This week Tom is presenting his dissertation research on our first Formative Assessment Academy workshop series at the Hawaii University International Conference for Education, Mathematics, and Engineering Technology. Yesterday, Tom’s APSU colleague Dr. Jeannine Hirtle presented her study entitled Fusing Indigenous Epistemology with Standards-Based Professional Development for In-Service Teachers with her former departmental colleague, Dr. Jan Ray, of the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
Dr. Hirtle’s work centers on the unique challenges faced by Hawaii educators as they attempt to effectively implement the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). After the cultural renaissance of the 1970s, Hawaii public schools successfully emphasized a “pedagogy of place” as a framework to meet individual student learning needs; however, with the adoption of the CCSS, they are now experiencing a sort of mainland pressure to simply meet federal guidelines and norms.
Dr. Hirtle and Dr. Ray posit that an implied contemplative approach of combining place-based professional development experiences (at locations such as Anna Ranch and Uchida Coffee Farm) and CCSS training will lead teachers and administrators to formulate ways to integrate ‘ike mauli (foundational, community-specific “identity knowledge” of family and land) within a national curriculum.
The study is ongoing; however, we are eager to learn their continued findings. The work speaks not only to Hawaii-based educators, but also to all who struggle to meaningfully instruct, assess, and build encouraging and challenging learning environments that honor authentic engagement with its stakeholders.
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