Insider? Outsider? Reflection on the Current Studies of Indigenous Science Education in Taiwan

• In Event: 25.044 - Achieving the Promise for Indigenous Peoples: Research on Ways of Knowing and Doing

Abstract

Act as a project leader that responsible for managing and advising of indigenous science educations research projects of Ministry of Science Technology (MOST) in Taiwan, I have the chance to observe 21 undergoing research projects. The main purpose of these projects is to find theoretical ways and practical methods to enhance indigenous students’ academic performance in science. Five of 21 project leaders are indigenous peoples, that is most of the studies are conducting by non-indigenous peoples. My research team have reviewed the outcomes of the first two-year of three-year long projects, we found that their research outputs tend to consistency, that is the same style of learning materials and activities but less insider’s perceptions. I apply the idea of post qualitative research to analyze their research reports and conclude that without outsider’s depth critical thinking and insider’s indeed voices, we are in ivory tower to build Utopia. I summarize that because researchers are either science educators or scientists, they hardly to involve in depth culture reflection. I suggest including anthropologist, mother-tongue linguist, indigenous culture researcher into research team to explore the insider’s depth thinking and to conduct outcomes that with strong outsider’s reflection in the future.

Authors

• Tung-Hsing Hsiung, National Taitung University

• Yung-Shen Lin, National Taitung University

• Dawa Takalop, National Taitung University