AJHS researchers tackle reading gaps, digital citizenship, and student collaboration at Japan education conference

Four members of the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School community—Brian Aljer Coballes (Educational Media Center), Mary Anthony Sieras (Office of the Vice President for Basic Education), Marites Veloso (Testing and Research Office), and Paolo Ven Paculan (Filipino Subject Area)—successfully presented their research at the International Academic Forum’s (IAFOR) 17th Asian Conference on Education (ACE2025) in Tokyo, Japan. The conference was held from 23-28 November 2025 at the Toshi Center Hotel in Tokyo, with both onsite and online participation. ACE is a major international academic forum that brings together educators, researchers, and practitioners to share knowledge, network, and engage in dialogue about key issues in education across the globe.

Mr. Coballes presented onsite his study “Fostering Reading Interest: The Influence of Perceptions, Activities, and Promotions,” which highlights how reading activities, perceptions, and promotional strategies can enhance students’ reading interest—a crucial issue amid the Philippines’ low Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reading performance.

Ms. Sieras also presented onsite her research “Assessing Digital Citizenship Among Students and Technology Competency of Teachers,” revealing that while students frequently use technology, gaps remain in digital citizenship practice, and teachers—though skilled with technology—may lack preparation for integrating digital citizenship concepts into instruction.

Ms. Veloso and Mr. Paculan, together with co-author Desi R. Magnaye (Davao Christian High School), presented online their co-authored paper “Student Collaboration: A Holistic Framework for Scaffolding Group Activities,” proposing the Student Collaboration Paradigm, which integrates group dynamics, project management, conflict management, discussion practices, metacognition, accountability, and student leadership to better scaffold long-term collaborative learning.

All four presenters are doctoral students in the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD), Ateneo’s graduate program focused on Leadership in Education and Learning Design, which prepares educators and researchers to lead and innovate in educational settings.