HR: 0800h
AN: ED21A-1230    [Abstracts]
TI: Malama I Ka `Aina: Fostering the Culture-Science connection
AU: * Bruno, B
EM: barb@hawaii.edu
AF: Hawai`i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, Univ. of Hawai`i, Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AU: Chinn, P
EM: chinn@hawaii.edu
AF: College of Education, Univ. of Hawai`i, Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AB: The Malama I Ka `Aina Project (Caring for the land, or sustainability) aims to improve and expand the education of Hawai`i's children by developing and disseminating standards-based, culturally relevant science curricular materials based on an understanding and appreciation of the ways in which traditional Hawaiians interacted with their environment for sustainability. Key concepts include the role of water and the ahupua`a (traditional Hawaiian system of land management), and a culture-based sense of place that includes knowledge of and connection to the land. Elementary, middle, high school and University of Hawai`i teachers work together to develop and implement curricula that are especially relevant to a particular school's science program and issues, e.g., invasive species, students, community and/or geographical location. Participants (typically a mix of teachers, education majors and science majors) enroll in Malama I Ka `Aina, a three-credit course offered through the University of Hawai`i`s Dept. of Curriculum Studies and applicable toward a Bachelor's or Master's degree. This course (team taught by scientists, cultural experts and educational professionals) enables participants to: (1) Study Hawai`i`s unique geology, geography and environmental issues in the context of Hawaiian culture and post Western contact; (2) Use course knowledge to develop, teach and assess Hawaii-oriented, project-based, inquiry activities that address the Hawaii Science Content Standards; (3) Gain an appreciation for the scientific method, and the curiosity that drives science (4) Use educational technology such as PowerPoint, graphing packages and web authoring software to develop electronic resources for educational activities. A sample of the lessons developed by course participants can be found on http://malama.hawaii.edu/schools/index2.html. This project is based at the University of Hawai`i College of Education and funded by an award to P. Chinn by the US Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Curriculum Development, Teacher Training and Recruitment Program during the period 2001-2004 (Malama I Ka `Aina) and 2004-2006 (Pikoi Ke Kaula Kualena). For further information, please consult our website http://pikoi.hawaii.edu.
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 0855 Diversity
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005