Creating for All… And for Always
A Virtual Field Trip for Honoka‘a Students works to ignite STEMrelated careers in Hawai‘i to position our state as the center of innovative education so families have the opportunity to live and thrive in our islands.
When the world gets smaller, kids think bigger. For students in the Honoka‘a school district, the annual EdTech Summit is bringing faraway corners of the globe right to their doorstep, and inspiring teachers to turn traditional classrooms into problem-based, collaborative spaces that will meet the needs of 21st-century learners.
“These experiences empower students. And the ripple effect on our local community is huge.” -Scott Tamura, Waimea Elementary
“We see technology as a tool for increasing our students’ engagement, which leads to higher student achievement,” says Scott Tamura of Waimea Elementary.
“It’s a time of change and growth for teachers as well,” he adds. “Some attendees have learned so much, they are now presenters. Before the EdTech Summit, we could afford to send only a couple of teachers off island for professional achievement. This year, 250 teachers
came to Waimea from public and private schools across Hawai‘i Island.” What makes the EdTech Summit possible here is a Career Connected Learning grant from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. Career Connected Learning represents a group of funders who recognize the increasing value of skills rooted in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). A major supporter of Career Connected Learning grants on Hawai‘i Island is THINK (The Hawai‘i Island New Knowledge) Fund, which
“The Career Connected Learning grant enables us to bring professional achievement to the teachers, and the world to our students,” says Tamura. “We don’t have to fly to other locations. Last week, we took a virtual field trip to Sequoia National Park, and the kids said, ‘Hey, that’s the famous tree stump we read about in our textbooks.’” “Experiences like these make the world more accessible for our keiki. It makes possible what was previously hidden. It helps them set goals for themselves and empowers them. And the ripple effect on our local community is huge.”
DID YOU KNOW: THINK Fund at HCF was created by Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) and it promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education on Hawai`i Island to prepare students for the workforce of the future. The Career Connected Learning Grants began in 2014 when TMT provided cornerstone funding through THINK Fund, prompting other funders to support STEM education for local students as well. Thanks to these programs, students are learning more about alternative energy, aquaculture and food security—and they are engaging in the 2.5 billion astronomy sector.
Learn how to transform your generosity into lasting change at HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org