NSF Awards: 1139657
2015 (see original presentation & discussion)
Grades 6-8
The Back to the Earth (BTTE) project draws on place to deliver a holistic culturally-rich science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum for students grades 4-6 from the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane Reservations. Through a collaborative partnership with tribal stakeholders, educators, and the University of Idaho, BTTE will inspire tribal youth to be stewards and guardians of their place through integrating indigenous knowledge and history with STEM-focused engineering design activities. This three-year project will engage students in summer and after-school programs, as well as provide a sustainable curricular framework that will enable tribal educators to further develop culturally appropriate STEM learning experiences.
Amy Busey
Research Associate
This sounds like a very rich partnership and experience for youth in these communities. Are there elements of the partnership strategies, curriculum frameworks, etc. that could adopted in other locations? Or plans to develop similar programs elsewhere?
Anne Kern
Associate Professor
Yes, we are currently working with our community partners to expand the Back to the Earth program to neighboring Tribe that share and have concern over the water shed. At the end of May we will be meeting with our partners and potential partners to decide whether to develop an SPrEAD grant for expanding this program to new communities and territories. It is essential that we develop this program with our partners.
Brian Drayton
I am very interested in the role of place in education, esp. environmental education, so I’d love to find out more about this. I notice that your award # is 11== from which I infer that your project has been going for a while. Results or lessons that are ready to share? I am curious also if adults from these two nations were involved at all, as resources or even participants?
Anne Kern
Associate Professor
You might want to check our website for more information. Our curriculum has been developed in collaboration with our partners, elders, community members and educators. The curriculum is still in draft form and being vetted by our community partners. However, there are a few lesson plans on the project website.
Sue Ellen McCann
Executive in Charge, Science
It looks like the kids are having lots of fun. What are you learning about working with partners? Have you worked together before?
Anne Kern
Associate Professor
Relationship is so important. Trust must be developed at the onset and we must ask and listen to what the community wants for their youth!
Developing the relationship in the most difficult yes most important part in making thi program work. It is important to listen!
Sue Ellen McCann
Executive in Charge, Science
It looks like the kids are having lots of fun. What are you learning about working with partners? Have you worked together before?
Michelle Perry
Researcher
Working with tribal populations involves a level of cultural competency that I imagine is taken for granted in a different type of project. It appears that the tribal communities and educators were part of the project development from the start, and I can see how the project approach would be of interest to those involved, but were there particular strategies you had to employ when you first began in order to get buy-in from the community?
Anne Kern
Associate Professor
To be honest we made (and continue to make) lots of mistakes. I suppose the good things is that our partner may get mad, but they always talk to us. I think the essential thing was at the very beginning we had to abandon “our” agenda and listen and realy hear what the community wanted and needed. It as not always been easy but is has been amazing!
Further posting is closed as the event has ended.