Press Release - October, 1998

On October 5, EE-Link unveiled a new version of this long-running EE web site. The new site features have made EE-Link a resource for teachers, professional educators, and all people interested in EE more than ever before. The new EE-Link has a number of new technical highlights that will speed the addition of new links, improve searching capabilities, and improve ease of navigation on the site.

The most important new feature of EE-Link is the Link Management System (LMS). Through the LMS, EE-Link users can suggest links to be added to EE-Link and, through a stream-lined design, the link will be judged against link criteria and, if accepted, will be implemented within the EE-Link web site in just one working day. The bottom line is that if an EE-Link user knows of good EE resources on the internet that aren't already linked to EE-Link, the add-a-link function will faciliate making these resources known to other users. The add-a-link page is only one click away from most pages on EE-Link at http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/add_link.cgi. The LMS is a custom software tool designed jointly by Paul Nowak of EE-Link and Valerie Mates (http://www.valeriemates.com), a custom software designer. For more information and a complete description of the LMS, visit http://eelink.net/lms.html.

In addition to the LMS, EE-Link redesigned the content pages to reflect the huge expansion of EE information on the internet and to make the site easier to use. For example, EE-Link now features listings of topic-specific EE organizations and activities. EE-Link has also expanded the use of databases. The expanded lineup of databases includes databases of EE books, classroom activities, and related materials along with a comprehensive database of environmental organizations. Best of all, these databases can be searched simultaneously or individually depending on a user's needs. The starting point for this tool is: http://eelink.net/databasesearch-powersearch.html.

The page layouts of EE-Link were completely redesigned as well. With the assistance of Semiotics, a California-based web design and graphics company, (http://semiotics.com/), all EE-Link pages feature improved navigational aids and most pages feature access to advanced search tools..

One of the best features of the new EE-Link site is the EE-specific search tool. Previously one had to rely on internet-wide search engines like Yahoo, Excite, and Infoseek when looking for EE information. Now, on the new EE-Link site, a multi-site search tool can simultaneously search dozens of quality EE web sites in just seconds...a great tool for researching just about anything having to do with EE. Begin at the main search page on EE-Link with: http://eelink.net/easysearch.html. There are also net-wide search tools specifically for EE-jobs and EE-grants information.

Lastly, EE-Link is doing more to connect visitors with similar interests to each other as well as stimulating groups wishing to discuss EE on the internet. EE-Link provides links to a comprehensive list of EE-related e-mail lists as a starting point. EE-Link hosts the only e-mail list on the Internet dedicated to an open discussion of EE, this list of over 150 people exists to help people identify and discuss environmental education resources available on the Internet.  To join, send an e-mail message to: <ee-internet-subscribe@eelink.net>.