THE UNITED States Agency for International Development has trained over 50 officials of the Department of Education in designing and developing prototype learning spaces to address future challenges in the education sector.

The training workshop, which lasted for five days, was participated by DepEd’s central, regional and division officials.

USAID said that personnel from Maybunga Elementary School in Pasig City design prototype learning spaces for the future.

“As our teachers and learners continue to face barriers to equitable and inclusive education, we must continuously explore ways to ensure that all have access to quality teaching and learning resources by sustaining gains in education technology and by supporting and enhancing teachers’ leadership roles,” Dr. Thomas LeBlanc, USAID Philippines Education Director, said.

The workshop was designed to help education personnel develop solutions for learning spaces that are contextualized and adaptable to address future challenges in education.

Participants learned to carefully define issues to be addressed, empathize with teachers and learners and conceptualize, design, and test a prototype learning space that addresses education-related needs.

To illustrate the outcomes of the workshop, the Schools Division Office of Tanauan, Batangas sought to address the issue of crowded classrooms by designing an interactive gazebo that enables students to explore nature while developing important technological and social skills.