Ethnomathematics Digital Library

Ethnomathematics Digital Library

Nancy Lane

Pacific Resources for Education and Learning

Commitment to easy access for diverse users:

• Students

• Teachers

• Librarians

• Researchers

• Community members

Options to suit range of ability levels:

• Browsing by subject, geographical area, or cultural group

• Simple search using single terms or Boolean AND

• Advanced search by – additional fields– combination of fields

1. Needed to explain what ethnomathematics was and

why it was important

2. Needed to develop specific strategies to attract

each user group

3. Needed to draw on international partnerships

1. Explaining ethnomathematics

Ethnomathematics in brief

• What: mathematics practiced by indigenous and other cultural groups

• Where: worldwide, but concentrating especially on the Pacific

• Why: to help teachers present mathematics in a more culturally appropriate way, catering for diverse learners

• How: using learning materials on the EDL

2. Developing strategies for each user group

Students

• Worked with CSIRO Education Programs

• Articles in Scientriffic and The Helix magazines

Scientriffic

The Helix

Teachers

• Teachers notes for Scientriffic and The Helix magazines

• Several articles in Pacific Educator, including a center spread based on The Helix article

Pacific Educator

Teachers

• Ethnomathematics topic in Nova: Science in the News (www.science.org.au/nova)

Teachers

• PREL Pacific Educator in Residence (PEIR) to develop email interest group and lessons using standard template

Maggie Augafa PEIR from American Samoa

Teachers

• Hands-on workshops at DELTA and MENTOR mathematics leadership institutes

• Hands-on workshops at Pacific Educational Conferences in American Samoa and Pohnpei

PEC participants making quipus

Explaining their quipu

Weaving and symmetry lesson

Weaving palm fronds

Librarians

• Articles in librarianship newsletters

• Short talks at library schools, meetings, and other professional get-togethers

• Workshops and demonstrations at library and information conferences, especially those focused on the Pacific

• Set in context of promoting NSDL

Researchers

• Poster session and announcement of launch at International Congress on Ethnomathematics

• Support of ethnomathematics page for AIATSIS library collection

• Poster session at Psychology of Mathematics Education Conference

PME Poster Session

Community• Ethnomathematics topic on Nova: Science

in the News (www.science.org.au/nova)• Distribution of brochures

– Libraries– Cultural festivals

3. Drawing on international partnerships

Advisors Panel provides content knowledge, contacts, and support

worldwide

Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC) provides

cataloging and advice on thesaurus construction

ENC promotes the EDL through its publications and through

conference presentations

Australia/NZ Partners

• Australian Academy of Science

• Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

• Charles Sturt University, Dubbo

• National Library of New Zealand, Alexander Turnbull Library

• CSIRO Educational Programs

Pacific Partners

• University of Guam

• University of Hawaii, Manoa

• University of Goroka (Papua New Guinea)

• University of the South Pacific (Fiji)

These partners promote the EDL through content development,

publications, bibliographic work, networking, and website links

EDL Visits

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8/2/2002 - 7/31/2003 (1 Year Scale)