Nicol R. Howard, PhD
LightNews LightNews
banner
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Nicol R. Howard, PhD
@nicolrhoward.bsky.social
910 followers 240 following 49 posts
Researcher.
Professor.
Scholar.
Mother.
Wife.

https://www.nicolhoward.com/
Researching STEM Ed, Computer Science Ed, Technology in learning, and Family and Community Engagement.

No DMs.
Views my own.
Posts Replies Media Videos
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Excited to announce an interdisciplinary conference for researchers working on quantitative reasoning in #STEM Ed at Chapman University, 1/15/26-1/16/26. The conference is intended for researchers working across K-12, HE, & STEM.

Register and submit an abstract: sites.chapman.edu/qrstemeducat...
Graphic with researchers discussing a research poster. The graphic’s text is about an interdisciplinary conference for researchers working on quantitative reasoning in STEM Ed. The conference will be at Chapman University, 1/15/26-1/16/26, and is intended for researchers working across K-12, HE, & STEM.
July 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Hey Education community!

We need YOUR voice. Whether a principal navigating CT implementation or a teacher leader supporting colleagues - your perspective matters!

Quick 15-20 min survey + optional deeper conversations.
chapmanu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

#ComputationalThinking #Research
Flyer (with four professional collaborating) used for an ongoing research project seeking participation from education leaders about their perspectives on computational thinking (and integration).
June 17, 2025 at 12:07 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
While January 1st marks the last day of #Kwanzaa, the 7 principles represent year round points of reflection and action.

2025 is a good year to reflect, plan, and engage these principles daily.

#JoyousKwanzaa❤️🖤💚
This image shows "Nguzo Saba: The Seven Principles," which are the foundational principles of Kwanzaa. The principles are presented on what appears to be a parchment-style background with a decorative border. On the left side, there are corresponding symbols for each principle. The seven principles, listed in both Swahili and English, are: 1. Umoja (Unity) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. 2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. 3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) - To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together. 4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) - To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. 5. Nia (Purpose) - To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. 6. Kuumba (Creativity) - To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. 7. Imani (Faith) - To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. The document appears to be published by the University of Sankore Press in Los Angeles, CA.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
January 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Habari gani? Kuumba

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
~ Coretta Scott King

#Kuumba => Creativty

#Kwanzaa ❤️🖤💚
#JoyousKwanzaa
The image shows an educational graphic about "KUUMBA" with its pronunciation "(KOO-OOM-BAH)" and meaning "CREATIVITY". At the bottom is a quote that reads: "To do always as much as we can, on the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it." The image is credited to "@ujamaabox" and is framed by red decorative red triangular patterns at the top and green triangular patterns at the bottom.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
December 31, 2024 at 3:03 PM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Habari gani?!

Kujichagulia => self-determination

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
~ Dr. Maya Angelou

#Kwanzaa2024🖤❤️💚 #JoyousKwanzaa
Image with the definition of the second Kwanzaa principle - Kujichagulia which means self-determination in Swahili. The principle is described in the image as follows: to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
December 27, 2024 at 4:09 PM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

13/20
Book cover for 'Lessons from Plants' by Beronda L. Montgomery. The design features elegant typography surrounded by a botanical illustration on a mint green background. The flora includes a large leaf, ferns in blue and green, small leaves in different shades of green, and coral-colored flower sprigs. The plants are arranged in a decorative border around the title and author's name, creating a garden-like frame.
December 17, 2024 at 6:14 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

12/20
Book cover for “Gather” by Octavia Raheem. The design features minimalist black text on a light pink background, with a simple line representing thread passing through a needle's eye beneath the title.
December 15, 2024 at 5:44 PM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

11/20
Book cover for "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia. The cover shows a young Black boy in an action pose against a purple/blue atmospheric background wearing casual clothes and holding something in their hands. An adult male character stands behind him almost back-to-back. The book title is prominently displayed in large text, and there's an award medal (Coretta Scott King Award) on the cover. The art style is dynamic and action-oriented.​​​​​​​​​​​​
December 14, 2024 at 4:31 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

10/20
Book cover of “Imagination: A Manifesto” by Ruha Benjamin, published by Norton Shorts. The cover features an artistic portrait of a woman with braided hair adorned with white flowers and floral elements. She wears an ornate, nature-inspired collar with butterflies and flowers, and silver hoop earrings. The background is a turquoise-mint color with coral accents. The typography is clean and modern.
December 14, 2024 at 4:24 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

9/20
A book cover for "Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto" by Tricia Hersey, who is identified as the founder of The Nap Ministry. The cover design features bold gold text on a gradient background that shifts from deep red to gold to navy blue. At the top, there's text indicating it's a New York Times Bestseller. At the bottom, there's a quote from Ibram X. Kendi: "Essential... Rest is a necessary step in reclaiming our power to resist systemic oppression.”
December 11, 2024 at 5:51 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

8/20
Book cover of “Parable of the Talents”by Octavia E. Butler, with an introduction by Toshi Reagon. The cover features a striking artistic profile of a Black woman's face against a golden orange background. The woman wears jewelry with turquoise and red gems, and elaborate decorative elements in green and blue tones.
December 10, 2024 at 5:12 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

7/20
A book cover for "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston. The cover features a sepia-toned close-up image of a Black woman's face with closed eyes and serene expression. The image is textured.
December 9, 2024 at 12:17 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

6/20
A book cover titled "Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism" by Safiya Umoja Noble. The image shows a search engine query box at the top displaying "why are black women so" followed by autocomplete suggestions including "angry," "loud," "mean," "attractive," "lazy," "annoying," "confident," "sassy," and "insecure." The main title is written in colorful, multi-colored letters and the subtitle in gray. The background appears to be white with numerical sequences faintly visible around the edges.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
December 7, 2024 at 1:35 PM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

5/20
Book cover of “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler. The cover features a silhouette of a Black woman's profile against a white background, with red accents including floating leaf or petal-like shapes. She wears a red dress and head scarf. A gold circular medallion indicates it is a New York Times bestseller. The cover notes it features a new foreword by acclaimed author N.K. Jemisin.
December 6, 2024 at 2:19 PM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

4/20
Cover of Ruha Benjamin’s book entitled “Viral Justice: How we Grow the World We Want.” The design features a silhouette of a Black person’s profile facing left, with vibrant, colorful floral and botanical elements in pink, blue, purple, and orange bursting outward like fireworks or a garden. The background color is gradient in warm yellow-orange.
December 5, 2024 at 5:51 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

3/20
Photo of the beige and purple book cover entitled “Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination” by Robin D. G. Kelly and Foreword by Aja Monet. Text on the cover also indicate this version is revised and expanded.
December 4, 2024 at 6:08 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

2/20
Reddish orange cover of book by Octavia F. Raheem called “Pause Rest Be: Stillness Practices for Courage in Times of Change.”
December 3, 2024 at 5:21 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky📚🤎
#BookChallenge
#Blackbooksky

1/20
A bright yellow cover of a book by bell hooks entitled “teaching to transgress: educating as the practice of freedom”. The title of the book is red and author’s name is red black. There is a small picture of a brown ladder with a green and red two tone background positioned above the book title with a small caption that read “La Escalera”.
December 2, 2024 at 7:21 AM
nicolrhoward.bsky.social
Official and glad about it. Nostalgic over here and reminiscent of the early days on Twitter.
Announcing last day on Twitter/X with a gif of blue skies.
November 21, 2024 at 5:52 AM