| Sponsoring Committee: | Professor Derek Hodson, Chairperson, |
| and Dr. Martina Nieswandt |
© 2003 Catherine Kavassalis
All rights reserved
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The Growth of Environmentalism in the United States
Chapter 3: Environmental Education on the Edge
Chapter 4: Indiana and the Environment
Chapter 5: Environmental Education Online
Chapter 6: The Conception of BioMuncie
Chapter 7: Site Summary
Chapter 8: Reaching Out
Chapter 9: Conclusions
Appendix: BioMuncie
In this thesis, the growth of environmentalism in the United States and the impediments to institutionalized environmental education are explored. The need to unite science education with environmental education and the use of the Internet in such an endeavour are explained. The specific case of environmentalism in Indiana and the status of environmental education within the state are presented to provide context for the creation of a community-specific environmental education website, BioMuncie (http://www.biomuncie.org/), which focuses on Muncie, Indiana. The impact of the site on the general Muncie community over the course of its first six months and its growth in response to community needs is recounted and personal reflections shared. Issues of advocacy, quality and access are considered as the construction of this community website is discussed. Finally the educational and environmental merit of the site is considered. Its strengths and limitations serve as guides for future development.