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<p>In the U.S. there are steady efforts by governmental and philanthropic organizations to increase the representation of students of colour in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). After years of mixed results, researchers and educators have started to question one size fits all notions of broadening participation. An increasing number of projects are challenging universalist assumptions by enrolling the expertise of culturally situated communities of practice in STEM lessons and the educational technologies that support them. While this research shows promising results for improving young people’s interest and performance in STEM, there has been little research on how these lessons and technologies might also benefit the communities whose expertise were originally enrolled. This paper details the design of educational technologies that bridge STEM and African American cosmetology. We report on a mixed-methods research project, conducted with a group of predominantly African American cosmetologists. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to study their attitudes toward STEM before and after working with the technologies. Our results suggest positive changes in the cosmetologists’ attitudes. We end with a critical discussion about respecting the knowledge systems of underrepresented communities of practice in educational technology research and development.</p>
</abstract>

In the U.S. there are steady efforts by governmental and philanthropic organizations to increase the representation of students of colour in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). After years of mixed results, researchers and educators have started to question one size fits all notions of broadening participation. An increasing number of projects are challenging universalist assumptions by enrolling the expertise of culturally situated communities of practice in STEM lessons and the educational technologies that support them. While this research shows promising results for improving young people’s interest and performance in STEM, there has been little research on how these lessons and technologies might also benefit the communities whose expertise were originally enrolled. This paper details the design of educational technologies that bridge STEM and African American cosmetology. We report on a mixed-methods research project, conducted with a group of predominantly African American cosmetologists. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to study their attitudes toward STEM before and after working with the technologies. Our results suggest positive changes in the cosmetologists’ attitudes. We end with a critical discussion about respecting the knowledge systems of underrepresented communities of practice in educational technology research and development.

“A Voice to Talk About it”: Cosmetologists as STEM Experts in Educational Technology Design and Implementation

, http://education.msu.edu/search/Formview.aspx?email=lachneym@msu.edu

European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

In the U.S. there are steady efforts by governmental and philanthropic organizations to increase the representation of students of colour in science,...

“A Voice to Talk About it”: Cosmetologists as STEM Experts in Educational Technology Design and Implementation

Published Online: Jan 24, 2020

Page range: 41 - 55

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eurodl-2019-0009

Keywords
communities of practice, educational technology, STEM education, refusal

© 2019 Michael Lachney et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

“A Voice to Talk About it”: Cosmetologists as STEM Experts in Educational Technology Design and Implementation

Published Online: Jan 24, 2020

Page range: 41 - 55

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eurodl-2019-0009

Keywordscommunities of practice, educational technology, STEM education, refusal

© 2019 Michael Lachney et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
communities of practice, educational technology, STEM education, refusal