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

水族馆是夏威夷土著遗产和文化的重要组成部分。鱼塘对社区粮食生产至关重要，具有特殊的文化意义。土地使用是通过一种称为Ahupua 'a系统的传统方法管理的。每一个ahupua 'a都为它所服务的社区自给自足，从海岸线的珊瑚礁（makai）延伸到上面的山脊（mauka）。过去50年来，夏威夷原住民开始复兴他们的文化遗产，包括恢复古代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。该项目旨在研究如何将夏威夷土著人几个世纪以来所采用的可持续水产养殖实践与新兴农业技术（AgTech）相结合，这些技术专注于使用传感器，测量相关参数和数据科学素养。该项目使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，同时利用新兴技术进行科学调查，以改善农业实践。学生使用智能农业技术和传感器收集数据，并利用数据科学来了解和决策种植Limu（海藻）的最佳方法。 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遗产，文化和知识。未来智能研究所（IFI）和太平洋国际高科技研究中心（PICHTR）合作研究和开发一个综合的STEM课程，重点是AgTech，将水产养殖中的传统和现代实践联系起来，以促进文化上的STEM教育。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传统的夏威夷方法来加强，在连接山脉和海岸的社区中种植食物。该项目将在奥南迎风区的城堡高中进行试点。教师专业发展研讨会将提供给整个夏威夷的STEM教师。该研究项目采用混合方法来调查三个驱动问题：（1）通过创新使用综合STEM课程设计，该项目可以以何种方式和在何种程度上提高学生对AgTech，数据科学和人工智能概念和实践的学习？(2)在课程中纳入与基于地方的知识和传统知识的有意义联系时，该项目能够以何种方式和在何种程度上提高学生对现代智能农业做法的兴趣，并为职业和劳动力准备建立伙伴关系？(3)当现代数据科学和农业技术方法用于课程时，该项目可以以何种方式和在何种程度上改善公平的STEM教育，对农业和水产养殖业职业的兴趣以及劳动力准备？该项目力争实现四个成果：（1）学生学习使用新兴的农业技术和数据科学实践，（2）学生在夏威夷社会历史上重要的水产养殖背景下学习STEM，（3）学生在水产养殖中进行科学研究，以及（4）学生准备进入STEM劳动力与当前AgTech实践的知识，或继续在相关领域的教育，院校该项目由学生和教师创新技术体验（ITEST）计划资助，该计划支持建立对实践，计划元素，背景和过程的理解的项目，有助于增加学生对科学，技术，工程，信息和通信技术（ICT）该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.