abstract page

ECHO
Environmental, Cultural,and Historical Outlooks:
Landscapes of the Middle Danube
2004

ABSTRACT

WHAT: The Columbia Education Center has been awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant to partially support a Group Projects Abroad area studies program focusing on four nations in the middle Danube River watershed--- Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Serbia-Montenegro. This project will involve research and study activities leading to the development of Internet-based "web guides" focusing on the target region. Webguides will revolve around two two major themes: 1) Environmental Landscapes; and 2) Historical and Cultural Landscapes. These two themes will be explored as both independent and interrelated entities. The project will be conducted in three stages:

Orientation and preliminary research activities conducted via the Internet during the spring of 2004.

Study, field research, professional discourse, curriculum development, and international networking activities in the middle Danube area over a thirty-day period the summer of 2004.

Post-travel "distance" activities to maintain and expand summer linkages and promote the dissemination of participants' curriculum products at their home institutions and to other schools via a project web site.

WHEN:

The tentative schedule calls departure for overseas on July 7, and a return flight to the USA on August 5. (A half-day orientation just prior to leaving the United States will benheld at a site to be determined when composition of group makes it clear what city would be most convenient for the majority of participants.)

WHO:
ECHO will involve ten-twelve educators organized into separate teams. For the most part, teams will be organized by cooperating institutions--- the University of Idaho, Eastern Oregon University, Research for Better Schools, and Kansas State Univertsity. Partner agency contacts are:

Donna Rainboth, Eastern Oregon University (541/962-3720)
Kenneth Holland, Kansas State University (758/532-6550)
Michael Odell, University of Idaho (208/885-6786)
Keith Kershner, Research for Better Schools (215/574-9300, ext. 279)

Note that applications from individuals not applying as part of a team are welcomed. If accepted, such persons will be assigned to a "wild card" team.

Download Application Forms

COSTS/
BENEFITS:
The grant from the US Department of Education will underwrite about 60% of the total project budget. Federal regulations require a "non-federal cost-share." CEC will contribute aprproximately 20% of the total budget. To cover the remaining 20%, a per-participant charge, estimated at $2,200 will be necessary. (Actual amount will depend on final negotiations with airlines, hotels, and other service providers in Europe.)
Federal funds will be used to provide: 1) roundtrip airfare from the project's USA gateway city (t/b/d) and Europe; 2) room and meals abroad; 3) an allowance for artifacts, teaching materials, admissions, and fees in Europe; 4) surface transportation in Europe; and 5) all costs of instruction and guidance overseas. Graduate credit options will be available.
Note: Government regulations do do allow federal funds to be used for domestic expenses. Thus, individual participants will be responsible for such items as: 1) cost of US passport and required visas; 2) domestic travel to/from the gateway city; and 3) hotel and meal expenses during pre-travel orientation workshop. (CEC is trying obtain special low-cost domestic travel and hotel rates for participants.)
Since ECHO is an advanced educational undertaking, at least a portion of the per-participant charge may be a tax deducible item. In addition, graduate credit earned through ECHO may result in a salary schedule increase. Note, also, that ECHO-Danube 2004 qualifies as a professional development experience for which local and/or federal staff enhancemonies may be used to offset an individual's cost-share payment.

STAFF:
ECHO will be directed by Dr. Ralph Nelsen, Executive Director of the Columbia Education Center. The Overseas Coordinator will be Dr. Laszlo Pordany. A variety of prominent professors, teachers, environmentalists, civic officials, and folk experts will provide on-site services and leadership in Slovakia, Croatia, Hungry, and Serbia-Montenegro.

CAVEATS

The project will involve many periods of fatiguing travel and is intended exclusively for
those persons with strong "group-focused"orientations and adventurous spirits. ECHO is
definitely NOT a vacation program nor is it an appropriate venture for "loners."

Any participant failing to contribute fully to the planning,development, and
       completition of his or her team's "Daily Journal," "Webguide," and dissemination
       assignments as specified by the project director or not completing the full program
       in Europe will be required to repay all grant funds expended on his or her behalf.

Click here to return to the main ECHO-Danube page.

WHAT:	The Columbia Education Center has been awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant to partially support a Group Projects Abroad area studies program focusing on four nations in the middle Danube River watershed--- Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Serbia-Montenegro. This project will involve research and study activities leading to the development of Internet-based "web guides" focusing on the target region. Webguides will revolve around two two major themes: 1) Environmental Landscapes; and 2) Historical and Cultural Landscapes. These two themes will be explored as both independent and interrelated entities. The project will be conducted in three stages:
	Orientation and preliminary research activities conducted via the Internet during the spring of 2004. Study, field research, professional discourse, curriculum development, and international networking activities in the middle Danube area over a thirty-day period the summer of 2004. Post-travel "distance" activities to maintain and expand summer linkages and promote the dissemination of participants' curriculum products at their home institutions and to other schools via a project web site.
WHEN:	The tentative schedule calls departure for overseas on July 7, and a return flight to the USA on August 5. (A half-day orientation just prior to leaving the United States will benheld at a site to be determined when composition of group makes it clear what city would be most convenient for the majority of participants.)
WHO:	ECHO will involve ten-twelve educators organized into separate teams. For the most part, teams will be organized by cooperating institutions--- the University of Idaho, Eastern Oregon University, Research for Better Schools, and Kansas State Univertsity. Partner agency contacts are: *Donna Rainboth, Eastern Oregon University (541/962-3720)* Kenneth Holland, Kansas State University (758/532-6550) Michael Odell, University of Idaho (208/885-6786) Keith Kershner, Research for Better Schools (215/574-9300, ext. 279) Note that applications from individuals not applying as part of a team are welcomed. If accepted, such persons will be assigned to a "wild card" team. Download Application Forms
COSTS/ BENEFITS:	The grant from the US Department of Education will underwrite about 60% of the total project budget. Federal regulations require a "non-federal cost-share." CEC will contribute aprproximately 20% of the total budget. To cover the remaining 20%, a per-participant charge, estimated at $2,200 will be necessary. (Actual amount will depend on final negotiations with airlines, hotels, and other service providers in Europe.) Federal funds will be used to provide: 1) roundtrip airfare from the project's USA gateway city (t/b/d) and Europe; 2) room and meals abroad; 3) an allowance for artifacts, teaching materials, admissions, and fees in Europe; 4) surface transportation in Europe; and 5) all costs of instruction and guidance overseas. Graduate credit options will be available. Note: Government regulations do do allow federal funds to be used for domestic expenses. Thus, individual participants will be responsible for such items as: 1) cost of US passport and required visas; 2) domestic travel to/from the gateway city; and 3) hotel and meal expenses during pre-travel orientation workshop. (CEC is trying obtain special low-cost domestic travel and hotel rates for participants.) Since ECHO is an advanced educational undertaking, at least a portion of the per-participant charge may be a tax deducible item. In addition, graduate credit earned through ECHO may result in a salary schedule increase. Note, also, that ECHO-Danube 2004 qualifies as a professional development experience for which local and/or federal staff enhancemonies may be used to offset an individual's cost-share payment.
STAFF:	ECHO will be directed by Dr. Ralph Nelsen, Executive Director of the Columbia Education Center. The Overseas Coordinator will be Dr. Laszlo Pordany. A variety of prominent professors, teachers, environmentalists, civic officials, and folk experts will provide on-site services and leadership in Slovakia, Croatia, Hungry, and Serbia-Montenegro.