CODTL Conducts Research Planning and Workshop on Gen AI

The Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL) conducted a Research Planning and Workshop on 26 January 2026 at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Headquarters, Los Baños Laguna. The activity was organized by the CODTL Open and Digital Learning Research (ODLR) unit, headed by its Deputy Director, Professor Juliet Aleta R. Villanueva. It aimed to strengthen research planning and collaboration among CODTL staff in fulfillment of the CODTL Research Clusters/Areas and identified research projects.

The morning session focused on research planning and featured small-group workshops on collaborative research teams and projects, facilitated by the CODTL Director and Deputy Directors. The activities included guided discussions on prospective research projects and alignment with unit research priorities. Participants also drafted initial research proposals and identified possible areas for collaboration.

In the afternoon, the program continued with a workshop led by Dr. Francis Dumanig of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo on “Harnessing AI Tools to Enhance Literature Review and Academic Writing.” Dr. Dumanig discussed key concepts, ethical considerations, and practical applications of generative AI tools in academic research and writing. The workshop included discussions and participant sharing, allowing attendees to reflect on their experiences and perspectives on the use of generative AI.

Dr. Juvy Lizette Gervacio, CODTL Director, highlighted the importance of this activity in strengthening the Center’s research direction. She explained that while previous offices such as Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services (OASIS) and Multimedia Center (MC) focused on learning materials and production functions, the reorganization of these units into CODTL formally integrated a research component, making initiatives such as this workshop essential to the Center’s mandate.