is committed to sharing information, ideas and strategies for renewing our relationship with the earth, to understanding our place in it, our purpose for being here, our responsibility toward others, other species, and the very landscape!

This site is a rather eclectic collection of resources I have gathered in my sojourn as a life-long learner, earth scientist and educator, hopeful futurist, and concerned global citizen. Many of the links connect to my work in environmental science education, teacher education, community service, and resource development for environmental education. I hope you find the links valuable. Drop me a note if you want more information or if you want to link to this site.

Academic & Educational	personal & friends ...other index
Mission & Goals	personal: mission/goals
Facilities: Research & Design Mobile Lab Resources & Equipment	personal: projects favorites information and philosophy

Who is ? Affiliate Programs & Projects Favorite Links Affiliates & Friends Friends in Earth Systems Science Education Favorite Non-formal Education Friends Favorite Business Friends Favorite Projects Alma Maters Favorite Institutes	Latest greatest ideas and projects: Western States Endangered Streams Lewis & Clark "Re-Discovery Project

Mission

ecoguild is an informal collaborative of persons and organizations with ideas in support of educational research and public service. ecoguild is an umbrella for the coordination of experimental ideas in earth systems and environmental sciences, and educational technology.

ecoguild was created to provide an alternative communication and coordination site for stakeholders and entities involved in formal and non-formal earth systems science, interactive technologies and ecology education.
Stakeholders include higher education institutions, local education agencies, business and industry, teachers, parents, students, and concerned citizens.


Goals
ecoguild's primary goals are:

• to provide information and strategies to interested and concerned learners of all ages,
• to develop an on-line clearinghouse of cutting-edge ideas, resources and activities,
• to facilitate professional development of K-12 teachers and university faculty in the areas of science and technology literacy, and communications,
• to facilitate research and implementation of practices that increase student achievement, and
• to provide technical assistance to Schools and Universities.

highly recommended:

Affiliate Programs, Projects, and Workshops:

• Idaho Mathematics, Interactive Technologies & Science (IMITS),
• Integrated Science for Elementary Teachers,
• Idaho NOVA Program,
• Idaho Virtual Campus,
• Idaho Space Grant Consortium,
• Introductory Astronomy,
• GLOBE Program,
• IdaHOES: Hands-On Elementary Science,
• Constructing Physics Understanding,
• CoMap: Community Mapping & Cooperative Learning,
• Other Projects & Friends.

Science Education Projects at the University of Idaho

IMITS: Idaho Mathematics, Interactive Technologies & Science
IMITS is a developing "Institute" for Mathematics, Technology & Science Education. Is promises to be a clearing house for professional development strategies and online resource for science educators.

Contacts: : Dr. Michael Odell "mirodell@uidaho.edu"

IMITS at U of I.



Inter103: Integrated Science for Elementary Education Majors
Inter103 is a course offered at the Moscow Campus of U of I. It is unique in its "constructivist" approach to integrating science through the employ of the GLOBE Program educator materials and a "spheres" thematic approach to earth-systems science.

Contacts: Dr. Michael Odell, Dr. Scott Graves, Dr. Tim Ewers

Integrated Science at U of I.



NOVA: Idaho Project NOVA
NOVA is a NASA supported program of innovative science course developement. Partners in NOVA are sharing online corurse materials and instructional strategies.

Contacts: Dr. Michael Odell, Dr. Scott Graves, Dr.Mitch Klett

NOVA at U of I.



IVC Idaho Virtual Campus
IVC is an Idaho State Department of Education supported program of innovative online and interactive science course developement. Partners in IVC are developing online instructional strategies. IVC will be assisting Professors in getting their classes online.

Contacts: Dr. Michael Odell, Dr. Scott Graves, Dr. Mitch Klett, Mr. Jason Abbitt, Mr. Jason Graham

IVC at U of I.



Idaho Space Grant Consortium
Idaho is a member of the National Space Grant College Consortium. This project involves many science disciplines and various approaches to instruction.

