MLCI. News Room.

Maine Students Use Internet To Showcase Their Community Lake

Nobleboro, Maine - (March 26, 2003) The Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute (MLCI) debuted its newest learning initiative, the "Student's Portal", today at Nobleboro Central School. Seventh graders from the Nobleboro Central School, led by Science Teacher Ken Williams, were joined by China Lakes Students and their teacher De-de Lewis, to share their new information on their multi-media section of the portal that is located on the Web at www.mlci.org

The Student's Portal is an educational resource where students can exhibit, explain and explore Maine's lakes. Nobleboro Central School and the China Lakes School are two of the nine partner schools chosen by MLCI to participate in this project. Using field data, stories, poetry, pictures, and video clips, students create a rich picture of the lakes surrounding them.

Through the use of technology, the Student's Portal erases geographic distances between schools - many located hundreds of miles apart - while building community partnerships focused on lake stewardship. The availability of laptops for Maine students has dramatically increased the effectiveness and educational value of the Portal, enabling students from Bonny Eagle to Eagle Lake to collaborate on content and findings.

"The Student's Portal levels the educational playing field for our Maine schoolchildren regardless of their socio-economic status or rural or urban location," remarked MLCI Executive Director Ship Bright. "This educational initiative is an exciting way for students to strengthen ties to their community, develop technology skills, and understand and celebrate their 'sense of place'."

The MLCI Student Portal relies exclusively on student generated input that is designed to promote natural resource stewardship, connect children with their community and have children share their newfound passion with the world. Students are engaged in multidisciplinary learning by investigating the lakes in their community and share material regarding lake history, aquatic plants, creative expression, lake life, scientific data, community initiatives, lake lore, and the uniqueness of the lake.

"A unique, powerful aspect of the Portal is that the site is dynamic, collaborative, and encourages students to be inventive," stated MLCI's Director of Education Dr. MaryAnn McGarry. "This is experiential learning at its best." While developing material for the Portal, MLCI students learn about lake ecology, and even more importantly, become actively engaged in their community. The students take great pride in the authorship of material that is then posted live for the world to access.

As mentioned, the Nobleboro Central School is one of nine partner schools in the MLCI network. The other schools are -
Eagle Lake Elementary School, Aroostook County
The Indian Township School [Passamaquoddy tribe] in Washington County
Greenville Middle School
Rangeley Lakes Regional School
New Suncook School, Oxford County
Bonny Eagle Middle School
Winthrop Middle School
China Lakes Regional School.

The Students' Portal is evolving and has been designed to host additional schools throughout Maine and the world. Director of Education MaryAnn McGarry states, "We are developing protocols to add more schools to the Portal and any school interested in joining can contact us through the Students' Portal website or by contacting the MLCI office."

"The best I've seen." - Dr. Ed Brazee, a renowned middle level educator from the University of Maine.

"[MLCI site] is key for increasing a shared understanding of the scientific and societal aspects that maintain the health of the state's lakes." - Dr. Francis Eberle, Executive Director of the Maine Math Science Alliance.

"[MLCI's Student Portal is] a model for other environmental education groups seeking to give voice to young people in their communities," - Dr. Jane Disney, award winning water quality educator.

"The MLCI Student Portal on the Internet is at the forefront of a new wave of educational practice, combining citizen science with networking. This is one of the best ways I can imagine to ensure that Maine's natural heritage will be valued for generations to come." - Mr. Jim Levitt, Director of Harvard University's "Internet and Conservation Project."