Scholarly work, research to highlight PCC final day

Educators, scholars, and researchers from across the Pacific had the opportunity to present their work and network with colleagues and peers during the first two days of the ongoing Pacific Circle Consortium.

For the first time, the CNMI is hosting this largest gathering of educators, researchers, and scholars through the joint partnership of the Public School System and Northern Marianas College along the Hawaii-based research think-tank Research Triangle International.

And at 8:30am today at the Saipan Southern High School conference venue, several scholarly works, studies, and research will highlight the third and final day of the PCC, which marks its 40th year.

There are over 200 delegates from over a dozen countries and Pacific islands that are participating in the conference.

From 9am to 10am today, at the general assembly building (SSHS cafeteria) Sesario Sewralur will begin with a highlight presentation: “Connection Between Malama Honua & Micronesian Navigation.”

Sewralur is the son of famed master navigator Mau Piailug.

Shortly thereafter, various conference workshops will follow. They are spread at various locations at Saipan Southern High School.

They are:

-“Native Hawaiians in Engineering, Barriers and Bright Spots” of Althea Ku’uli Serna and Thanh Truc T. Nguyen.

The duo will share findings from the first phase of their study where they surveyed students in engineering, sharing similarities and differences in barriers, support systems, financial aid, and self-perception of success between Native Hawaiians students and non-Native Hawaiian students.

-Dr. Richard Seder of Research Triangle International will speak of “What do We Know About What Works? And Why Does it Matter?

-Dr. Seder’s presentation will explore the different mechanisms by which educators and policymakers seek out and use evidence, and how much is understood about different types of educational interventions.

Another workshop will be about “Intersections of Identities: Navigating Cultural and Societal Norms Within our Own Communities of Color.” This will be presented by Roslyn Leon Guerrero whose presentation is designed to open discussions about the many “oppressive terms and to have an open dialogue about internalizes oppression and racism within our cultures.”

Masashii Urabe and Akira Ninomiya will highlight their study about “Second Chance Learning in Higher Education: Seeking for Globally Competent Human Resources in Japan.” This reviews the educational policy about Japan’s second chance learning to be able to develop excellent vocational education program.

“The Importance of Text Complexity: The Lexile Framework for Reading and the Students of the Pacific Rim Nations” will be presented by Jason Turner. This is about exploring the Lexile Framework for Reading, a scientific way to match students to texts using a developmental scale.

Another must-attend presentation is NMC’s “How Catastrophic Event Can Unite a Campus in Rebuilding a Community.” This session will outline how the college, after Typhoon Soudelor struck the island on Aug. 2, 2015, became “a beacon of hope…of strength…of community service.”

A joint presentation by Dr. Seder and Nguyen will also be about “Improvement Science: An Introductory Workshop.” This workshop is design in a half-day, interactive format to introduce the improvement science framework and explore how this framework might be applied to participants’ problems and contexts.