Developing and Testing Innovations: Connecting Indigenous Culture and Integrated STEM in Hawaii Through Smart AgTech

水产养殖是夏威夷土著遗产和文化的重要组成部分。鱼塘是社区食物生产的必需品，具有特殊的文化意义。土地使用是通过一种称为Ahupua‘a系统的传统方法进行管理的。每个Ahupua‘a对它所服务的社区来说都是自给自足的，从海岸线的礁石(Makai)一直延伸到上面的山脊(Mauka)。在过去的50年里，夏威夷原住民开始复兴他们的文化遗产，包括修复古老的鱼塘和种植食物的方法。夏威夷种植园农业的衰落减少了学校的农业教育。该项目旨在调查如何将夏威夷原住民几个世纪以来接受的可持续水产养殖做法与新兴农业技术(AgTech)相结合，重点是使用传感器、相关参数的测量和数据科学素养。该项目让夏威夷的高中生沉浸在鱼塘和水产养殖的传统知识和遗产中，并利用新兴技术改进农业实践，同时进行动手科学调查。学生们使用智能农业技术和传感器来收集数据，并利用数据科学来了解和决定种植LIMU(海藻)的最佳方式。学生获得数据科学和农业技术方面的新技能，并与社区中的知识持有者建立联系，以更深入地了解他们的夏威夷传统、文化和知识。未来智能研究所(IFI)和太平洋国际高技术研究中心(PICHTR)合作研究和开发了一个以农业技术为重点的综合STEM课程，该课程将把水产养殖的传统实践与现代实践联系起来，以促进响应文化的STEM教育。通过创新的农业技术可以进一步提高水产养殖生产的效率和可持续性，而现代农业/水产养殖实践将通过夏威夷传统的方法在连接山区和海岸的社区种植粮食而得到加强。该项目将在瓦胡市迎风区的卡塞尔高中试行。将为夏威夷各地的STEM教师提供教师专业发展讲习班。该研究项目采用混合方法调查三个驱动力问题：(1)通过创新地使用综合STEM课程设计，该项目可以以何种方式和在多大程度上提高学生对农业技术、数据科学和人工智能概念和实践的学习？(2)当与当地和传统知识的有意义的联系被整合到课程中时，该项目可以以什么方式和在多大程度上提高学生对现代智能农业实践的兴趣，并为职业和劳动力准备发展伙伴关系？(3)该项目可以以什么方式和在多大程度上促进公平的STEM教育，提高对农业和水产养殖职业的兴趣，以及在课程中使用现代数据科学和农业技术方法时的劳动力准备？该项目致力于四个成果：(1)学生学习使用新兴的农业技术和数据科学实践，(2)学生在夏威夷社会具有重要历史意义的水产养殖的背景下学习STEM，(3)学生从事水产养殖的科学研究，以及(4)学生准备进入具有当前农业技术实践知识的STEM劳动力大军，或在大学继续他们的相关领域的教育。该项目由学生和教师创新技术体验计划(ITEST)资助，该计划支持建立对实践、计划要素、背景和过程的理解的项目，这些项目有助于提高学生对科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)以及信息和通信技术(ICT)职业的知识和兴趣。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Aquaculture is an important part of Native Hawaiian heritage and culture. Fishponds were essential for community food production and held special cultural significance. Land use was managed through a traditional approach called the Ahupua’a system. Each ahupua’a was self-sufficient for the community it served and stretched from the reefs of the shoreline (makai) to the mountain ridges above (mauka). Native Hawaiians began revival of their cultural heritage over the last 50 years, including restoration of ancient fishponds and methods used to cultivate food. Decline of plantation agriculture in Hawaii over has reduced agricultural education in schools. This project aims to investigate how to integrate sustainable aquaculture practices embraced by Native Hawaiians for centuries with emerging agricultural technologies (AgTech) focused on using sensors, measurement of relevant parameters, and data science literacy. The project immerses high school students in Hawaii to the traditional knowledge and heritage of fishponds and aquaculture alongside hands-on science investigations using emerging technologies to improve agricultural practices. Students use smart farming technologies and sensors to collect data and employ data science to understand and make decisions about the best ways to grow limu (seaweed). Students gain new skills in data science and agricultural technologies in general, as well as connect with knowledge holders in their community to gain a deeper appreciation for their Hawaiian heritage, culture and knowledge. The Institute for Future Intelligence (IFI) and the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR) collaborate to research and develop an integrated STEM curriculum focused on AgTech that will connect traditional and modern practices in aquaculture to promote culturally responsive STEM education. The efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture production can be further improved with innovative AgTech, while modern agricultural/aquacultural practices would be enhanced by the traditional Hawaiian approaches to growing food in a community that connects the mountain to the shore. The project will be piloted at Castle High School in the Windward district of Oahu. Teacher professional development workshops will be offered to STEM teachers across Hawaii. The research project takes a mixed methods approach to investigate three driving inquiries: (1) In what ways and to what extent can the project enhance student learning of AgTech, data science and AI concepts and practices through innovative use of Integrated STEM curriculum design? (2) In what ways and to what extent can the project increase students’ interest in modern smart agriculture practices and develop partnerships for career and workforce preparation when meaningful connections to place-based and traditional knowledge are integrated into the curriculum? (3) In what ways and to what extent can the project improve equitable STEM education, interest in careers in agriculture and aquaculture, and workforce preparation when modern data science and AgTech approaches are used in the curriculum? This project strives towards four outcomes: (1) students learn to use emerging AgTech and data science practices, (2) students learn STEM within the context of the historically significant aquaculture in Hawaiian society, (3) students conduct scientific research in aquaculture, and (4) students are prepared to enter the STEM workforce with knowledge of current AgTech practices or continue their education in the related fields at colleges. This project is funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.