinghe, K. Premadasa. (2008). Encouraging teachers to conduct lesson studies: A Californian and an International Experience Paper presented at International Lesson Study Conference, Chicago, IL.
  • Kirthi Premadasa (2019). Effect of Mindset Interventions on College Mathematics Presentation at the Mathematical Association of America’s WI section annual meeting, Kenosha, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa, Geetha Samaranayake, Rajee Amarasinghe & Kyam Paneru. (2018). Does collaboration help create change in college teachers? Paper presented at the American Mathematical Society Meeting, San Diego, CA.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2017). Intriguing integrals which arise out of "impossible" ones. Paper presented at Wisconsin Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges conference, Janesville, WI.
  • Geetha Samaranayake, Rajee Amarasinghe & Kirthi Premadasa. (2017). Effects of Lesson Study on College Faculty & School Teachers Paper presented at Lily conference, Anaheim, CA.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2016). Effect of inverted classrooms on Polya's steps on mathematical problem-solving Paper presented at Conference of International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and learning. Los Angeles, CA.
  • Kirthi Premadasa, Kavita Bhatia & Tharanga Wijetunge. (2015). The dreaded word problem: What do students remember? Paper presented at AMS/MAA Joint Sessions, San Antonio, TX.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2015). Bring Your Own Device: Emerging Virtual Clicker Options and Pedagogy. Paper presented at annual meeting of the Mathematical Association of America's Wisconsin Chapter, Ripon, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa & Kavita Bhatia. (2014). A research-based study on teaching and learning "Related Rates" Paper presented at annual meeting of the Mathematical Association of America's Wisconsin Chapter, Whitewater, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2014). D2L and math formulae; Making friends Paper presented at annual BrightSpace conference, Waukesha, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa & Kavita Bhatia. (2013). What's the matter with College Algebra? Paper presented at the conference of Wisconsin Mathematical Association for Two Year Colleges, Waukesha, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa, Kavita Bhatia, Clare Hemenway & Paul Martin. (2013). All in a Class Period: Using Lesson Study to Realize Learning Goals Paper presented at OPID conference, Madison, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa & Kavita Bhatia. (2013). Algebra in real life: what do students choose? Paper presented at Joint Mathematics Meeting of AMS/MAA, San Diego, CA.
  • Kavita Bhatia and Kirthi Premadasa. (2012). Calculus Blues: Unlocking mysteries in related rates. Paper presented at SoTL Commons conference, Savannah, GA.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2012). Making College Algebra real though modeling and peer collaboration Paper presented at 6th Annual Best Practices in STEM Teaching Conference, Baraboo, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2012). A Learning Community in Algebra Connecting Student Classes Paper presented at UW Colleges Colloquium, Fox Valley, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa, Kavita Bhatia, Clare Hemenway and Paul Martin. (2011). Using College Lesson Study to introduce discovery and real-life problem-solving skills. Paper presented at Conference of International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and learning, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2011). Search for a Cure: Student Preference for Style and Focus of Math Word Problems Paper presented at Conference of International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and learning, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa. (2011). The Dreaded Word Problem: search for a cure Poster presented at President's summit, Madison, WI.
  • Kirthi Premadasa & Paul Martin. (2011). A Mathematical learning community with Excel Labs. Paper presented at annual meeting of the Wisconsin Mathematical Association of Two-year colleges, Fond Du Lac, WI.
  • Martin Paul, Kirthi Premadasa, Richard Shotwell and Thomas Eiden. (2010). Calculating optimal attic insulation levels in attic spaces. Paper presented at Better Buildings, Better Business Conference, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
  • Martin Paul, Kirthi Premadasa, Richard Shotwell and Thomas Eiden. (2010). Optimizing Attic Insulation levels. Invited poster at the Posters in the Rotunda, Madison, WI.
  • Premadasa Kirthi. (2009). Multiple Credit Card Debt? Math can help Paper presented at annual meeting of Wisconsin Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, Madison, WI.
  • Premadasa Kirthi. (2009). Teaching Calculus through real-world applications Paper presented at UW Colleges Colloquium, Fox Valley, WI.
  • Evangelist Fe, G. Samaranayake, J. Lettlier and K. Premadasa. (2009) Lesson Study on the SARS Epidemic. Paper presented at MAA Wisconsin Chapter annual meeting, La Crosse, WI.
  • Premadasa Kirthi. (2008). Mathematics Lesson Study as a tool to inspire college students. Paper presented at the conference of Wisconsin Mathematics Association for Two Year Colleges, Sheboygan, WI.
  • Premadasa Kirthi. (2008). How to make the Epsilon-Delta definition fun. Paper presented at MAA Wisconsin Chapter annual meeting. WI, April 2008.