Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities
Global Stewardship Initiative
Internet Resource for Christian Environmental Studies
Montreat College
Project Authors: Mark Lassiter, Matt Train, Scott Bowers
mlassiter@montreat.edu,
project url: http://cesc.montreat.edu/
Goals of the Mini-Grant Project:
The directive of this project: Internet Resource for Environmental
Studies, is to provide materials and information that enhance the utilization
of the internet as a tool for instruction and collaboration. The compilation
of materials into one site provides a rapid access to internet materials
and the page even includes internet tutorials for users that may need assistance.
With such a tool, the use of the internet is encouraged and services, such
as curricular development, instruction extensions, collaborative efforts,
can be developed. As one of the benefits of such a project, the services
of the page can be further developed to best suit the needs of the users.
Thus, the internet resource page provides the best type of interactive guide
- a tool that both serves the contemporary needs of its users and provide
for rapid modification as needed. Additionally, in our search for unique
advantages of such a tool, it became obvious that the internet also encourages
the integration of efforts between scientists, scholars in related fields
and the Christian Community. It was to this end that further funding was
obtained to include information about Christian Environmental Organizations.
Summary of the Project Development:
The recognition given to the college through the recent development
of the Environmental Studies major and collaborative efforts like that of
the CCCU Global Stewardship Initiative, launched the initiation of the Christian
Environmental Studies Center at Montreat College (CESC@MC). The college
included this center, and its collaborative directives, in the newly developed
strategic plans. The center, though only in it's operational beginnings,
provided the collaborative efforts to support the development of this internet
resource for environmental studies.
Montreat College's team initially proposed the development of a internet
guide. However, after the review of the project, the development team was
requested to expand this mini-grant project and provide an internet tool
through which the Environmental course curricula of the CCCU could be distributed.
This extension of the mini-grant proposal changed the scope of the project.
We needed to develop an internet tool. We decided to develop a web page
for the center that would compile resources for Christian Environmental
Studies. This web page would compile or link various resources, such as
the CCCU Compendium for Global Stewardship Programming and integrate the
"Internet Guide" into the page as a tutorial.
To further expand the services of the page, we began contacting various
Christian Environmental organizations to request their participation in
this collaborative venture. We are seeking funds to establish a multi-functional
server and initiate cooperative arrangements with these organizations. Materials
and information related to these organizations could be hosted or linked
on the web page. Some internet resources were available, but we were surprised
to find that many organizations lacked web page services and were very eager
to work with us in providing this service.
The Evangelical Environmental Network, in collaboration with the American
Scientific Affiliation, has provided some funds to initiate this effort.
At least six organizations are included in the first funding effort to place
each of these organizations on the page. At this point, we are initiating
the development of information on the following Christian Environmental
Organizations:
A Rocha Trust
American Scientific Affiliation
Au Sable Institute
Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities
The Christian Society of the Green Cross
Evangelical Environmental Network, USA
Evangelical Environmental Network, UK
Christian Environmental Association
Further Extension of the Project-
The venture to develop and maintain a web page that will proficiently
service these and developing needs will require continued funding for staff
positions, software, upgrades to equipment, and equipment service. We are
currently pursuing funds to enable this project to functionally meet the
expanding needs and to develop the remaining components of the project.
Currently, a two year grant outline has been submitted to Harold Heie, the
project director for the CCCU Global Stewardship Initiative.
Components of the Internet Resource on Environmental Studies(Web
Page):
The Internet Resource Page is sponsored by the Christian Environmental Studies
Center @ Montreat College. The page is located at: cesc.montreat.edu and
it's front page has links to the components of the project.
Front Page- Major Project Components
Global Stewardship Initiative
Christian Environmental Organizations
Bulletin Board
Internet Tools
Multimedia (seeking funds for development)
Idea Dock (seeking funds for development)
CCCU Global Stewardship Initiative: Mini-Grant Project
The commitments of the mini-grant project initiated the development of the
following components under this heading:
Global Stewardship Initiative-
Linked pages:
This section of the Internet Resource page is concerned with the developments
of the CCCU Global Stewardship Program funded by the Pew Initiative. This
section now has two parts- Environmental Curricula of CCCU Institutions,
CCCU National Global Stewardship Conference.
