Module 2

Indigenous people and western scientists are connected in that each is based on a system of making and recording repeated observations. While indigenous methods may be recorded in an oral manner the scientific side prescribes more to a written and published version. Both records may be valid or invalid and it would be premature to think only written records hold any truth. In fact, while many scientific discoveries are truly great and have done much to advance mankind, scientists have only been making written recordings for a few hundred years. While many indigenous beliefs have been orally recording for thousands of years. That's a lot of observations, especially from a climate perspective. The advantage of knowing both way lies in the sharing and blending of these two knowledge bases. We are smarter as a whole than we are as pieces. From a teaching perspective I feel that is my responsibility to educate myself as best as I can from as many perspectives as I can in order to better meet the needs and learning styles of all of my students. In the TD resource "Dustin Madden: Science Teacher" science teacher Dustin Madden has blended traditional learning styles and knowledge with western methods and content in a way that will strengthen preserve a cultural belief system that may perhaps be in danger of being lost to future generations.
How do you incorporate indigenous perspectives into your lessons? We all tend to teach the way we were taught, but we also blend our experiences into our teachings. In what ways have your experiences enhanced your teaching?