TO STRENGTHEN the University’s goal on education reform and refine online learning in the Ateneo, the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD) conducted the first Adaptive Design for Learning (ADL) Learning Exchange 2021 and the Learning Circles in July.

Last May, the University administration notably renamed the fifth Loyola School (LS) into GBSEALD to recognize the “extraordinary donation” from the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, which aims to contribute to the school’s capacity-, knowledge-, and influence-building objectives.

As part of GBSEALD’s programs, Ateneo Institute for the Science and Art of Learning and Teaching (SALT) Director Galvin Ngo, PhD spearheaded the ADL Learning Exchange on July 14, 21, and 28 to exchange ideas and share reflections about practices in online learning among Jesuit schools.

GBSEALD also created the mentoring program Learning Circles to ensure students’ personal care in their learning journey, according to Ignatian Initiative for Teacher Excellence Program Director Jeraldine Ching.

Refining online learning

For three afternoons, the Learning Exchange hosted 80 educators in 76 sessions as they shared practices, strategies, and content that were helpful in online teaching. Tying the program’s topics, Ngo cited three key principles for effective online learning: Content, coach, and community.

He said that under the principle “content,” he motivated teachers to design course materials intentionally rather than “dumping information” so students would be guided in their learning experience. Ngo also stressed the importance of teachers as instructional coaches to their students by being present in synchronous and asynchronous discussions and active in emailed feedback.

He further highlighted the value of a community that offered students opportunities to interact with their peers instead of just their teachers or online modules.

Aside from the Learning Exchange, Ching cited the Learning Circles as a support group among graduate students to ensure that they find a community in the Ateneo. It aims to provide students with personal accompaniment so no one is left behind, nurture their passion for learning and teaching, and help them build personal relationships among their peers.

Moreover, Ching stated that the program carries the tradition of Ignatian spirituality founded on magis, the spirit of excellence, and cura personalis. She added that the Learning Circles would help differentiate GBSEALD from other schools of education due to its mentoring and personal accompaniment initiatives.

Challenges and resolutions

On the other hand, Ching explained that the main challenge GBSEALD encountered during the academic shift was helping Ateneo educators adapt to online teaching. However, Ching clarified that this was remedied by the school’s programs that actively trained teachers in online instruction.

According to Ngo, the logistics of the Learning Exchange was a challenge since people were used to personal conferences. To address this, SALT restructured the program with the goal of minimizing technical difficulties in an online space. Ngo explained that they created virtual rooms in Zoom to conduct the sessions, and utilized Google Docs to list down the schedules and links for each meeting.

Ngo also said getting people to attend the sessions was a challenge. To remedy this, they sent emails for sign-ups and posted frequently on the GBSEALD Facebook page. With this, he said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the 650 people that registered to learn and prepare themselves for the coming semester.

“There was a very nice spirit of wanting to improve oneself. […] This was really a celebration in a way [of what] those efforts [over the past year in online teaching resulted] in, and I think people wanted to be part of that,” he said.

The future of online teaching

As part of GBSEALD’s vision, Ching hopes to form students into competent teachers who are rooted in their Catholic faith, Ignatian spirituality, and love for the country.

“I hope that we will be able to share to teachers and educators how education is really a mission. It’s a work of love and response to the call of faith,” said Ching.

Moving forward, Ngo said that GBSEALD will continue to offer the Adaptive Design for Learning course guided by the three principles to walk teachers through the process of designing their syllabi and online courses. He also said that they constantly communicate with LS deans and vice presidents to gauge the training needs of teachers.

When asked about GBSEALD’s future plans, Ching stated that they are currently working on the necessary steps to open the undergraduate and doctorate programs as soon as possible. She added that they first need to hire the correct staff, secure a sufficient number of students, and solidify the aforementioned programs.