Ateneo’s GBSEALD leads the charge in transforming math and science education

Ateneo de Manila University’s newest academic unit, the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD), is making significant strides in reshaping how Filipino educators design and deliver Math and Science instruction. At the forefront of this transformation is “Effective Math and Science Learning Resources,” a dynamic training session developed in collaboration with Canva, Eskwelabs, and the Habi Education Lab, and led by GBSEALD experts.

Held on 31 May 2025, and offering up to 5 CPD points, the session drew educators from across the country seeking to enhance their teaching strategies and materials. Participants were introduced to innovative tools and instructional and visual design principles that support more engaging and learner-centered STEM instruction—skills that are now increasingly essential in today’s digital-first classrooms.

This initiative reflects the core mission of GBSEALD, the ninth school under Ateneo's Higher Education cluster, established through a landmark partnership with the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF). Housed in the Areté’s George SK Ty Learning Innovation Wing, GBSEALD is designed to be a hub for teacher capacity-building, educational research, and reform advocacy—especially in the fields of STEM education, literacy, and educational leadership.

“Our goal is to elevate how teachers teach and how learners learn,” says Fr Johnny Go SJ, GBSEALD's founding dean. “We equip educators not only with cutting-edge teaching strategies but also with a design mindset that is both values-driven and learner-focused.”

The school’s involvement in this professional development event reflects its strategic goals:

• Capacity Building through high-impact training

• Knowledge Building through research-driven innovation

• Influence and Network Building via partnerships with national and international education institutions

The “Effective Math and Science Learning Resources” session exemplifies this approach by fusing pedagogical expertise with accessible design tools—demonstrating how public school teachers can innovate within their contexts using tech-powered and student-centered approaches.

GBSEALD’s work is part of a broader vision laid out by GBF Chairman Lance Y. Gokongwei, who emphasized the importance of preparing Filipino learners to be “digitally adept workers, critical thinkers, and innovative problem-solvers.” By 2025, GBF aspires to impact 10,000 educators and 1,000,000 learners through initiatives like this—showing how powerful collaborations between foundations, schools, and teachers can truly be.