The Culture Factor: Dynamic Sociocultural Contexts and Authentic Indigenous Assessment

• In Event: Accepting Educational Responsibility: Reaffirming the Roles of Indigenous Languages and Practices

Abstract

At every point along the teacher professional learning continuum, promising strategies for Culturally Relevant Education are poorly integrated in training opportunities. Consequently, teachers have little if any applied training and experience when it comes to enacting instructional moves that incorporate culture in pedagogy. We turned to Native Hawaiian teachers who regularly infuse local language and culture in their teaching to collaborate on a process for professional learning. Our research is on the usability and feasibility of an instrument we developed for teachers to support their enactment of culturally relevant education. We are exploring how these teachers transform and adapt knowledge about the content and the context toward the goal of helping learners access cultural resources and make meaning for themselves.

Authors

• Jonathan Boxerman, WestEd

• Sharon Nelson-Barber, WestEd

• Zanette Johnson, Stanford University

• Matt Silberglitt, WestEd

• Josette K AKim Hanohano, Hawai`i State Department of Education at Kahuku High School