THE OFFICE of the Ateneo Science and Art of Learning and Teaching (SALT) Institute, which has goals of education reform through relevant field research and learning enrichment workshops for students and teachers, is currently under construction on the 4th floor of the Learning Innovation Wing at the Areté.

As of writing, there is still no set completion date for the construction project.

The SALT Institute began as The Education Hub in August 2016. The hub’s objective was “to bring together the University’s efforts in education reform in the country,” according to a memo from University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ.

Despite working since school year (SY) 2016-2017, the institute has had no permanent workplace on campus before its Areté office.

Johnny C. Go, SJ, director of the SALT Institute, said that the institute’s members, “aren’t just setting up an office, but an innovative learning space that is sure to attract students and teachers.”

SALT Institute Head of Education Technology and Innovation Galvin Ngo said, “We hope for the new office to be a hub within campus that will be conducive for educators to think critically and creatively about their practice.”

The office will have designated office spaces and activity areas. “There will be a workshop area and a classroom where we hope to host exchange of ideas and experiments,” said Ngo.

According to Go, there are plans to set-up “micro-teaching laboratories, where student teachers can do demo classes and have [these sessions] videotaped so they may get feedback and learn from it.”

“It’s a nice space, for one. But the opportunity to work with the arts and other disciplines to design education innovation is what makes the place significant,” Go added.

Innovating education

Ateneo SALT was formed in order to coordinate the efforts of several educators, with the purpose of developing and innovating the professional field of education.

According to SALT Head of Teacher Education and Professional Learning Rita J. Atienza, SALT was formed to provide support to the programs in the various Loyola Schools departments and centers devoted to the education and continuing professional development of teachers.

Other than rallying support for education within the University, the institute aims “to promote education research and initiate educational innovations, that will allow Philippine schools to be more responsive to the needs of students today.”

However, the institute’s members believe that more than research and innovation, their purpose lies in inciting discussion and support regarding the improvement of education.  

“Our goal is really to help generate conversations and provide support in the academe, about how we can redesign teaching practices to create more student-centered learning experiences,” Ngo said.

However, as a fledgling entity, SALT faces problems such as being comprised of a small team, and limited funds for projects.

In spite of this, Ateneo SALT has applied to the Philippine Regulatory Commission for accreditation as an official provider of Continuing Professional Development units. The objective of these “teaching workshops” is to continue the improvement of an education professional’s teaching techniques, and Atienza believes securing these credentials is a concrete step towards the organization’s goal of helping teaching professionals.

Upcoming projects

The Ateneo SALT Institute is currently implementing the Approaches to Learning with Technology (ALT) program.

According to Ngo, 11 instructors coming from various departments and schools within the Ateneo attended a one-day boot camp for ALT last January 15, to prepare them for the current phase of planning and coaching sessions with the SALT team to co-design lessons that will fully maximize the potential of educational technology.

At the end of the second semester of SY 2017-2018, participants of the ALT program will convene again to evaluate the entire process, from boot camp to implementation of plans.

Other than ALT, several other SALT programs are projected to begin within the year. One of which is an International Education Conference, to be held this coming October.

“We hope educators from the country and the Asia Pacific region will congregate to learn about the science and art of learning and teaching, share best practices, learn from one another, and celebrate World Teachers’ Day,” Go said.

Additionally, Atienza cited “Turo Guro Summer Professional Development Sessions for Teachers” as another upcoming SALT project. “Teachers from all over the Philippines will be coming to attend a wide variety of PD sessions on Ignatian education, on 21st Century Deeper Learning, and on discipline-specific topics,” said Atienza.

Other than programs within the Ateneo, the SALT institute partnered up with Teach for the Philippines, a non-government organization which trains and sends teacher fellows to teach in public schools. According to Go, SALT “shares their vision and wants to do [its] best to support [them.]”

“We [also] hope to offer an [undergraduate] program in education soon,” said Go. The institute director also noted an observed increase in Ateneans choosing to minor in education, contrary to “the usual notion and to naysayers.”

“The interest in education is growing, I think, partly because Ateneans are increasingly recognizing its importance in the country,” he said.