Education Technology in the Early Grades: What School Could Be in Hawai’i

JR
Josh Reppun
Jan 28, 2020
Amber Makaiau deliberative pedagogy developmental education early education early grades edtech education elementary school Hanahau'oli School Josh Reppun Podcast primary school What School Could Be in Hawai'i

When is it too early to immerse young kids in the great ethical, moral, political and cultural issues of technology? When is it too early to talk about, and deal with artificial intelligence, facial recognition, big data gathering, streaming content and all the critical technology issues of this 21st century?

According to Dr. Amber Makaiau, it is never too early. At Hanahau’oli School, a small, progressive independent school on Oahu in Hawaiʻi, these questions and many more are squarely on the table. Listen as Dr. Makaiau, Hanahau’oli’s Professional Development Center Director, discusses progressive education in the context of education technology and elementary school on this episode of What School Could Be in Hawai’i.

Dr. Makaiau is also currently the Director of Curriculum and Research at the University of Hawai‘i Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education. For over ten years, she taught secondary social studies in the Hawaii State Department of Education. Her achievements include, National Board Certification in 2006, the Hawaii International Education Week – Honolulu Advertiser 2004 Outstanding Global Educator Award, the Oceanic Outstanding Educator Award in 2005, and the 2011 Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Culturally Responsive Teaching.

Her current projects include a brand new secondary level Philosophical Inquiry course, developing the emerging field of deliberative pedagogy, and a new approach to research ethics education. Dr. Makaiau enjoys speaking, writing, engaging in intellectually safe communities of inquiry, and advocating for the betterment of education in Hawaii and beyond.

You can also find the full episode at MLTSinHawaii.com.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Education Technology Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

team
Turning Crises into Momentum: CG Infinity’s Rapid Response Consulting in Action
January 29, 2026

When operations hit critical pressure points, even the most carefully planned projects can unravel. Late-night deployments, complex integrations, and large-scale data migrations are high-stakes moments where small mistakes can threaten months of work. CG Infinity’s Rapid Response Consulting team steps in when the pressure is highest, stabilizing operations, restoring momentum, and reinforcing mission-critical initiatives—fast. Jason…

Read More
Advocacy in Action: How CG Infinity’s Salesforce Practice Puts Clients at the Center of Delivery
January 29, 2026

In today’s enterprise tech landscape, successful Salesforce implementations hinge less on shiny features and more on how well partners align with the real, day-to-day needs of the business. The firms that stand out are the ones that treat delivery as a shared mission—where strategy, execution, and accountability are woven together from the first conversation…

Read More
AI adoption strategy
Field Service Growth Depends on Leading With People, Not Just Technology
January 29, 2026

Skilled trades are facing accelerating retirements, rising customer expectations, and rapid advances in AI—putting the field service industry at a critical inflection point. Industry estimates suggest millions of frontline roles could go unfilled over the next decade, even as technology promises to automate more tasks than ever before. The stakes are high: decisions made now…

Read More
commercial leadership
Why Hotel Performance Depends on Commercial Leadership Across Sales, Marketing, and Revenue
January 28, 2026

The hospitality industry is in the middle of a structural shift toward commercial leadership. Titles like “commercial leader” and “commercial strategy” have gone from buzzwords to necessities as hotels face tighter margins, rising distribution costs, and increasingly fragmented demand. Post-pandemic recovery, accelerated digital marketing spend, and a surge in new supply have forced owners…

Read More
Related
Culture of Safety
Software & Technology
Beyond Drills: Building a Culture of Safety in Schools
January 27, 2026
medical worker shortage
Healthcare
Experiential Learning: A Cure for the Medical Worker Shortage with Jason Aubrey of Skilltrade
January 26, 2026

Healthcare systems across the U.S. are facing a persistent and worsening medical worker shortage, particularly in allied health roles that keep hospitals, clinics, and surgery centers running. Rural access gaps, rising tuition costs, and skepticism about the ROI of traditional degrees are colliding with urgent employer demand. At the same time, momentum is building…

Read More
branding
Healthcare
Bonfire Branding: How Solo Stove Sparked a Customer Movement with Liz Vanzura (Episode One)
January 22, 2026

When pandemic restrictions shut down restaurants, paused travel, and compressed social lives, connection didn’t disappear; it moved closer to home. Backyards quietly emerged as important gathering spaces, offering a simple way to be together without screens, schedules, or spectacle. What began as a workaround evolved into a familiar rhythm of gathering. In that shift,…

Read More