My name is Dona Thanushi and I live in Northern VA with my husband and two sons. I moved to the United States over a decade ago and have lived in three states - California, Kentucky, and currently in Virginia. I describe myself a Mom, a Scholar, and an Educator, in that order.
I am an educator by profession and I currently work as a a substitute teacher for the Loudoun County Public Schools, an independent music teacher of classical piano, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) Educator at an STEM Institution in Northern VA.
My past professional experience includes, being an Assistant Lecturer of English at the University of Vocational Technology of Sri-Lanka and a Teacher at an Edexcel (UK) accredited International School in Sri-Lanka.
I took a career break of seven years following the birth of my first baby, to serve as a full-time mom. The day he was born is one of the most joyous days in my life. However, neonatal-sepsis in combination with gross medical negligence lead to the baby suffering permanent brain damage. My passion for technology enhanced learning and research and development stems from my personal quest as a mother, exploring purposeful means of utilizing technology to enhance the learning experiences of my son to make connections with the world around him.
My personal philosophy of learning: Learning is the process of acquisition and construction of knowledge and skills that are deemed to be of essence in enhancing, enriching, and empowering the existence of both the individual and society, through exploration, experimentation and experience.
My personal philosophy of educational technology: Technology in education, in my view, should be utilized to augment the learning outcome and academic outreach, through enhancement of the teaching-learning process, enrichment of the educational environment, and empowerment of both the learner and the educator.
I am currently pursuing a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction - Educational Technology and Online Teaching at Liberty University, Lynchburg VA. I earned my Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology and Online Teaching with Liberty in the Spring of 2017. I have a Bachelors in Liberal Arts with English, Western Classical Culture and Philosophy from the University of Peradeniya, Sri-Lanka, an Undergraduate Certificate in Information Technology (the first year of Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT)) from the University of Colombo, Sri-Lanka, and a Certificate in Information and Communication Technology from the Australian Computer Society (ACS). I am also a classically trained pianist with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), UK.
I am a practicing Roman Catholic and find faith to be strengthening, encouraging, and inspirational in daily life. My favorite bible verses are "This is the day which the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24, KJV) and "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge" (Proverbs 18:15, KJV).
I look forward to the academic and professional journey ahead with the hopes that it would be constructive, purposeful, and exciting.
God Bless!
Dona Thanushi Hettipathirana
I am an educator by profession and I currently work as a a substitute teacher for the Loudoun County Public Schools, an independent music teacher of classical piano, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) Educator at an STEM Institution in Northern VA.
My past professional experience includes, being an Assistant Lecturer of English at the University of Vocational Technology of Sri-Lanka and a Teacher at an Edexcel (UK) accredited International School in Sri-Lanka.
I took a career break of seven years following the birth of my first baby, to serve as a full-time mom. The day he was born is one of the most joyous days in my life. However, neonatal-sepsis in combination with gross medical negligence lead to the baby suffering permanent brain damage. My passion for technology enhanced learning and research and development stems from my personal quest as a mother, exploring purposeful means of utilizing technology to enhance the learning experiences of my son to make connections with the world around him.
My personal philosophy of learning: Learning is the process of acquisition and construction of knowledge and skills that are deemed to be of essence in enhancing, enriching, and empowering the existence of both the individual and society, through exploration, experimentation and experience.
My personal philosophy of educational technology: Technology in education, in my view, should be utilized to augment the learning outcome and academic outreach, through enhancement of the teaching-learning process, enrichment of the educational environment, and empowerment of both the learner and the educator.
I am currently pursuing a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction - Educational Technology and Online Teaching at Liberty University, Lynchburg VA. I earned my Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology and Online Teaching with Liberty in the Spring of 2017. I have a Bachelors in Liberal Arts with English, Western Classical Culture and Philosophy from the University of Peradeniya, Sri-Lanka, an Undergraduate Certificate in Information Technology (the first year of Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT)) from the University of Colombo, Sri-Lanka, and a Certificate in Information and Communication Technology from the Australian Computer Society (ACS). I am also a classically trained pianist with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), UK.
I am a practicing Roman Catholic and find faith to be strengthening, encouraging, and inspirational in daily life. My favorite bible verses are "This is the day which the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24, KJV) and "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge" (Proverbs 18:15, KJV).
I look forward to the academic and professional journey ahead with the hopes that it would be constructive, purposeful, and exciting.
God Bless!
Dona Thanushi Hettipathirana