This study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to provide culturally grounded and personalized science education in a rural Hawaiian community on the West Coast of O’ahu. The research involves the creation, testing, and evaluation of a Hawaiian culture-based AI chatbot to support Native Hawaiian students’ engagement and achievement in the science classroom. The chatbot was developed on the AI education platform, PlayLab, and is guided by Hawai‘i Culture-Based Education (HCBE) principles. The project is being co-designed by a Native Hawaiian kumu and cultural practitioner, an AI consultant, and researchers from a Canadian University. The study seeks to answer: (1) How can a culturally sustaining chatbot, co-designed with community members and students, support engagement and achievement in one Hawai‘i Department of Education (DoE) science classroom on the West Coast of O‘ahu? and (2) How can such a chatbot assist non-Native Hawaiian teachers in creating more inclusive learning environments? The project is occurring over four phases: (I) co-design, (ii) community feedback, (iii) classroom testing, and (iv) teacher implementation. The project aims to identify promising practices and design considerations for integrating culturally sustaining AI tools in education. At the conference, our research team will present our preliminary findings on the first two phases (co-design and community feedback).

Authors:
Laura Morrison, Ontario Tech University, Canada
Ululani Brigitte Russo Oana, University of Hawai’i, United States
Chris Bush, Chris Bush AI, Australia
Rosanna Nusseiri, Ontario Tech University, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Laura Morrison is an Assistant Professor in the Learning Sciences within the Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University in Ontario, Canada. Her research focuses on innovative and inclusive education supported by emerging technologies.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajanemorrison/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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