Contacts: Contacts: Dr. JeanTeasdale, Dr. Michael Odell, Dr. Teresa Kennedy, Dr. Scott Graves, Dr. Mitch Klett

Idaho Space Grant at U of I.



GLOBE: Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Earth.
GLOBE is a one week summer workshop that provides technology, science, and mathematics training. GLOBE is a relevant program that utilizes the Internet to team students with NASA, NOAA , and GLOBE scientists. Teachers and students utilize the latest technology such as GPS, MultiSpec, and a variety of scientific instruments to collect data that will actually be used by NASA scientists. This is a great opportunity for teachers and students to use technology in the classroom for inquiry based science. Schools will receive a Landsat satellite image of their school. Students will then set-up a study site at school to study diversity, meteorology, ecology, and environmental issues for the K-12 teacher. The program focuses on investigating and evaluating scientific problems. The workshop utilizes an interdisciplinary approach focused on enhancing students scientific, technological, and mathematical knowledge through hands-on, minds-on activities. Most schools have the equipment necessary and teachers will receive kits with basic materials and home-made instruments. Follow-up and technical support are provided through the National and Idaho GLOBE Programs. Teams of teachers are recommended.

Visit the GLOBE web site.

GLOBE-Idaho web sites

Credit provided by the UI.
Workshops throughout the Northwest, National & International. 1-2 Credits.
Contacts: Dr. Michael Odell , Dr. Scott Graves , Dr. Teresa Kennedy, Dr. Mitch Klett



IdaHOES: Hands-On Elementary Science
HOES is a one week summer workshop designed by the Carroll County School District in Maryland. This National Diffusion Network Program is intended to provide elementary students with hands-on experiences emphasizing the processes of science as an approach to problem solving. Bonnie Hawthorne, an elementary teacher and HOES Trainer will conduct the workshop. Since this is not a text curriculum, HOES is an excellent supplement to your current curriculum. This K-6 curriculum is non-repetitive and focuses on free or low cost materials that every teacher can obtain. There is also an adaptive curriculum for disabled students. Teams of three elementary teachers are recommended.

IdaHoes web site.

Workshops in Moscow and Coeur d'Alene. 1-2 Credits.
Contacts: Dr. Michael Odell, Dr. Teresa Kennedy



CPU: Constructing Physics Understanding
CPU is a one week physics summer workshop designed for Elementary and Middle school teachers. The CPU approach integrates hands-on activities to teach physics in a comprehensive, descriptive, and math friendly manner. Teachers develop concepts, not mathematical formulas. This project will be over two Summers and teachers will receive up to 3 credits per Summer. The physics concepts studied are typical of those taught in elementary and middle schools, such as Light and Color, Electricity, Electro-statics, Scientific Underpinnings, and Motion. Teachers will receive material kits to implement modules in their classrooms. A great supplemental program for teachers who teach physical science concepts.

Workshop in Moscow. 2-3 credits
Contacts: Dr. Michael Odell, Dr. Scott Graves, Dr. Mitch Klett, Dr. Tim Ewers

Idaho CPU web site.

All of the above projects provide teachers with incentives such as materials, credit, and housing during the workshops. Some projects provide stipends (contingent on funding).


CoMap: Community Mapping & Cooperative Learning
CoMap is a project developed by Scott Graves for the Hemingway Learning Institute in Ketchum, ID. Originally envisioned as a non-formal experiential education and recreation-based summer day camp for area youth CoMap was a wonderful learning opportunity for all involved in the summer '96 pilot project.

CoMap extended the GLOBE Program's goals of involving youth directly in environmental and earth-systems science through monitoring their local setting. CoMap went beyond data gathering and submitting observations to GLOBE scientists to focus on student-produced narratives, sketches, and stories of what it is like to fully investigate the environmental setting of your local community. The local Ketchum/Sun Valley area provided many unique opportunities for investigation including: hiking, exploring, and swimming in a brisk mountain stream full of trout, tracking birds and small mammals, trips to the local beaver and moose ponds, tepee powwows, and team building sport activities.

