This is my community engagement class! In this class, we split up into teams and came up with a year long project we could do that gives back to our community. My group decided to build a traditional Hawaiian hale for our school. It's going to be used as an outdoor classroom, and if we are able to complete the hale before the school year ends, we are going to build another hale somewhere in Kihei.
Which 21st Century Skills do you feel this assignment addresses, and why?
I feel this assignment addresses thinking and problem solving skills, because while building the hale, we've come across several bumps in the road. Wether it be two pieces were lashed incorrectly, or a few pieces are too lose so we have to redo everything, each problem we come across has to be solved and fixed as a team. We've managed so far, and we're currently very close to finishing our hale. No problem has managed to stop us yet!
What are you most proud of from this assignment, and why?
I am proud that we are actually building something the traditional way. Seeing the hale now, so close to coming together, I feel proud that I contributed to making this happen.
How did you develop and/or improve upon your 21st Century Skills with this assignment?
I improved on my thinking and problem solving skills, because we're a large group, and navigating who does what can get tricky. In the beginning, it was rough, now though, my team and I are very efficient when it comes to problems, or tasks.
What was most difficult about completing this task?
Currently, the biggest problem has been the fact that we all had to learn how to lash, and since this is a new skill for us all, our lashing isn't the greatest. We once had to re-lash an entire portion of our hale, because the lashing was too lose. The hale was practically falling over where it sat.
How could you improve this work? If you could start over, what would you do different?
If I could start over, I'd say I need an extra day of lashing practice. My whole group got one class session to learn, and although it looks simple, we have to lash like pros, because if the hale were to collapse while students were in class, that would be absolutely awful.
How does this relate to what you have learned in the past?
In all honesty, it doesn't. I've had Hawaiian studies classes before, but I have never heard of or studied lashing until this year. Now look at me!
How can you apply this to future learning?
My group and I are improving our lashing skills as every class goes by. Our hale isn't finished yet, and there's always room to improve. Already we've learned valuable lessons to keep in mind for the future, like pull the ropes until you hear them creaking agains the wood. That's how you know it's really tight, and can proceed to tie the knot.
Which 21st Century Skills do you feel this assignment addresses, and why?
I feel this assignment addresses thinking and problem solving skills, because while building the hale, we've come across several bumps in the road. Wether it be two pieces were lashed incorrectly, or a few pieces are too lose so we have to redo everything, each problem we come across has to be solved and fixed as a team. We've managed so far, and we're currently very close to finishing our hale. No problem has managed to stop us yet!
What are you most proud of from this assignment, and why?
I am proud that we are actually building something the traditional way. Seeing the hale now, so close to coming together, I feel proud that I contributed to making this happen.
How did you develop and/or improve upon your 21st Century Skills with this assignment?
I improved on my thinking and problem solving skills, because we're a large group, and navigating who does what can get tricky. In the beginning, it was rough, now though, my team and I are very efficient when it comes to problems, or tasks.
What was most difficult about completing this task?
Currently, the biggest problem has been the fact that we all had to learn how to lash, and since this is a new skill for us all, our lashing isn't the greatest. We once had to re-lash an entire portion of our hale, because the lashing was too lose. The hale was practically falling over where it sat.
How could you improve this work? If you could start over, what would you do different?
If I could start over, I'd say I need an extra day of lashing practice. My whole group got one class session to learn, and although it looks simple, we have to lash like pros, because if the hale were to collapse while students were in class, that would be absolutely awful.
How does this relate to what you have learned in the past?
In all honesty, it doesn't. I've had Hawaiian studies classes before, but I have never heard of or studied lashing until this year. Now look at me!
How can you apply this to future learning?
My group and I are improving our lashing skills as every class goes by. Our hale isn't finished yet, and there's always room to improve. Already we've learned valuable lessons to keep in mind for the future, like pull the ropes until you hear them creaking agains the wood. That's how you know it's really tight, and can proceed to tie the knot.