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From Navigation to Nan Madol
Pacific Island Technologies Enrich Student
Learning
By Paul Dumas
Each society has a long history of using observations
and an understanding of the natural world to design technologies to improve
life. Children from Yap understand their physical world better by learning
from master navigator Mau Piailug. Students in Pohnpei discover mathematics
while learning about their cultural heritage at Nan Madol. And elementary
students in American Samoa learn about the living world by working with
farmers from the community. In the Pacific, technology, science, mathematics,
and culture have been intertwined for thousands of years. Islanders have
developed complex counting systems. They apply these and their knowledge
of the world around them to design technologies for improving many aspects
of life, such as fishing, farming, preserving food, healing, navigating,
and building.
These important practices are valued and should be built upon in the educational
setting. Culture will be honored and mathematics and science education
will be enhanced if teachers acknowledge the rich mathematical, scientific,
and technological traditions around them. Effective teachers develop,
adapt, and modify their instruction to build upon the Pacific context
of their communities.
To enrich learning by honoring culture and incorporating
technological, mathematical, and scientific heritage, educators might
consider the following suggestions:
- Understand and appreciate the role of mathematics,
science, and technology in Pacific societies.
- Build instruction upon what students know and are
familiar with.
- Provide opportunities for students to discover
examples of important mathematics, science, and technology in their
own cultures.
- Create tasks in which students can see their own
cultures, as well as important aspects of mathematics, science, and
technology.
- Learn about the expertise and interests of family
and community members who can contribute to mathematics, science, and
technology learning both in and out of the school setting.
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