ProbSET gives HS seniors a leg up in problem-solving

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs play a critical part in a country's growth and innovation. So it is vital to foster students' interest in STEM. Through the Department of Mathematics [at the School of Sciences and Engineering] and the Ateneo Mathematics Society,  Ateneo de Manila University has partnered with colleagues across the country to create educational opportunities to improve STEM education in high school.

"Problem-Solving Enrichment and Training Program (ProbSET) aims to build and bring together communities of educators and students passionate about nation-building. Our primary mission is to cultivate a problem-solving culture among our students. They will later be the leaders in our country who will need to solve real-world problems; hence, it is important that they imbibe a problem-solving mindset and be critical thinkers," says Dr Eden Delight Miro, chairperson at the Department of Mathematics.

"ProbSET A is the problem-solving trainer enrichment program component for state universities and colleges (SUC) instructors and DepEd teachers to enhance their problem-solving teaching pedagogy and competence. Graduates of ProbSET A, together with volunteer trainers from Ateneo de Manila, then conduct the problem-solving training component of the program, called ProbSET B. In ProbSET B, we hope to nurture problem-solvers and critical thinkers among public school students by increasing their problem-solving proficiency and exposing them to non-routine problems through weekly problem-solving sessions for eight weeks, "Miro says. 

ProbSET Sessions will be done online. 

The program had a virtual launch on 22 April 2022 and was attended by Nebres, Lee-Chua, the ProbSET Core group (composed of Miro, Dr Luis Silvestre, and Chara Deanna Punzal, Dr Maria Luz Vilches (Vice President for the Loyola Schools), Dr Rommel Jandayan (Schools Division Superintendent, DepEd Division of Davao de Oro), Dr Ma Elfeda Ecube (Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, West Visayas State University), and Dr Doracie Zoleta- Nantes (University President, South Luzon State University).

The roots of ProbSET came from Fr Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, former University president. A National Scientist, one of  Nebres' advocacies is improving science and technology in the country. According to him, the challenge lies in the quality of STEM education in high school. In addition, it is crucial, he said, to introduce a culture of problem-solving to help foster the next generation of leaders in the country. 

"We decided to bring the Ateneo Mathematics Olympiad (AMO) to the provinces by partnering with various SUCs in the country," Miro added.

AMO is the University's annual mathematics training program for Ateneo de Manila Junior High School and Senior High School students. Initiated by Nebres and Dr Queena Lee-Chua, also from the Department of Mathematics, AMO serves as a venue for young Ateneo students to develop their problem-solving skills. To date, the program continues to challenge the bright minds of Ateneans and pique their interest in STEM.

For ProbSET's pilot implementation in 2022, they partnered with Southern Luzon State University, West Visayas State University, and Davao de Oro DepEd Division. 

"Our SUC/DepEd partners chose the schools in their communities. We have 17 SUC instructors and DepEd teachers undergoing enrichment training under ProbSET A,” says Miro “ For the ProbSET B component, we target 50 students each from Southern Luzon and West Visayas and 30 students from Davao de Oro.”

All senior high school students in the partner SUCS may undergo the screening process for admission to the ProbSET program, with the SUC partner administering the process.  

The ProbSET core group hopes to add more grade levels in the succeeding years, depending on the program's success.