Polynesian Navigation through the use of Double Hulled Canoes

Abstract

Abstract: Polynesian navigation using double-hulled canoes has been practiced for many years throughout the Pacific Ocean. Today, however, this ancient art is lacking and students are becoming less aware of how migration took place thousands of years ago throughout the Pacific Islands. Students specifically at the middle school level are only being introduced to a fraction of the information. They are being taught the ancient art of Polynesian navigation only along with the focus of Hawaiian and Pacific Island studies in their social studies curriculum. How will technology help students learn about Polynesian navigation thru the use of double hulled canoes? What effect will using online modules with middle school students have on their understanding of Polynesian voyaging through the use of double hulled canoes? With Internet searches, PowerPoint presentations, latitudinal and longitudinal plotting of coordinates, and video recordings, students learned about and reported their findings on Polynesian navigation through the use of double-hulled canoes.