abstract page

ECHO
Environmental, Cultural,and Historical Outlooks:
Landscapes of the Middle Danube
2003

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. ECHO will address two aspects of The Heart of South America: 1) Environmental Landscapes;and 2) Historical and Cultural Landscapes. These two topics 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 2002.

Study, field research, professional discourse, curriculum development, and international networking activities in Paraguay over a thirty-day period the summer of 2002.

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 an orientation workshop July 9-10, departure for overseas on July 11, and a return flight from Asuncion on August 12. (Orientation workshop 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 fifteen educators organized into separate teams. For the most part, teams will be organized by cooperating institutions--- the University of Idaho, Eastern Oregon University, and Kansas State Univertsity. Partner agency contacts are:

Donna Rainboth, Eastern Oregon University (541/962-3720)
William Richter, Kansas State University (758/532-5990)
Michael Odell, University of Idaho (208/885-6786)

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 40% "non-federal cost-share." CEC will contribute arrproximately 20% of the total budget. To cover the remaining 20%, a per-participant charge, estimated at $1,500 - $1,750 will be necessary. (Actual amount will depend on final negotiations with airlines and with providers in Paraguay.)
Federal funds will be used to provide: 1) roundtrip airfare from the project's USA gateway city (t/b/d) and Paraguay; 2) room and meals in Paraguay; 3) an allowance for artifacts, teaching materials, admissions, and fees in Paraguay; 4) surface transportation in Paraguay (charter bus, boat); and 5) all costs of instruction and guidance overseas. A graduate credit option 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 Brazilian visa; 2) domestic travel to/from two-day pre-travel workshop site; 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-PARAGUAY 2002 qualifies as a professional development experience for which local Eisenhower monies 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, assisted by Ms. Deborah Nyman. The In-Country Coordinator will be Dr. James Connet. A variety of prominent Paraguayan professors, teachers, environmentalists, civic officials, and folk experts will provide on-site services and leadership.

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 Paraguay will be required to repay all grant funds expended on his or her behalf.

Click here to return to the main ECHO 2002 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. ECHO will address two aspects of The Heart of South America: 1) Environmental Landscapes;and 2) Historical and Cultural Landscapes. These two topics 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 2002. Study, field research, professional discourse, curriculum development, and international networking activities in Paraguay over a thirty-day period the summer of 2002. 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 an orientation workshop July 9-10, departure for overseas on July 11, and a return flight from Asuncion on August 12. (Orientation workshop 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 fifteen educators organized into separate teams. For the most part, teams will be organized by cooperating institutions--- the University of Idaho, Eastern Oregon University, and Kansas State Univertsity. Partner agency contacts are: *Donna Rainboth, Eastern Oregon University (541/962-3720)* William Richter, Kansas State University (758/532-5990) Michael Odell, University of Idaho (208/885-6786) 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 40% "non-federal cost-share." CEC will contribute arrproximately 20% of the total budget. To cover the remaining 20%, a per-participant charge, estimated at $1,500 - $1,750 will be necessary. (Actual amount will depend on final negotiations with airlines and with providers in Paraguay.) Federal funds will be used to provide: 1) roundtrip airfare from the project's USA gateway city (t/b/d) and Paraguay; 2) room and meals in Paraguay; 3) an allowance for artifacts, teaching materials, admissions, and fees in Paraguay; 4) surface transportation in Paraguay (charter bus, boat); and 5) all costs of instruction and guidance overseas. A graduate credit option 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 Brazilian visa; 2) domestic travel to/from two-day pre-travel workshop site; 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-PARAGUAY 2002 qualifies as a professional development experience for which local Eisenhower monies 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, assisted by Ms. Deborah Nyman. The In-Country Coordinator will be Dr. James Connet. A variety of prominent Paraguayan professors, teachers, environmentalists, civic officials, and folk experts will provide on-site services and leadership.