ED465370 - The Coconut Wireless Project: Sharing Culturally Responsive Pedagogy through the World Wide Web - ERIC-ED465370 | Content Details

ED465370 - The Coconut Wireless Project: Sharing Culturally Responsive Pedagogy through the World Wide Web

Summary

Category: Executive Agency Publications

Collection: Education Reports from ERIC

SuDoc Class Number: ED 1.615:

Date Issued: June 1, 2000

Author: Nelson-Barber, Sharon; Trumbull, Elise; Wenn, Richard

Source Institution: Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, Honolulu, HI

Sponsoring Agency: Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC

Publication Type: Information Analyses

Subject: Computer Assisted Instruction, Cultural Activities,, Elementary Education, Instructional Design, Instructional Development, Instructional Innovation, Learning Activities, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, World Wide Web

Identifiers: Chamorros

Abstract: Beginning in the 1997-98 school year, WestEd staff, with the support of the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL), worked intensively with a group of five Chamorro teachers from Rota Elementary School (Hawaii) to develop culturally responsive, standards-based science units. The larger goal was to develop Web-based case examples of culturally responsive science pedagogy that draws upon students' culture-based content knowledge and uses instructional methods compatible with those that are used at home and in the community. The Chamorro teachers decided that the coconut tree could serve as the basis for units across the grades, so they named the project the "Coconut Wireless." These culture-based units would be taught in conjunction with Chamorro Week, observed in the schools during May each year. This document reports on the Coconut Wireless Project. Discussion highlights include: documenting culturally responsive pedagogy in order to share with others; use of technology to capture instruction; instructional foci for Web-based examples; creating storyboards; what is on the Web page; standards addressed by the Coconut Wireless units; linking the project to ongoing local standards development; strategies for assessment of student learning; common threads across teachers' successful pedagogy; the support of the principal; value of the Coconut Wireless Project to empower teacher leadership; value of the Project for students; and recommendations. Six tables present information on: learning about local plants;.frequently asked questions; elements of sixth-grade Coconut Tree unit; beginning the storyboard process; successful pedagogical strategies; and elements of success in the Coconut Wireless Project.