May 13-26, 2010 marked a milestone in ICA as the high school faculty attended and participated actively in a seminar – workshop about the latest global innovation in teaching and learning.  This was conducted by the High School Principal; Mrs. Debra Liamzon and the Assistant Principal for Formation and Student Affairs; Ms. Shirley Tan who flew to Nevada, USA in November last year to listen to the education gurus themselves about this latest educational curriculum design.

This new pedagogy was espoused by American educators – Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins from the ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development).  Better known for its acronym:  UbD (Understanding by Design) is a Design-Based Curriculum which requires a teacher to thoroughly plan assessments preceding activities for a learning unit.  This is the proposed curriculum of the Department of Education for implementation this school year.  Called “Badong” by the ICA facilitator, UbD is not so farfetched from the Transformative Education (Ted) that the school used for the past years.

With the new design-based curriculum which is the new direction in global education that ensured authentic learning and assessment, the school is prepared to continue the transformation that concretizes and assesses authentic learning.

This new approach is surely a most welcome innovation to the ICA academic community to facilitate the realization of the mission and goals of ICA now celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of its educational apostolate.