The CoMap project used computers to access the internet for student research and reporting, as well as video documentation of field excursions, and note-taking in the field with PDAs. The large amount of information, stories, images and maps collected are being formatted as a website that may be of particular value to area teachers and students, as well as anyone who may want to clone the idea for projects in their own comunity. Lots of community support was lent in terms of funding from US WEST and the Global Environment Project Institute, lunches (provided by local markets/bakeries), maps and aerial photos from the USFS office, and lots of enthusiasm from area proponents. HLI hopes to provide the program again this summer.

Contacts: Mr. Scott Graves

HLI's CoMap Project Description

HLI's CoMap Study Site. (an interactive study-site map)



Other Projects
ecoguild has been involved in many diffrent projects over the past half dozen years. Some of my favorites are listed and described below.

other projects...




Favorite Links

the magazine

Computing & internet's finest!



C|NET sharewarehouse

C|NET search engine

WIRED search engine





magazine


more




Affiliates & Friends

College of Education Division of Teaching Learning & Leadership

 

Jason Abbitt: College of Education, Educational Technology.

Jason Abbitt's homepage

 

Dr. John Davis: College of Education, Division of Teaching Learning & Leadership.

 

Dr. Mitch Klett: College of Education, Division of Teaching Learning & Leadership .

Mitch Klett's old UI homepage.

 

Dr. Michael Odell: College of Education, Division of Teaching Learning & Leadership .

Dr. Odell's homepage.

Kurt Othberg: College of Letters & Science, Geology.
Idaho Geological Survey homepage.

Friends in the Earth Systems Science Education Community

NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration: NASA supports a great number of excellent science and technology initiatives. My work at the University of Idaho is largely supported by NASA affiliated Grants.

NOAA: Forecast Systems Lab
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: NOAA also supports a number of excellent science and technology initiatives. My work on the GLOBE Program at the University of Idaho is largely facilitated through the NOAA FSL site in Boulder Colorado.

EPA
US Environmental Protection Agency: EPA supports a number of excellent environmental science education initiatives. My work on Earth Systems Science at the University of Idaho is much enhanced through the EPA SITEINFO and Watershed's Mapping site at the EPA.

JPL
Jet Propulsion Laboratory: JPL is largely responsible for a great number of innovations in space science including the recent Sojourner Mission to Mars. JPL supports a number of excellent science and technology education initiatives through its resources and educational materials available online.

JHAPL
Johns Hopkins Advanced Physics Laboratory: JHAPL provides excellent science education resources, especially digital mapping and image archives online. My work at the University of Idaho is made much more worthwhile through the use of data and imagery made available by JHAPL.

USGS
US Geological Survey: USGS provides excellent Earth Systems Science education resources, especially educational materials in earth processes, digital mapping and image archives online. My work at the University of Idaho is made much more worthwhile through the use of data and imagery made available by USGS. I worked for the USGS in the early 80's, before continuing my education at the Graduate School of Oceanography in Rhode Island. My work at the USGS PAcific Marine Geology Branch took me to the far north, mapping the nearshore and shelf all along the Arctic coast of Alaska. Fantastic Adventures!

USFS
US Forest Service: USFS provides Forestry Science education resources, especially in forest management and ecosystems management. My work at the University of Idaho is made much more worthwhile through the use of data and imagery made available by USFS.

USF&WS
US Fish and Wildlife Service: USF&WS provides excellent Wildlife Sciences education resources, especially ecosystems. State Divisions of F&WS or Fish and Game Departments support a number of excellent educatioan programs. One of my favorites is Project Wild!

USNPS
US NAtional Parks Service: USNPS provides excellent science education resources, especially educational materials in earth and environemtal sciences. Descriptions and links to all the US National Parks are available online.

