Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education

Umesh Ramnarain; Mafor Penn; Mishack Thiza Gumbo; Moleboheng Mokhele-Ramulumo; Ken Ngcoza; Kasper Rodil

doi:10.1145/3757232.3757274

Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education

Umesh Ramnarain
, Mafor Penn
, Mishack Thiza Gumbo
, Moleboheng Mokhele-Ramulumo
, Ken Ngcoza
, Kasper Rodil

Mathematics, Science and Technology Education

University of South Africa
North West University
Rhodes University
Aalborg University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

The workshop brings together leading scholars to explore critical intersections of technology, culture, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. Digital technologies have a significant role to play in preserving cultural heritage. While digital technologies have impacted many aspects of our daily lives, in the way we interact with each other and experience the world, "cultural digitization"is a term that is gaining traction. Archive digitization of cultural artefacts in Western museums is not new; however, the use of technology in conserving African Indigenous knowledge (IK) is relatively unexplored. Advanced technologies such as virtual- and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence hold much promise in ensuring that cultural knowledge and skills are transmitted from one generation to the next. This workshop will be a platform for participants to unpack the opportunities in infusing indigenous knowledge into African STEM education from the perspective of Afrocentric Extended Reality (XR) technology design.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025
Editors	Shaimaa Lazem, Obinna Anya, Mennatallah Saleh, Makuochi S. Nkwo, Attlee M. Gamundani, Abiodun A. Ogunyemi, Omowunmi E. Isafiade
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery, Inc
Pages	401-404
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9798400718496
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3757232.3757274
Publication status	Published - 4 Nov 2025
Event	5th Biennial African Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, AfriCHI 2025 - Cairo, Egypt Duration: 4 Nov 2025 → 8 Nov 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025

Conference

Conference	5th Biennial African Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, AfriCHI 2025
Country/Territory	Egypt
City	Cairo
Period	4/11/25 → 8/11/25

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Keywords

Afrocentric
STEM
XR
education
indigenous knowledge

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Education
Artificial Intelligence

Access to Document

10.1145/3757232.3757274

Cite this

Ramnarain, U., Penn, M., Thiza Gumbo, M., Mokhele-Ramulumo, M., Ngcoza, K., & Rodil, K. (2025). Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education. In S. Lazem, O. Anya, M. Saleh, M. S. Nkwo, A. M. Gamundani, A. A. Ogunyemi, & O. E. Isafiade (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025 (pp. 401-404). (Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025). Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1145/3757232.3757274

Ramnarain, Umesh ; Penn, Mafor ; Thiza Gumbo, Mishack et al. / Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education. Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025. editor / Shaimaa Lazem ; Obinna Anya ; Mennatallah Saleh ; Makuochi S. Nkwo ; Attlee M. Gamundani ; Abiodun A. Ogunyemi ; Omowunmi E. Isafiade. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, 2025. pp. 401-404 (Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025).

@inproceedings{3539a1e9082d4212a8673b1284eae2e2,

title = "Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education",

abstract = "The workshop brings together leading scholars to explore critical intersections of technology, culture, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. Digital technologies have a significant role to play in preserving cultural heritage. While digital technologies have impacted many aspects of our daily lives, in the way we interact with each other and experience the world, {"}cultural digitization{"}is a term that is gaining traction. Archive digitization of cultural artefacts in Western museums is not new; however, the use of technology in conserving African Indigenous knowledge (IK) is relatively unexplored. Advanced technologies such as virtual- and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence hold much promise in ensuring that cultural knowledge and skills are transmitted from one generation to the next. This workshop will be a platform for participants to unpack the opportunities in infusing indigenous knowledge into African STEM education from the perspective of Afrocentric Extended Reality (XR) technology design.",

keywords = "Afrocentric, STEM, XR, education, indigenous knowledge",

author = "Umesh Ramnarain and Mafor Penn and \{Thiza Gumbo\}, Mishack and Moleboheng Mokhele-Ramulumo and Ken Ngcoza and Kasper Rodil",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).; 5th Biennial African Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, AfriCHI 2025 ; Conference date: 04-11-2025 Through 08-11-2025",

year = "2025",

month = nov,

day = "4",

doi = "10.1145/3757232.3757274",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025",

publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery, Inc",

pages = "401--404",

editor = "Shaimaa Lazem and Obinna Anya and Mennatallah Saleh and Nkwo, \{Makuochi S.\} and Gamundani, \{Attlee M.\} and Ogunyemi, \{Abiodun A.\} and Isafiade, \{Omowunmi E.\}",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025",

