At HSFI, we are always inspired by the creative ways our educators bring culture, history, and innovation to life for our students. This month, we’re excited to highlight the incredible work of Ms. Ettenheim, whose thoughtful approach to teaching bridged technology with cultural exploration in a powerful and meaningful way.
As part of our Native American Heritage Month activities, Ms. Ettenheim guided our Software Development majors through a unique interdisciplinary project. Rather than learning about culture solely through text, students used their technical skills to code Native American symbols directly into their embroidery software. This hands-on experience challenged them to think critically about design, symbolism, and the deeper meanings embedded in cultural art.
By merging code with culture, students were able not only to recreate symbolic designs but to understand the significance behind each one. They gained insight into the stories that symbols tell, stories of nature, community, resilience, and spirituality.