STEM Learning in Hawaiʻi

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Hawaiʻi’s Commitment to Education

The Aloha State asks its high school graduates to be both globally competitive and locally committed. This vision is at the heart of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education’s 2023–2029 Strategic Plan, where students have the skills to succeed anywhere and the sense of responsibility to give back to their island home.

This balance also runs through Nā Hopena Aʻo (HĀ), the Department’s framework of learning outcomes rooted in Hawaiian values and place.

STEM education lives comfortably within that vision, inviting students to investigate the systems around them and apply what they learn in service of their communities. Done well, hands-on, project-based, and standards-aligned learning fosters the curiosity and capability that Hawaiʻi’s students can carry forward throughout their education and beyond.

STEM LEARNING IN HAWAIʻI

Developing Hawaiʻi’s Innovation Economy

Few states offer a STEM backdrop like Hawaiʻi. The islands are home to some of the world’s premier astronomical observatories, a statewide push toward 100% renewable energy by 2045, and growing aerospace, cybersecurity, conservation science, and technology sectors.

Additionally, workforce initiatives such as Good Jobs Hawaiʻi actively build local pipelines into high-demand fields, including clean energy, technology, and healthcare, where employers hire for skills that have strong roots in STEM.

SmartLab helps Hawaiʻi schools lay that foundation, from kindergarten through graduation. Here’s how:

• SmartLab learners connect core math, science, and engineering concepts to hands-on projects, turning abstract ideas into something they can build and test. | See Details
• Students gain familiarity with the tools and technologies used as part of robotics, circuitry, coding, design, and data roles. | See Details
• Learners practice life skills such as self-direction, perseverance, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, which align naturally with state educational initiatives. | See Details
• Educators are supported every step of the way with thorough training and ongoing assistance, so they can focus on guiding their students. | See Details

SMARTLAB STANDARDS ALIGNMENT

Preparing Hawaiʻi Learners for Academic Success

SmartLab learning environments are designed to support every student with hands-on, project-based experiences that align with Hawaiʻi’s state standards, as well as leading national frameworks:

• Hawaiʻi Common Core Standards for Mathematics: Students sharpen their reasoning and sense-making through mathematics applied to real-world, relevant contexts.| See Standards
• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): Adopted by the state in 2016, these three-dimensional standards encourage students to think and work like scientists and engineers through inquiry-based investigation. | See Standards
• CSTA K–12 Computer Science Standards: In effect statewide, these guidelines promote computational thinking and familiarity with algorithms, programming, and data from the earliest grade levels. | See Standards
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): With access to innovative tools and the agency to explore them, students grow into confident, capable digital citizens. | See Standards