FAQs

What is HOPE?

The Hawaiʻi Online Portal for Education (HOPE) is an initiative to support and host free, digital instructional content made for Hawaiʻi teachers, by Hawaiʻi teachers. In this stage of development, we are: 1) reaching out to educators interested in adapting previously created content to align with HOPE protocols for sharing; 2) developing and sharing professional development modules to support digital content creation and curriculum development; and 3) co-hosting content institutes with subject-matter experts for deep dives into specific content areas and themes. 

Sounds interesting, how can I get involved? How do I earn a stipend?

If you are a K-12 classroom teacher, you can participate in two different ways: 1) adapting existing curriculum or developing new curriculum on your own; 2) creating curriculum after participating in a Content Institute. Public, private and charter school classroom teachers are able to earn a stipend by: 1) completing our asynchronous modules; 2) creating and uploading a place-based and student-centered curriculum; 3) testing out and sharing reflections on implementation of your curriculum. Classroom teachers who complete all three steps are eligible to receive up to $2000 in stipends, with the possibility of more after the submission of additional curriculum products. Content Institute leads and Subject Matter Experts are also eligible to receive stipends for their organization of and participation in a Content Institute. 

What exactly is a Content Institute?

A Content Institute (CI) will provide opportunities for teachers to learn directly from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from a diversity of fields like Fine Arts, Social Emotional Learning, Climate Change Science, Design Thinking, Digital Literacy and Entrepreneurship. We welcome you to register for the CIs featured on our landing page that are still open to the public. Classroom teachers are not required to participate in a CI in order to access our professional development modules and receive a stipend. If you are a SME, have an idea for a CI and are interested in leading classroom teachers, please get in touch with us at [email protected]

Who will have access to my curriculum, and how long will my curriculum be accessible on the HOPE portal?

Curriculum uploaded to our HOPE portal will be free and open to the public, according to the standards of Open Education Resources (OER). We envision the HOPE website staying up in perpetuity, holding virtual space for Hawaiʻi teachers to share curriculum and build a community of practice.

If I would like to share more than one curriculum product, would I receive more than one stipend?

Yes! In seeking to provide high quality teaching curricula made by Hawaiʻi teachers for Hawaiʻi teachers we welcome multiple contributions to our portal. For every curriculum product you submit that meets our guidelines, you are eligible to receive up to $1000 — additional stipends are available for module completion and submitting a draft of your curriculum prior to implementation. At the moment, we anticipate a stipend limit of $5000 in a given calendar year.

Who is organizing the project?

HOPE is a partnership of the University of Hawaiʻi System, the Hawaiʻi Department of Education and the Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools. It is being facilitated by Education Incubator.

If my question is not addressed here, who should I contact?

We encourage you to submit any questions you might have via email to [email protected].