Culturally Responsive Computing through Ledger Art

Physical Computing Curriculum for IEFA + CS

What is The Ledger Art Curriculum?

This curriculum is designed for grades 4-6. Using the Arduino Circuit Playground, LEDs, copper tape, and sensors, students tell their own stories in a visual narrative style inspired by Montana tribal ledger art. Computer science concepts are learned as a means of personalizing projects, engaging and inspiring students who otherwise might not see themselves as computer scientists. Lessons in the curriculum reference computer science standards, the Indian Education for All Act Essential Understandings, as well as math, science, social studies, English language arts, and visual arts standards. This curriculum can be integrated into any teacher's classroom.

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Broadening Participation

Our lessons use physical computing with textiles that are embedded with electronics and then programmed by students. Because many teachers and students believe that computing is difficult, these novel approaches enable more broad access to computer science. They have been shown to not only engage students and teachers in rigorous computing, but also to make computing fun.

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Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that Montana State University and the schools we work with are on the ancestral lands of American Indians, including the A’aninin (Gros Ventre), Amskapi/Piikani (Blackfeet), Annishinabe (Chippewa/Ojibway), Annishinabe/Métis (Little Shell Chippewa), Apsáalooke (Crow), Ktunaxa/Ksanka (Kootenai), Lakota, Dakota (Sioux), Nakoda (Assiniboine), Ne-i-yah-wahk (Plains Cree), Qíispé (Pend d’Oreille), Seliš (Salish), and Tsétsêhéstâhese/So’taahe (Northern Cheyenne). Through our work with Montana students and teachers, we honor and respect these twelve tribal nations that call Montana home today, by drawing inspiration from the stories of these communities whose oral histories embody this land.