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Abstract This paper shares the experiences, engagement, and struggle of one young Indigenous Hawaiian woman as she grapples with her sense of disconnect with STEM while serving as a land protector on the Mauna Kea, the home of the Thirty Meter Telescope being built over the objection of the local Indigenous community. I examine her changing perspectives and connections to STEM through her engagement during a summer school enrichment class focused on science and technology learning in service of community goals. Findings indicate that her sense of agency and autonomy were greatly improved by engaging in a space where science and technology were tools serving her goals of protecting the Mauna Kea from further development. 

The purpose of this sequential Case Study-Mixed Methods research is to explore rural teacher attitudes toward, approaches to, and engagement with making and computational thinking during STEM professional development and co-teaching learning experiences. Specifically, we examine the professional learning needs of two rural, middle school teachers as they engage technology. Using the lens of cultural historical activity theory, this paper examines the ways in which teacher attitude about computing shifted throughout professional learning and instructional practice. Findings show three broad themes that emerge surrounding teacher attitudes, approaches, and engagement with technology: Anxiety, Independent Learner, and Integration. Additionally, findings suggest that teacher attitude toward technology can be moderated through the means of a more knowledgeable other who scaffolds teacher learning and integration of technology. 

This paper shares the process of designing a summer school science and technology class focused on youth advocacy and the development of youth rightful presence (Calabrese Barton & Tan, 2019) for students in Hawaii. We examine students’ changing perspectives and connections to STEM through their engagement in projects that center their own geography and life experiences. Findings indicate that youth sense of agency and autonomy were greatly improved by engaging in a space where science and technology were tools serving their own goals of protecting the island from further development and tourist abuse.