Evaluating the Integration of Authentic Internet-of-Things Learning in Sri Lankan Grade Six Curriculum: A Qualitative Study

Sri Lanka's recent educational reforms have mandated the inclusion of Internet-of-Things (IoT) content in the junior secondary ICT curriculum, from 2025. This national endeavour aims to implement a new pedagogical approach, appropriate for enhancing students' understanding of the inherently complex subject matters of IoT. Upon review of the literature, diverse teaching-learning approaches have been used globally for teaching IoT, the authentic learning methodology has been emerged as the prevailing preference. This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of a learning module, which has been developed based on authentic learning techniques to teach IoT for sixth-graders in Sri Lanka. A qualitative study was undertaken among eight ICT school teachers involved in teaching junior secondary grades in Sri Lanka. Participants were purposively selected to ensure the acquisition of maximum relevant perspectives regarding the research question. Key informants’ interviews were conducted using a qualitative guide, and all interviews were audio recorded following informed consent. All recordings were reviewed, and important areas were identified. The thematic analysis method was used for data analysis. Results revealed that our module provides more opportunities for the students to learn IoT with their real-life experiences, moves students from passive receivers of information to active participants in their own discovery process, increases students’ motivation and retention to learn IoT, and helps to improve 21st-century skills such as learning skills, literacy skills and life skills of the learners. The analysis of the findings yields compelling evidence supporting the effectiveness of the developed learning module to teach IoT for sixth-grade students in Sri Lanka through an authentic learning approach. Similarly, it will enhance students' comprehension and competency in IoT, fostering sustainability and readiness to confront the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century and the 4th Industrial Revolution.