NSCR's Environmental Corner - Environmental Education - Introduction
The Internet can be described as a live reflection of our times as well as an image of the future to come. It is the largest publication in the world and it is also one of the most free as not only does it not have an editor but its range is worldwide.
Whatever exits on the Internet is a very clear mirror of what the interests and needs of its users are. From this perspecive it is quite interesting to note the prominent position environmental education (EE) has within the pages of the Internets.
The Internet includes a multitude of information related to EE and this information pours in from all around the globe. The NSCR's Environmental Unit has tried to collect and organize a database of EE information from the Internet. It is our aspiration that this database will prove useful for educators and students of all educational levels.
Quite obviously we are not claiming to have compiled the most ideal or complete collection of information sources; our aim is to provide a useful and effective EE tool. With this in mind, we selected the sites presented based on the following criteria: quality, scope, usefullness and ease of access to other relevant sites which contain more specialized information on the topics in question.
The use of the Internet in EE allows for the exchange of ideas, experiences and information without the confinement of geographical limits, i.e. it works as effectively on a local as well as a worldwide scale.Furthermore it provides immediate feedback on all issues of EE and their possible means of expresion (for example: scientific articles, seminars, etc).
Independent of educational level, the degree of support and assistance exisiting between educators and students on the Internet is most noteworthy.
Above all though, it proves the important position EE has within the global educational community.
- It provides the oportunity for direct contact. Each person can become an author with the world for his/her audience.
- Students and educators can exchange information without the limitation imposed by geographical and state boundries.
- The Énternet provides the possibility for independent learning and allows for feedback on issues that may not be included in the educational experiences of educators/students.
- It assists the communication process between educational institutions and between organizations.
- On the Internet one can find an unlimited supply of information for EE.
- It offers educational tools
Within educational institutions and within our lives in general, Internet use is on the rise. Moreover, the more Internet use is simplified the greater the number of people accessing it.
The cost of information dissemination through the Internet is cheep (and will get cheeper) and this cost is not correlated with the number of copies.
The Internet has worldwide presence. Millions of people have 24 hour access to it.
CAUTION! Not all is rosy on the Internet. There is a multitude of useless information and thousands of sites that can waste a users time. And above all, the Internet cannot be controlled easily.