}

Ramnarain, U , Penn, M, Thiza Gumbo, M, Mokhele-Ramulumo, M, Ngcoza, K & Rodil, K 2025, Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education. in S Lazem, O Anya, M Saleh, MS Nkwo, AM Gamundani, AA Ogunyemi & OE Isafiade (eds), Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025. Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025, Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, pp. 401-404, 5th Biennial African Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, AfriCHI 2025, Cairo, Egypt, 4/11/25. https://doi.org/10.1145/3757232.3757274

Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education. / Ramnarain, Umesh ; Penn, Mafor; Thiza Gumbo, Mishack et al.
Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025. ed. / Shaimaa Lazem; Obinna Anya; Mennatallah Saleh; Makuochi S. Nkwo; Attlee M. Gamundani; Abiodun A. Ogunyemi; Omowunmi E. Isafiade. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, 2025. p. 401-404 (Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education

AU - Ramnarain, Umesh

AU - Penn, Mafor

AU - Thiza Gumbo, Mishack

AU - Mokhele-Ramulumo, Moleboheng

AU - Ngcoza, Ken

AU - Rodil, Kasper

PY - 2025/11/4

Y1 - 2025/11/4

N2 - The workshop brings together leading scholars to explore critical intersections of technology, culture, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. Digital technologies have a significant role to play in preserving cultural heritage. While digital technologies have impacted many aspects of our daily lives, in the way we interact with each other and experience the world, "cultural digitization"is a term that is gaining traction. Archive digitization of cultural artefacts in Western museums is not new; however, the use of technology in conserving African Indigenous knowledge (IK) is relatively unexplored. Advanced technologies such as virtual- and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence hold much promise in ensuring that cultural knowledge and skills are transmitted from one generation to the next. This workshop will be a platform for participants to unpack the opportunities in infusing indigenous knowledge into African STEM education from the perspective of Afrocentric Extended Reality (XR) technology design.

AB - The workshop brings together leading scholars to explore critical intersections of technology, culture, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. Digital technologies have a significant role to play in preserving cultural heritage. While digital technologies have impacted many aspects of our daily lives, in the way we interact with each other and experience the world, "cultural digitization"is a term that is gaining traction. Archive digitization of cultural artefacts in Western museums is not new; however, the use of technology in conserving African Indigenous knowledge (IK) is relatively unexplored. Advanced technologies such as virtual- and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence hold much promise in ensuring that cultural knowledge and skills are transmitted from one generation to the next. This workshop will be a platform for participants to unpack the opportunities in infusing indigenous knowledge into African STEM education from the perspective of Afrocentric Extended Reality (XR) technology design.

KW - Afrocentric

KW - STEM

KW - XR

KW - education

KW - indigenous knowledge

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105023274689

U2 - 10.1145/3757232.3757274

DO - 10.1145/3757232.3757274

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105023274689

T3 - Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025

SP - 401

EP - 404

BT - Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025

A2 - Lazem, Shaimaa

A2 - Anya, Obinna

A2 - Saleh, Mennatallah

A2 - Nkwo, Makuochi S.

A2 - Gamundani, Attlee M.

A2 - Ogunyemi, Abiodun A.

A2 - Isafiade, Omowunmi E.

PB - Association for Computing Machinery, Inc

T2 - 5th Biennial African Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, AfriCHI 2025

Y2 - 4 November 2025 through 8 November 2025

ER -

Ramnarain U , Penn M, Thiza Gumbo M, Mokhele-Ramulumo M, Ngcoza K, Rodil K. Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education. In Lazem S, Anya O, Saleh M, Nkwo MS, Gamundani AM, Ogunyemi AA, Isafiade OE, editors, Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. 2025. p. 401-404. (Proceedings of the 5th Biennial African Human-Computer Interaction Conference, AfriCHI 2025). doi: 10.1145/3757232.3757274

Afrocentric Extended Reality Technology Design to Infuse Indigenous Knowledge into African STEM Education

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this