Designing information visualizations using kōwhai as subject matter
In a captivating classroom setting, students have been delving into the world of kōwhai trees, creating infographics as part of an engaging activity called "Using Infographics". This project, led by Chloe Stantiall as part of the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative, aims to address 'plant blindness' through place-based education.
The activity focuses on the mātauranga Māori of kōwhai trees, a rich body of knowledge that includes understanding their seasonal flowering patterns, cultural significance, and their role in traditional landscapes near marae and pā sites. Students explore the components of an infographic, learning to effectively communicate the interconnectedness of cultural and ecological knowledge.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to locate and use facts about kōwhai trees, mātauranga Māori of kōwhai, and use their design skills effectively. Note taking is an important skill, and students are shown how to take notes using a tic-tac-toe template.
The Science Learning Hub has curated a number of infographics in their "science infographics" Pinterest board, providing additional inspiration for students. A collection of bilingual and reo Māori infographics and diagrams is also available for students to explore.
Apart from creating infographics, students can also engage in hands-on native planting projects with kōwhai and other native species, observing their growth and measuring it to link scientific methods with indigenous knowledge. They can study native biodiversity connections, for example, how kōwhai flowers attract native birds and insects, integrating matauranga Māori with ecological observations.
Teachers can guide students to investigate kōwhai phenology (flower and leaf cycles) through direct observation and recording, research and present on Māori cultural stories and uses associated with kōwhai, engage in native planting and care activities to foster conservation awareness, and use statistical tools to analyse data collected about kōwhai or surrounding biodiversity, learning maths through real-world science inquiry.
The project explores students' sense of place and science-related possible selves through local curriculum units that focus on plants. For further insights, a recorded webinar titled "Exploring mātauranga in the classroom" is available, and the article "Mātauranga Māori of kōwhai" explains some uses for kōwhai.
This project was assisted by researchers Maurice M. W. Cheng and Bronwen Cowie from The University of Waikato. For those interested in creating kōwhai infographics, a Word file is available for download.
References:
- Understanding infographics
- Mātauranga Māori of kōwhai
- Exploring mātauranga in the classroom
Students can delve into the health-and-wellness aspect of mental health by learning about the cultural and ecological knowledge of kōwhai trees through education-and-self-development activities such as creating infographics. This holistic approach in the classroom promotes learning by exploring the science of kōwhai phenology, conservation, and indigenous knowledge, fostering an understanding of the interconnectedness between these subjects.
