Project F.E.L.L.O.W. Empowers Senior High School Teachers through Transformative Project-Based Learning Training
Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), through its Faculty of Teacher Education - English Education Program and Faculty of Arts and Sciences - Languages, Literature, Communication, and Humanities, successfully delivered Project F.E.L.L.O.W.: Fostering Engaged Learning and Language Outcomes for the Workplace on March 26, 2026, at the Hotel de SLSU Ballroom. The one-day extension initiative, in active collaboration with the US Regional English Language Office, convened public senior high school teachers for a strategically designed, output-oriented professional development workshop centered on Project-Based Learning (PBL).
Spearheaded by the Sogod and Tomas Oppus Campuses under the guidance of Dr. Francis Ann R. Sy, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension Services, and implemented in collaboration with the Regional English Language Office – Manila, Global Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Office, and the Department of Education - Maasin City Division, the initiative exemplifies SLSU’s integrated approach to academic excellence, global engagement, and community-responsive extension. The project reflects the University’s commitment to delivering high-value capacity-building programs that generate measurable impact in the education sector.
Anchored in global research and aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), Project F.E.L.L.O.W. was designed to accelerate the shift toward learner-centered, skills-driven instruction. The training equipped educators with practical, research-informed strategies to cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity, and authentic language use—competencies essential for workplace readiness and lifelong learning.
The workshop emphasized experiential learning and immediate application. Through engaging workshops conducted by Prof. Michael Schapiro, Prof. Laura Roach, and Prof. Maryann Miller, EF Fellows under the US Department of State - Regional English Language Office, participants engaged in collaborative design sessions, curriculum alignment activities, and authentic assessment planning, culminating in the development of a Community-Connected PBL Blueprint. Each blueprint serves as a standards-aligned, classroom-ready project plan that integrates real-world contexts, performance-based assessment tools, and inclusive facilitation strategies. By the end of the training, teachers left not only with enhanced theoretical understanding but with concrete instructional outputs ready for implementation.
A structured monitoring and evaluation framework, including pre- and post-assessments, output reviews, and participant reflections, ensured accountability and measured growth in teacher competence and confidence. The design of the program prioritized scalability, encouraging participants to echo the training within their schools and Learning Action Cell sessions to expand its reach.
In her closing message, Dr. Christine Alma Mae M. Daguplo, Vice President for Administration and Finance, reaffirmed SLSU’s unwavering support for initiatives that empower educators and elevate instructional standards. She emphasized that investing in teacher capacity is a strategic investment in community development, noting that transformative classrooms begin with empowered, forward-thinking educators.
Through Project F.E.L.L.O.W., SLSU reinforces its leadership in extension services—translating research into action, strengthening institutional partnerships, and empowering educators to drive transformative, workplace-relevant English instruction. The initiative represents a strategic investment in teacher capacity and a forward-looking response to the evolving demands of 21st-century education.
