In May 2020, the Ateneo SALT Institute launched a professional certificate course on Adaptive Design for Learning (ADL) for the faculty and formation professionals of the Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University.

ADL is the learning design framework created by Ateneo SALT Institute based on the latest research and best practices.Its big idea is that academic and formation programs should be designed in such a way that they can be repurposed not only to suit different modes of delivery, but also to adapt to different learners’ needs. ADL is rooted in the emerging philosophy of online Jesuit education that we have come to call AteneoBlueCloud, which also stands for the virtual campus that we are building for our online community of learners and educators.

Five online classes were opened–one for each school, including a special class for those designing the university’s undergrad core curriculum courses, as well as the formation and athletic programs. A total of 772 faculty and staff signed up for the online training course in the hope of learning how to design and deliver online education.

In a week, seven additional classes were opened to accommodate 449 participants from basic education and 350 from our professional schools. Eventually, we added four classes for 762 more from other Jesuit schools and universities in the country.

A total of 2,333 faculty and formation personnel are currently enrolled in the course, working really hard as they undergo this largely asynchronous course to retool–and reinvent–themselves for this most extraordinary of academic terms ahead of us.

Facilitating the online ADL classes were 27 online coaches: Rita Atienza, Darren Cabildo, Je Ching-Wu, Denzel Domingo, Jen Ferrer-Ramirez, Fr. Johnny Go SJ, Galvin Ngo, Solvie Nubla-Lee, and Isabel Pefianco-Martin; Fr. Francis Alvarez SJ (Loyola School of Theology/Ateneo de Manila), Jen Agapito (DISCS), Aimee Apolinario (Xavier School), Fr. Tony Basilio SJ (Ateneo de Davao), Neith Casano (DISCS), Sam Castaneda (ASMPH), Rachel Consunji (AGSB), Bro. Patrick Echeverria SJ (Loyola School of Theology), Miko Galvez (SOH Theology), Jude Liao (Xavier School) Louie Melosantos (ASHS), Michelle Paterno (SOH English), Didith Rodrigo (Arete & ALLS), Gen Sanvitores (AJHS), Gina Serquina (formerly from AGS), Fr. Jonjee Sumpaico SJ (AdMU Basic Education), Obet Tanchangco (ASMPH), and Kervin Torrente (ASHS).

ADL Certificate Training for Philippine Science High School Teachers

Ateneo de Manila University has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) formalizing a partnership on the Adoptive Design for Learning professional certificate training course for Philipine Science Science High School (PSHS) teachers from all its campuses nationwide.

The MOA signing between University President Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ and PSHS System Executive Director, Dr. Lilia T. Habacon was held 29 October at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Loyola Heights campus.

Dr. Lilia Habacon, Executive Director of the Philippine Science High School System, expressed her optimism that the course would empower the Pisay teachers and students to rise above the challenges of online learning, as well as promote cooperation, peer learning, and sharing of experiences among the faculty.

Fr. Bobby Yap SJ welcomed this partnership: “We are happy to support the PSHS in their goal to provide their teachers with the training that they need to cope with the prevailing realities on the ground. We also welcome other educators who may be interested to undergo this program as we know that this can prove beneficial for them especially now.”

The Adaptive Design for Learning (ADL) Professional Certificate Course was conducted by the Ateneo SALT Institute last summer to a total of 2,500 educators belonging to the country’s network of Jesuit schools and universities. For its current run, the course has been tweaked and customized to the needs and contexts of the faculty of the Philippine Science High School System.

The Adaptive Design for Learning is a unique framework for designing online distance learning programs that prioritizes learning over technology, and stresses the need to design the learning experiences rather than the default practice of “dumping content” on students.

Five online classes have been opened to conduct and deliver the six-module ADL course to the participants from PSHS through a team of professional trainers from multiple disciplines: Paolo Paculan (Filipino) from the Ateneo Junior High School; Skilty Labastilla (Sociology & Anthropology) from the School of Social Science; Michelle Paterno and Jessica Lace Evangelista (English) from the School of Humanities; Emmanuel Delocado (Biology), RD Bolinas and Erika Kirsten Vocal (Chemistry), and Jaren Rex (Physics)–all from the School of Science and Engineering.

The funding was made possible by the RBA Endowment Fund, along with the VTL Teacher Education Endowment Fund. The two endowment funds have been established precisely to promote teacher education and professional development.

Turo-Guro goes online

With the cancellation of the annual teacher Training Summer Camp– Turo Guro due to COVID-19, the Ateneo Teacher Center (ATC) and Ateneo SALT Institute launched a new effort to reach out to teachers through a radio program called Radyo Turo-Guro.

In August, Radyo Turo -Guro went on air in DZRJ Radyo Bandido and its Facebook page facebook.com/dzrj810am.

Everyday, faculty members from the Ateneo de Manila University take turns teaching. ■