Editors' Note: When this article was posted in Reading Online in May 1998, readers were invited to comment on it through a bulletin board feature that was discontinued when the journal was redesigned in July 2000. Following are the comments posted to that bulletin board. Note that, due to a technical problem, most posts are dated July 1999. They were actually made between May 1998 and July 1999.

Readers who would like the opportunity to comment on this or other articles in the journal are invited to contact the author directly (e-mail address is available on the opening page) or to post messages through ROL Communities.

Post 1

Author: Guest_User
Date: 07-20-1999 17:16

"Technology and the Revival of the Hawaiian language" is an important article for indigenous peoples residing within the USA to consider. Kahealani Nae'ole Wong is one of those immersion teachers who has particularly extended the use of technology with full curricular consideration and use by her cohorts at Keaukaha School. After reading throught your site, I would like to propose another sectionon teacher inservicing and the nuts and bolts of that. We need to clone Kahealani for each of our sites.

The unique geography of Hawai'i makes technology even more important as we are separated by water. Long distance learning, email, etc. enable us to talk and communicate with each other withoutflying from island to island which can become costly and tiresome since those living on islands like Moloka'i must fly into O'ahu at ungodlyhours. I currently teach a course for immersion teacher education class using interactive television. Although the class numbers below ten students, this technology enables me to reach students on Hawai'i, Maui, and Kaua'i at this time. They can email me questions and or fax their assignments in. I would be very interested in learning more about teacher inservicing, Kahealani. Mahalo ia 'olua no keia wahi ku'ono'ono papaho i piha me ka mana'o kuhohonu a waiwai no kakou Hawai'i ame na po'e 'oiwi like 'ole. E ola mau ka 'olelo Hawai'i i o ka papaho 'enehana.Kalani Akana

Post 2

Author: Stacy_Lambdin
Date: 07-20-1999 17:16

I was happy to see that technology could help revive such an interesting language and culture. It is wonderful that Native Hawaiian children will no longer be so removed from their culture and heritage.

Post 3

Author: Brian_Farrell
Date: 07-20-1999 17:16

I am glad to see that technology is working to save an important part of the Hawaiian people's culture from dieing. It is important for students in Hawaii to have the oppurtunity to learn the language that their ancestors spoke and it is wonderful that computer technology has made this possible. There are now many ways to use the net and other computer programs to teach these students their native language. It is now also possible for people all over the world to learn and speak this unique language.

Post 4

Author: Sharon_Martin
Date: 05-25-2000 18:36

If you are not comfortable playing an instrument in front of the children, could this be a great modeling of risk-taking? "I'm not a good musician, but I want to learn to be. Come, make mistakes and grow with me!"

Post 3

Author: bette_newsham
Date: 09-11-1999 20:32

there is such a brain connection with music and math. it seems that i could use music to teach first graders math. just thinking "outloud"......possibly math facts, geometry (shapes and hand motions set to tunes......) i don't know. any suggestions?

Post 4

Author: Deanna_Vetrone
Date: 07-20-1999 17:15

I was thrilled to read about the progress that Hawaiian schools are making toward revitalizing their native language. It is so important that cultures are respected and preserved. It is a national tragedy that so many native cultures have been harmed by systematic repression.

I have previously read and heard about Native Americans who are trying to help reintroduce their language to tribal members. I am a student at Miami University, which was named after the Miami tribe of Ohio. Last year in a linguistics class, a member of the Miami tribe spoke to our class about the attempts to raise their dead language. There were no native speakers remaining, and the languge survived only through written texts. The tribe has worked with linguists to reconstruct the language. The progress is slow, but definitely worthwhile.

The Hawaiian immersion program really seems to be working. They are fortunate in that they still have some fluent speakers from whom they can build their instruction base. These students are given the opportunity, at a young age, to become fluent in two languages. They are the future keepers of their traditions, and language is an important aspect of their culture.

The use of technology within these immersion classrooms is beneficial to the students' education in general. I was so impressed with the ways in which technology has been integrated into the classrooms. Not only does technology aid the students' language acquisition, but the students appear to be becoming computer literate. They will definitely be able to take what they learn in terms of technology and apply it to all aspects of their lives. I think that these classrooms would be a wonderful model for other teachers just trying to integrate technology into their class.

Hawaiian students seem to be flourishing in this environment, where they are becoming active participants in their own learning experiences. The classrooms are full of peer interaction, problem solving, and student directed learning.

