A Teacher's Travels & Search for Math/Science Theorems that aren't Named after White Men |
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A Teacher's Travels & Search for Math/Science Theorems that aren't Named after White Men |
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Greetings! I'll be writing my observations, rants and posting some pictures/videos here for you all to read about my Fulbright experience in Botswana. *Please see the about section if you want a better understanding of my project.*
I've been making some wonderful connections with educators, scholars, youth workers & mathematicians from across the Diaspora as I've been preparing for my trip. My mom connected me to her former Botswanan student who is a film maker in Gaborone (the capitol city), who will connect me with San people (hunter gatherer tribal group) so I can learn best practices from them. Last weekend, I had a really fulfilling conversation with an Ethiopian doctoral student about ethnomathematics (a connection made thru a Fulbright alum), who has connected me to an Ethiopian guidance counselor who does brilliant work in affirming Ethiopian students, who is connecting me to a twenty-year teacher in Botswana. We are more connected than we sometimes think, and the world is unbelievable big and complex. Perhaps, a "duh" statement. But I think people forget this, especially when we feel as if it is "Dooms Day" here in the US because of 24 hour news cycle, that our organizing has to be hyper-local, and there is daily Trump drama. While I've attempted stay somewhat in the loop, I've enjoyed spinning my Pan-African web of STEM educators, historians, scholars, scientists, & mathematicians. I'm anxious to see what it'll become, and I'm ready to begin using Tswana, a language I've made a lazy attempt to learn in these months leading up to my departure. I believe in this work and in the brilliance of Black people across the Diaspora. Today I got confirmation that I'm flying out December 30th. I'm due to arrive in Botswana at 9pm on NYE. I'll be back here then when my adventure begins, if only just to share my jet lag with my readers (hopefully not just my mom). P.S. This album "I'm Not Here to Hunt Rabbits," is a very beautiful compilation of Botswanan musicians playing guitar in a really interesting way (i.e. left hand reaches up and over the neck of the guitar). I love it!
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AuthorFulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Archives
April 2019
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