Cyberways and Waterways: A Unique Environmental Education Program in Texas

By Cathy Murphy, Syllabus Press, August 2000

A unique environmental education program in Texas is integrating technology, field work, and education. Called Cyberways and Waterways, the program is an Internet-based environmental studies curriculum designed to teach students about local ecosystems, as well as the economic and sociopolitical processes that effect them. Students in the program gather data on freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, analyze their data, and share the information via a Web site with other participating students at schools around the state.

Cyberways and Waterways was launched two years ago by Steve Amos, founder of 4empowerment.com, an organization dedicated to making a difference using the Internet as a vehicle for change. Amos's dream was to combine his passion for marine science with his expertise in Internet marketing and advertising. Amos joined forces with Dr. Betty Stapp, curriculum coordinator for the Science Academy of Austin, a science magnet school. The grant application, which funded the program, was through a TIE grant by the Texas Education Agency.

Cyberways and Waterways works on several levels. At the local level, students learn about the demographics, farming, and recreational use of area water. Last year, the school districts involved studied two major rivers, the Rio Grande and the Colorado, as well as coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. Students gather data about their area environment, collecting water and garbage samples, for example. Their data are posted on the Internet, where they are shared with students at the other participating schools. The Internet, says Amos, adds a great deal to the learning experience. "By sharing data, students are learning that everything is interconnected, that what happens upstream effects the environment downstream. They're learning how environmental science works."

Says Stapp, "Sharing their data leads to a richer experience for students. They learn how things change from place to place, and they develop thinking skills as they look at the big picture. They also get a lot of pride out of seeing their data posted on the Web site. They say, 'Hey, look, that's my stuff on the Internet!'"

The program also links students with professionals working in the environmental arena. Last year students participated in a three-hour web cast with a scientist, Dr. Quentin Dokken, who was diving beneath an oil platform in the Gulf. Students were able to send him questions via satellite, which he answered in real time, from under water. Naturally, the students found that pretty exciting. They've also participated in conversations with a limnologist (they study fresh water) and a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist.

Teachers in the program receive laptop computers and EasyPro projectors and enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues around the state. A Web site (www.cyberwaysandwaterways.com.) serves as a focal point for students and teachers. It is there that students place their data, learn about other participating schools, get information, and chat. Teachers have a "lounge" of their own which is password protected, allowing them to talk freely about professional issues.

Now entering its second year, Cyberways and Waterways is expanding to include students at the elementary and middle school levels. It is also broadening its scope. In addition to teaching science, the program will also develop skills in mathematics, social science, geography, and English. The program is completely bilingual as well. According to Amos, the number of students in the program will grow from about 14,000 to close to 50,000.

Amos and Stapp hope to take the program nationwide soon. They invite any interested parties to contact them for more information. Contact Steve Amos at 512-469-7447 or Betty Stapp at 512-414-7097, or email them: steve@4empowerment.com, and stapp@lbjhs.net.

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