Message From STEMS2
Aloha, E Komo Mai!!!
As I reflect on the ten years since the start of A‘o Hawai‘i (the grant project that birthed the STEMS² construct) and seven-year of STEMS² (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Sense of Place) as a master’s program, I am overwhelmed with gratitude, joy, and happy exhaustion :). Over the past ten years, many STEMS² dreams have been realized! First, our STEMS² network has grown to include inspirational organizations and individuals from across Hawai‘i, the continental United States, and around the world. I have been honored to witness countless moments of transformative education performed by our alumni and community partners. This June we get to bring together the STEMS² ohana for our 4th Annual STEMS² Symposium.
This July, the STEMS² master’s will recognize several milestones. These include the welcoming of 14 new alumni with the completion of Cohort 7 and the recognition of Cohort 1 & 2’s 5-year reunions (Cohort 1’s reunion was delayed due to Covid). With the start of Cohort 8, we’ve reached almost 200 participants in both the STEMS² Master’s and Professional Development programs.
These accomplishments would not be possible without the constant support and inspiration from the original A‘o Hawai‘i participants, our alumni, and community partners. We are proud to feature their work in this newsletter. We hope you enjoy exploring the news, profiles, pictures, and curriculum. Please visit the STEMS² Website for a look at all we have been up to over the past 10 years. The learning journey continues!
Me ka mahalo piha,
Tara O'Neill Director, STEMS² Masters Concentration
Featured
4th Annual STEMS² Symposium Registration and Call for Proposals
We invite you to the 4th Annual STEMS² Symposium! This year, we will offer opportunities to engage both in person and online.
COE STEMS² Program Receives Funding to Support STEM Education in Native Hawaiian Serving Schools for Second Year
The College of Education MEd Curriculum Studies STEMS² is grateful to be entering into a second year of partnership with Nakupuna Foundation and Kamehameha Schools.
Your Manaʻo is Important! Fill out our Alumni Survey.
As an alumnus, YOU are a foundational part of the STEMS² network. We would love to hear how STEMS² can better engage you and other alumni to strengthen our network connections in this short survey.
Alumni Gathering
We are excited to be able to host an in-person gathering to recognize 5-year reunion for STEMS² Cohorts 1 & 2. Because “the people make the program” our alumni reunion will not be complete without you.
Gallery
Meet the STEMS2 ʻOhana
Joseph Reale
STEMS2 Student/Alumni
Pre-k through 5th grade Teacher
Heidi Jenkins
STEMS2 Student/Alumni
Complex Area STEM Resource Teacher
Stacy Prellberg
STEMS2 Student/Alumni
Higher Education, Aupuni Palapala - Education professional development seeking to support knowledge and implementation of ʻike Hawaiʻi
Featured Curriculum & Research
Understanding How Currents Influence the Human Impact on the Environment
This unit has students apply knowledge from math, science, technology, and the social sciences to address one big question: How does understanding currents influence the human impact on the environment? Through participating in this unit, this unit students will develop an understanding of 1) how currents form, 2) how the environment affects currents and currents affect the environment, and 3) how they can make a change to our environment by understanding currents.
E Mālama i ka ‘Āina
Students will explore the history of their local community by visiting places of cultural significance to the communities development. Student partners will then research an environmental concern in their community and present their findings to an audience that consists of school, family, and/or community members. The unit was designed for students living in ‘Ewa Beach and Kapolei on Oahu island but the ideas and content can be adapted to other locations within Hawai‘i and around the world.