Friends in the non-formal Education Community

Public Broadcasting System
PBS provides excellent education resources in virtually all disciplines. Especially interesting and invaluable to me are the educational materials in politics and natural history, as best exemplified by the television series Newshour w/ Jim Lehrer, and the wonderful historical / biographical specials created by Ken Burns. My recent favorite is "Lewis & Clark: the Corp of Discovery". A quintessential, defining American moment and fantastic adventure!

National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society: NGS provides excellent Earth Systems Science education resources, especially educational materials in the peoples of the earth's diverse habitats and environemts as well as earth processes, and digital mapping and image archives. My work at the University of Idaho is made much more worthwhile through consulting of NGS materials available online.

Smithsonian Institution
SI provides excellent natural history and science education resources. I often consult SI materials available online.

World Wildlife Fund
WWF provides excellent natural history and science education resources. I often consult WWF materials available online.

NRDC
NRDC provides excellent environmental science education resources. I often consult NRDC materials available online.

Friends in the Business Community

USWEST
USWEST provides numerous granting opportunities to innovative teachers. USWEST is a major supplier of communications and Internet Services in the west.

MICRON Technologies
MICRON is a major supplier of communications and Internet Services in the west.

Apple Computer
I have used Apple Computers for more than a decade now. They are the defining friendly computing device, have the best graphics software for design, and are actually inviting and fun to work on. I can honestly say that were it not for Apple Macintosh computers, I would still be a novice, scared, uninterested and uninspired user of computers, and that only of necessity! Apple is the innovator in personal computing. I wish they were better managed and better understood by the rest of the world. Perhaps the WINTEL biopoly will eventually buy up Apple. Then we'ld all be working on the same Mac'inspired, superor GUI, as they would drop everything and retool the Mac OS to run on everything! Afterall if it weren't for the unfortunate need of NT for Servers (I admit the superiority of NT as a serving system only), there would be absolutely no need for Microsoft's OS, or anybody elses.... 'cept Unix! For more insight, read WIRED Magazine's fantastic article on the hstory of Apple and personal computing (Dec, '97)! I still firmly believe in Apple and hope they never go away.... I've got a lot invested in Apple and have sold and advised on the purchase of hundreds of systems. All users are more satisfied than they would be with wintel systems that most could never hope to understand.

ESRI
Environmental Systems Research Institute: ESRI provides numerous GIS software and database resources. ESRI's ARC Info and ARC View are the Industry Standards.

ENN
Environmental News Network: ENN provides online customized new services. Their service is innovative, timely and really an asset to anyone interested in ataying up to date on policy and issues. ENN's home offices are in the little-big town of Ketchum, Idaho..... A truly wonderful environment!

Cactus Computer / Turbonet
Cactus Computer / Turbonet provides Computer and Internet Services in the town of Moscow, Idaho. Turbonet is ecoguild's present ISP.

Favorite Projects

GEPI Global Environment Project Institute.

E2 Environment and Education.

IGC Institute for Global Communications.

EcoNet IGC site for Environment, Deep Ecology, Ethics.

PeaceNet IGC site for Peace Studies.

ConflictNet IGC site for Conflict Resolution.

Women'sNet IGC site for Women's Issues.

LaborNet IGC site for Labor Support.

Project Wild A project of the Council for Environmental Education.

Project Wild in Idaho.

Project Wet in Idaho.

The GLOBE Program International Earth and Environmental Science education collaborative project.

Adopt a Stream International Riparian and Stream Education project.

The Jason Project A Science and Technology Collaborative, w/ Dr. Robert Ballard!

MayaQuest International Trek w/ education collaboration.

EnviroLink Community * Ecology * Connection.

My Alma Maters

UIdaho University of Idaho
(1996-'99).

SBCC Santa Barbara City College
(1979-'81).

UCSB University of California, Santa Barbara
(1976-'77).

UCSC University of California, Santa Cruz
(1981-83).

URI/GSO Graduate School of Oceanography / University of Rhode Island
(1985-90).

UI University of Idaho
(1996-present).

Other Favorite Institutions

Calfornia State University Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Center

Moss Landing Marine Labs

California Institute of Integral Studies

Tricycle

Vajrayana Foundation