Understanding Teachers’ Perspectives of Culturally-Relevant Computing

This presentation will provide an overview of a National Science Foundation grant project to prepare elementary teachers to effectively integrate Computer Science (CS) education into their teaching. Culturally-relevant pedagogies have been shown to help students from marginalized communities succeed in a variety of fields including STEM-related areas. To address this need, the College of Education, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) in partnership with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will provide professional development focused on culturally-relevant computing to upper elementary (grades 4 - 6) educators in Hawaiʻi. Culturally-relevant computing values explicit connections between students’ home cultures and the concepts and practices of CS. A needs assessment was conducted in Fall 2021 to examine CS teachers’ perspectives on the topic of culturally-relevant computing in Hawai'i. CS educators were invited to complete an online survey and participate in focus groups about culturally relevant computing. Specifically, we asked participants about their perceptions about the value and importance as well as the current state of culturally-relevant computing in Hawaiʻi. Preliminary results from the online survey and focus groups will be shared.

Peter Leong
University of Hawaii-Manoa

Dr. Peter Leong is an Associate Professor with the Department of Learning Design & Technology, University of Hawaii-Manoa. He has extensive experience in the development and delivery of online courses and distance education. Dr. Leong was honored as one of Hawaii’s 2007 top high-technology leaders and was recognized with the University of Hawaii Board of Regents’ Medal for Teaching Excellence award in 2012. Dr. Leong was the developer of the College of Education’s island in Second Life and he organized the first virtual graduation at UHM, which allowed LTEC students both on Oahu and off-island to experience a virtual graduation ceremony in spring 2010. He was a co-investigator on a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to evaluate new approaches to improving engagement, diversity, and retention in undergraduate computer science and currently serves as a co-investigator of a Computer Science for All NSF grant focused on culturally-relevant computing . His research interests include culturally-relevant computing, student satisfaction with online learning, faculty support for technology integration, technologies for distance education and teaching & learning in virtual worlds.

Daniel Hoffman
University of Hawaii-Manoa

Dan Hoffman is an Assistant Professor of Learning Design & Technology at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. He is a passionate educator and researcher in the field of digital learning. He is a former K-12 teacher researching interactive experiences and their impact on learning. He is currently the coordinator for AECT's International Division's Professional Development Committee, as well as an Associate Editor for the IAFOR Journal of Education's special issues on Technology in Education.

Rochelle Ka'aloa
University of Hawaii-Manoa

Seungoh Paek
University of Hawaii-Manoa

Seungoh Paek, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Learning Design & Technology (LTEC), University of Hawaii at Mānoa. She earned her doctorate in instructional technology and media at Teachers College Columbia University. She also holds Master’s degrees in Education and Applied Statistics. Dr. Paek’s research focuses on the design and development of interactive media and their impact on cognitive development and learning. She’s particularly interested in the ways in which digital environment design influences how learners engage—cognitively and behaviorally—with to-be-learned content.

Understanding Teachers’ Perspectives of Culturally-Relevant Computing

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