Post 5

Author: Mary_Streenz
Date: 07-20-1999 17:15

The Hawaiian culture fascinates me! I was very excited to read about the Hawaiian language being preserved and culture being taught through technology in the classroom. I have been to Hawaii, and although it is now a part of the United States, Hawaii seemed to me almost like a foreign country, with a very distinct culture and language that I feel is very important to preserve. With technology entering the classroom that can teach languages and cultures, perhaps many language barriers could be solved. In our classrooms today we see more and more children coming in not knowing the English language, or being very limited in their English skills. There is so much controversy with teaching English as a second language. Let's face reality, pretty much in order to survive socially, and certainly financially, one must speak English. However, there are many students in our classrooms that can not speak English. There is much debate over whether these children should be taught first in their primary language, and then learn English, or just move straight to English. I happen to feel that children need to develop their primary language first, before moving to English. My belief goes against California Proposition 227, which wanted to do away with teaching children in their primary language and go to only teaching in English. The International Reading Association opposes this kind of local, state, and federal initiatives and legislation that restrict opportunities for children to benefit from initial instruction in reading and writing in their primary language. One problem posed when initially teaching children in their primary language is who will teach it? Perhaps technology is the answer.

It seems that very generally speaking, English as a second language is often found in areas where schools have limited funds and resources. Keaukah Elementary, in Hawaii, has proven that even with limited funds and resources, technology can be brought into the classroom and integrated into the curriculum to revive the Hawaiian language, why not other languages too? Other language programs could be implemented to help teach students in their primary language first. Once children are able to effectively communicate in their primary language, English instruction could begin.

Post 6

Author: Lorna_Belnap
Date: 07-20-1999 17:14

"Kudos" to the Eugene Public School District for their Cyber School Project. Cyber School is a great way for high school students to earn high school credit. It offers students a flexible schedule, provides opportunities when there are scheduling conflicts, and allows students to converse with teachers and students from aroundthe world. The State of Utah also has an "Electronic High School." Currently there are just a few courses that have been developed specially for electronic delivery. They are very well done. Within the next five years, it is Utah's goal to have courses for all state core requirements designed especially for electronic delivery. At present, the courses listed on Utah's Electronic High School are a collection of distant learning opportunities from around the U.S. If you would like to visit this site, the URL is: http://ehs.uen.org The courses from the electronic high school may provide students with original or make-up credit and a flexible schedule.

Post 7

Author: Sand
Date: 07-20-1999 17:14

I attended BYU-Hawaii for a semester in my pursuit of my degree in education. The majority of my close friends were Hawaiian and I enjoyed the many stories, traditions, and aspects of their wonderful culture. However, I was very surprised that many of them knew few words in their native language. They knew familiar sayings and phrases of communication. But if asked to carry on a conversation in Hawaiian, they were unable to.

What a wonderful opportunity for these students to be able to learn their native language to carry on their culture and heritage!! The use of technology opens so many doors and paths of learning. I am impressed with the teachers there and the incredible learning activities that they have planned. Not only do the students learn the content information, but also the knowledge and expertise in 2 languages. Are there schools here in the continental U.S. that are using technology to that extent in their immersion classrooms?

Post 8

Author: Sally_Sansom
Date: 07-20-1999 17:13

I really enjoyed reading all of the different ways this elementary school was able to integrate technology into the classroom. After reading this section I felt like I was given a plethora of ideas that I could implement and use immediately in my classroom. I liked how there were many diverse ways to use the limited technology resources available. All too often we hear teachers complaining about the lack of resources and funds available, thus convincing themselves that these types of "technological projects" are out of reach. I applaud the Keaukaha Elementary for their valiant efforts in not only preserving the Hawaiian language, but plunging forward with limited funds and resources. Thank you for sharing your ideas!!

Reply 8a

Author: Hazel_Mays
Date: 07-20-1999 17:14

>I too really enjoyed reading all of the different ways this elementary >school was able to integrate technology into the classroom. After >reading this section I felt a litle ashamed, because I am guilty of complaining of lack of resources to do innovative things in my classroom.

>That was a admiral thing to preserve their language; their culture. I enjoyed it!

Reply 8b

Author: Katie_Smith
Date: 02-13-2000 17:07

I could not agree more with Ms. Sansom. So often it seems that educators "push back" on the ideas of integrating technology into the classroom. Whether due to lack of knowledge on the part of the educator or to limited resources, all too often children are deprived of the chance to learn in a technology-based classroom.

Keaukaha Elementary has broken these boundaries! They seemed to bring together the past and the future by searching for their history by way of modern day technology. These educators, concerned about the lack of cultural heritage and linguistic knowledge in Hawaiian classrooms, took advantage of the technological resources at hand and integrated these resources as a part of daily classroom life.

Teachers at Keaukaha Elementary should be commended for their hard work. They have enriched the lives of their students in unimaginable ways. If only we could utilize this cultural awareness and forward thinking in schools throughout the continental U.S.! Every child should have the opportunity to learn more about his or her own cultural background. Through technology, we might one day be able to achieve this goal.

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