Learning Design Studio 2026: Enhancing the Learner Experience through MyPortal Course Sites
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) recently conducted the Learning Design Studio 2026 (LDS_2026), a hybrid workshop designed to support UPOU faculty members in translating Resource-Based Course Packages (RBCPs) into learner-centered MyPortal course sites for the upcoming semester. The LDS_2026 workshop was held on 11 August 2026 at the Centennial Center Digital Learning (CCDL), UPOU.
The LDS_2026 aimed not only to help participants develop or enhance their MyPortal course sites but, more importantly, to improve the overall learning experience. The workshop emphasized that course site development goes beyond visual appearance. Through the activity, Faculty-in-Charge (FICs) were encouraged to make their course sites more student-oriented, with a structure that clearly guides learners throughout the course.
The Learning Design Studio was conceptualized by Dr. Joseph A. De Mesa, Lead Training Designer, in coordination with Dr. Juvy Lizette A. Gervacio, Director of the Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL). It adopted a collaborative, experiential, and studio-based professional learning approach, in which faculty engaged in iterative cycles of experiencing, designing, exchanging feedback, refining, and showcasing their course-site designs.
The program was structured into pre-workshop, workshop, and post-workshop phases. Participants were also grouped to support one another through peer review, exchange of ideas, and sharing of instructional strategies. While each participant worked on their own course site, the collaborative setup allowed them to learn from the experiences and approaches of their colleagues. Following the onboarding session, participants were expected to continue working on and complete the enhancement of their course sites before the start of the semester.
The Learning Design Studio as a Model Course Site
One of the highlights of the training was the Learning Design Studio course site, developed by Dr. De Mesa as a model of a learner-centered course site. The LDS course site served as the orientation platform and repository for the course development training, including the participants’ pre- and post-course site outputs.
As a model course site, Dr. De Mesa further explored the capabilities of the learning management system to make the course site more visually organized, engaging, and easier to navigate. This provided an opportunity to demonstrate how technical enhancements, when guided by sound learning design principles, can contribute to usability and learner engagement.
Ultimately, the LDS_2026 emphasized that improving a course site is not simply about making it look better. It is about creating a more student-oriented learning environment that helps learners understand the course, navigate its content, and engage with their learning activities.
The LDS2026 was a collaborative faculty development activity of the Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL) and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA). The workshop was attended by UPOU regular faculty members, affiliate faculty, and lecturers.
Written by: Eleanor Manipol
Edited by: Dr. Juvy Lizette M. Gervacio
Videography: Dr. Benigno Agapito Jr.
Video edited by: John Paul Rabac
