4 minute read
New wing of education
WRITTEN BY ZACHARY C. GONZALES
FOR THE longest time, the Ateneo’s Loyola Schools were divided into four schools geared to the social sciences, humanities, science and engineering, and management. However, during the pandemic, the University decided to add another: The Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design.
Advertisement
Known as GBSEALD, the new school’s rise amidst adverse circumstances represents a message that the Ateneo recognizes that education must be at the forefront.
GOING UPHILL
GBSEALD’s Founding Dean Johnny Go, SJ, Ed.D. shares that an idea for a school of education was brought up nearly 20 years ago, although it was shelved for reasons unknown. Fortunately, the idea was revisited by the University in 2016.
“Basically, the University wanted to take a step back and look at the work we’ve been doing [in] education to decide ‘What’s the best way forward for us to do that?’” says Go, then the education hub coordinator. Established to examine the way educators learn and teach students, the Ateneo SALT Institute was ostensibly just a stepping stone. After a few years, it became clear that not only should there be an institute but also a school of education.
“Because of the learning crisis that’s happening in the country… we thought we had to make learning and teaching front and center in the agenda of the University,” shares Go. “We also wanted to be able to synergize all our efforts by having just one external face for the University. So we thought a school of education would be the best way to do that.”
GBSEALD was launched mid-2021, receiving support but also criticism. For many people, it seemed odd to embark on a new school amidst the pandemic. “But our answer has been precisely because of the pandemic,” quips Go. “When we experienced a great disruption in learning and teaching, we decided to come up with a statement that education is important.”
BUILDING KNOWLEDGE
Establishing a new wing of education is an effort from both faculty and students. Go admits that, like most educational institutions, Ateneo is quite conservative and slow to reform. Although the The pandemic disrupted everything that we knew about education, and in a way, we were forced to come to grips with technology and to try to be more learner-centered in our approach.
JOHNNY GO, SJ, ED.D.
FOUNDING DEAN, GOKONGWEI BROTHERS SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND LEARNING DESIGN
University recognized the value of technology to learning and teaching, no one was open to change until the pandemic happened.
“The pandemic disrupted everything that we knew about education, and in a way, we were forced to come to grips with technology and to try to be more learner-centered in our approach,” bares Go. What came out of this process were online learning innovations such as the Adaptive Design for Learning training program and Ateneo Blue Cloud learning management system.
Both aforementioned innovations shape the online learning of graduating Batch 2022. In a similar fashion, Batch 2022 also shapes the growth of online teaching in Ateneo to a great extent.
“I hate to put it very bluntly, [but] we owe a lot to your batch of students,” confesses Go. He confides that it was not until they received feedback from Batch 2022 about online learning and learner-centered education that they truly learned to become more effective educators.
“We did not pretend that we knew everything; we always said we will learn by doing. And the feedback given by students were very valuable.”
Apart from feedback, the research and projects by Batch 2022 interns in the Ateneo SALT Institute helped in lighting the path forward. “We really welcomed the presence and the energy and ideas of the students of your batchmates, especially in helping us figure out what we’re supposed to do,” shares Go. “So I hope you will not underplay the role and significance of your batch… it means a lot to me and also to my team, and I’m sure to all the faculty.”
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE
Having guided the University through two years of online education, GBSEALD’s work has only begun. Beyond what it has already accomplished with students, the new school has plans to refine education in Ateneo. “One of the big insights in the pandemic really is education is not so much about teaching but about designing learning,” imparts Go. He discloses that GBSEALD is hoping to offer doctoral programs by next year and an undergraduate program called BS in Learning Design the year after.
GBSEALD is also interested in innovating learning to be effective, beneficial, and enjoyable. Go believes this can be achieved by further integrating technology, citing the changes brought to the hotel and transportation industries following the arrival of technologies such as Airbnb and Grab.
The new school ultimately aims to contribute to the bigger picture of Philippine education. Beset with unspecified problems, Go says that it will take the efforts of not just the school but also other universities, government agencies, and students.
“In a way, to your batchmates, I’d like to say: ‘Look, you’ve received…what is considered the best education in the country. Please help us make education—this kind of education—more accessible to Filipinos,’” urges Go. “We hope in your career choices, in your choices of projects to support, you will think about this because our fellow Filipinos who do not have the same privilege are suffering. And in the end, all of us will suffer.”