As one of the early stages of this grant, a compiled curricula of all CCCU
institutions was assembled into a compendium. This compendium is presented
on the page with the option for the user to selection each individual school
and view the curricula of that school. Secondly, this section provides the
reports and the discussion materials of the CCCU National Global Stewardship
Initiative Conference so that individuals can easily access these materials
and the printing of paper materials is reduced to a minimum. This conference
section is also expected to include contact information, the conference
schedule, and a participant list.
Internet Assistance Tools-
Linked pages:
This "Internet Assistance Tools" section is another major component
of the page that has been developed as a commitment to the initial resources
of the mini-grant project. The major focus of the mini-grant project was
to provide assistance to the user and encourage the use of the internet
for courses and information exchange. Within this section, the user is provided
with many resources. Various internet tutorials have been linked for the
user's training if it is needed. Additionally, numerous search engines and
wide-angle search tools are compiled for numerous specific searches. Lastly,
various web sites are compiled under various topics to expand the availability
of ready resources related to environmental concerns.
Bulletin Board-
This component of the page provides a site for posting announcements or
general information available to any user. This exchange will provide joint
communication links for users of the page and initiate collaborative projects.
Materials will be presented to the "web manager" and prepared
for posting by the server development team. User interactions and exchange
is limited at this point of development, so all submitted materials will
be passed through the manager for approval and posting.
Christian Environmental Organizations-
This section of the page is in construction. The project recently received
monies from the Evangelical Environmental Network and the American Scientific
Affiliation to begin this section of the project. This page is linked to
various Christian Environmental Organizations. Web pages for these organizations
or links will be established for these groups. This component of the page
enables the user to quickly follow Christian Environmental Organizations
and links the page with the Christian Community at large. Currently funding
has been established to serve at least eight organizations.
Remaining Components (Idea Dock & Multimedia):
These remaining components of the page are awaiting funding for development.
Both are collaboration tools that encourage exchange of ideas and provide
a platform for collaborative development of projects and multimedia peripheral
resources for instruction or integration of the academic, organizational,
and community user.
Technical Information - Server Development Station :
PowerMacintosh 8500/120, 80MG RAM, 1.2GB-internal HD, UMAX Vista-S6E
Scanner, Quarterdeck'sWebSTAR 1.3.1, Adobe PageMill, BBEDit Lite, Adobe
Photoshop 3.0.5, KAI's Power Tools 3, KPT Bryce II, GraphicConverter, JAG
II 1.0.4, Ray Dream Studio, ClarisWorks 4.0, Timbuktu Pro 2.0, GIFBuilder,
Quicktime Utilities, OmniPage Pro 6.0.
These funds are expenditures related to the mini-grant Internet
Resource Project. Two conferences were attended, as designated in the grant,
and some monies were spent for computer software. Other related expenditures
were utilized to establish the server (server purchase, related equipment,and
software) and were made possible through additional funding from other organizations
and Montreat College.
Awards:
Mini-Grant Funds $1,500
Expenditures :
Conferences:
1. May 30th-June 1st, 1996. Conference participation. Theological Institution
on Environmental Policy Advocacy, The Churches' Center for Theology &
Public Policy and Theological Education to Meet the Environmental Challenge
(TEMEC), Washington, DC, Mark Lassiter. $462.16
2. October 25th - 27th, 1996. Conference participation. Christian Environmental
Council. "Serving Our Creator, Serving Our Communities", Chattanooga,
TN, Mark Lassiter, Katie Kirk, Hunt Briggs, Brad Clemens, Traci Meyers $228.04
(& additional funds from Montreat College)
Other Expenses:
1. Resource Books $106.80
2. Travel for Student Assistants. Presentation of the Internet Project at
the Boston CCCU National Global Stewardship Conference. Scott Bowers, Amanda
Nesbitt.
$400.00
3. Server Software. WebSTAR $303.00
Montreat College, The Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities,
Evangelical Environmental Network, and Au Sable Institute all provided additional
funds and resources to make the server project possible. Special thanks
go out to these organizations for their financial support and encouragement.
|
|