In this conversation, Dr. Catherine Quinlan discusses the importance of heritage and cultural representation, particularly focusing on African rock art and its connection to heritage, identity, and science. She emphasizes the need for cultural representation in education and shares insights on how to implement African rock art analysis in the classroom. The conversation highlights the significance of understanding and appreciating Black heritage and the contributions of indigenous cultures to art and science. This conversation occasionally includes a presenter and panelist who were a part of the portions of the conversation. This conversation was initially presented as an interactive webinar with slides which are omitted here. The works referred to are included below for your reference and insights.

Paper:

Link to website with handouts and images from African Rock Art Image Analysis curriculum

https://www.visibilityinstem.com/africanrockartimageanalysis/

Free download of article titled: "Emergent themes and pragmatic research methods for meaningful cultural representation of Blacks in multimedia products for the science classroom"

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09500693.2021.1959959

An Interdisciplinary Investigation of African Rock Art Images to Learn about Science & Culture: Blending Biology, Geology, History & Ethics

https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2019.81.1.40

Select this link for Free download of this article

Video clips on African Rock Art Image Analysis can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@visibilityinstem

This conversation explores the significance of Black representation in the STEAM curriculum, emphasizing the importance of cultural narratives, community engagement, and the role of education in shaping identity. Dr. Catherine Quinlan and her guests discuss the Gullah/Geechee heritage, the impact of historical narratives on education, and the necessity of including diverse perspectives in the curriculum. They highlight the importance of storytelling, the intersection of gender roles, and the need for ongoing dialogue about representation in education.

Panel Guests include Mr. Gregory Grant who is Curator and Historian at Geechee Kunda Cultural Center and Museum, Ms. Jana De Voe Biggins, a local historian and entrepreneur, and Ms. Dominiqiue Werthing who is an elementary school teacher.

To learn more about each participant and the event itself, please visit my website and click on the event at the bottom of the page, to view their full biographies:https://www.visibilityinstem.com/. The “View agenda here” will provide you with the complete agenda and presenters biographies for this past event. However, only selected recordings will be made available.

Geechee Kunda Cultural Arts Center and Museum:https://www.geecheekunda.org/

The video clips can be found on my YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@visibilityinstem/videos

Jana DeVoe Mason

Coming Soon: Look out for:

I Follow Up Always -www.Ifollowupalways.com

Jana DeVoe is a woman of many talents, driven by her faith and passion for helping others thrive in their spiritual journey and personal growth. As aHistoric Tour Guide, Psalmist,Author,Follow-Up Coach,andPodcaster.Jana’s mission is to inspire, empower, and encourage people to live out their God-given potential. Her voice carries healing and hope, her words offer wisdom, and her guidance leads people toward clarity in their walk with God.

COMMENTS - QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

What does representation mean to you?

What did you find surprising?

What questions do you have?

In this episode, Dr. Ti'Era Worsley shares her journey from a curious child who loved to take things apart to becoming a STEM education coordinator. She discusses the challenges she faced as a first-generation college student, her transition from wanting to be a dentist to pursuing engineering, and the importance of community support in her academic journey. Dr. Worsley emphasizes the need for teaching methods that empower all students and validate their experiences, particularly in STEM fields. She also highlights her current role in supporting community college students and fostering their interests in STEM careers. In this conversation, Dr. Ti'Era Worsley shares her insights on the non-linear pathways students often take in their educational and career journeys. She discusses the challenges faced by students in navigating college life, the importance of understanding the emotional labor involved in education, and the need for critical thinking and collaboration in learning. Dr. Worsley emphasizes the significance of empowering students by encouraging them to ask questions and seek information, as well as the value of teamwork in achieving success. The discussion highlights the evolving landscape of education and the importance of adapting to meet the needs of today's learners.

About Dr. Ti'Era Worsley:

Dr. Ti'Era Worsley is a STEM Education Coordinator at Northern Virginia Community College. Her research has focused on the role of educator-youth interactions in fostering student learning and engagement in STEM. Dr. Worsley’s scholarly interests are deeply rooted in her own experiences navigating STEM from K-12 through postsecondary education. Driven by a commitment to finding her place in STEM, she has forged her own path in the field, shaping her research to explore how supportive learning environments can enhance student success and belonging in STEM disciplines.

Link to Dr. Worsley's recent publication: "I'm not giving up on you: Exploring the roles of politicized trust and critical agency in the Scratch coding trajectory of two Black boys" https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/tea.21992