Indigenous STEM Education: Perspectives from the Pacific Islands, the Americas and Asia, Volume 2

Volume II builds upon the range of Indigenous theory and research found in Volume I and applies these learnings to interventions in schools, communities, teacher education, and professional development. It recognizes that interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and cross-hybrid learning is needed to foster scientific and cultural understandings and move STEM learning toward more just and sustainable futures for all learners. Authors working in Eurocentric settings utilize storytelling, place, language, and experiential learning to engage students in meaningful, highly contextualized study that honors ancestral knowledge and practices. They recognize that their disciplines have been structured and colonized by Eurocentric/American frameworks that lack storied, ethical contexts developed through living sustainably in particular places. Twenty-first-century technologies of distance learning, digital storytelling, and mapping technologies enable formerly marginalized, minoritized groups to share their worldviews and systems of knowledge.

Format: Hardback
Length: 219 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book is a valuable addition to the field of Indigenous theory and research, expanding on the insights presented in Volume I and applying them to interventions in schools, communities, teacher education, and professional development. It is part of a two-volume set that recognizes the urgent need for interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and cross-hybrid learning to foster scientific and cultural understandings and advance STEM learning toward more equitable and sustainable futures for all learners. Authors working in Eurocentric educational contexts, whether in the continental or island United States, Canada, Thailand, Taiwan, or Chuuk, employ storytelling, place, language, and experiential learning to engage students in meaningful, highly contextualized studies that honor ancestral knowledge and practices. They acknowledge that their disciplines have been shaped and colonized by Eurocentric/American frameworks that lack the storied, ethical contexts developed through living sustainably in particular places. Recognizing the evolving requirements of students aspiring to pursue STEM majors and careers, authors outline innovative approaches to immersing precollege learners and developing and practicing teachers in settings that intersect culture, place, heritage language, and praxis, enabling Indigenous and local knowledge to become central to learning.

In the twenty-first century, technological advancements such as distance learning, digital storytelling, and mapping technologies have empowered formerly marginalized and minoritized groups to share their worldviews and systems of knowledge. These tools have facilitated the inclusion of diverse perspectives and the recognition of the richness and complexity of different cultures and knowledge systems.

The book contributes to the growing body of literature that emphasizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in education. It highlights the need to decolonize the curriculum and promote culturally responsive teaching practices that honor the diversity of students and their communities. By integrating Indigenous knowledge and practices into STEM learning, the book aims to create more inclusive and equitable educational environments that empower students to thrive and contribute to a more just and sustainable world.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in advancing the field of Indigenous education. It provides valuable insights and practical strategies for integrating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into educational settings, promoting equity and sustainability, and creating more inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments.

Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031305054
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023