"SoundView,"is a Cablevision public affairs project that will combine a series of Cablevision editorials on efforts to save LI Sound, with a cutting-edge educational technology program, linking educational and environmental groups in New York and in Connecticut.

The program will have two major components. First, through a series of editorials to be presented by Cablevision in its Long Island and Connecticut systems, issues will be addressed concerning the status of ongoing efforts to reduce pollution and restore marine habitat on the Sound. The educational component will involve the creation of an internet-based environmental curriculum on the Sound, through the "Our Schools, Our World" website, in conjunction with educational and environmental groups. Editorials will be presented starting this summer, with a demonstration of the site, and pilot demonstration of the on-line curriculum scheduled for the fall.

The educational component of the effort will establish a unique environmental curriculum based on studying the the Sound through field work and through an interactive environmental center, created by Optium Online. Working with The Queens College Center for Environmental Teaching and Research at Caumsett State Park and an advisory group of teachers, Optimum On-line will develop grade appropriate research templates at 4 grade levels -- early elementary, upper elementary, middle school, and high school. Using these templates students will gather real field data from on the marine life and water quality from the Sound, at appropriate environmental sites. Classes will then use the data for analysis and for uploading to a database on this website.

Students will then be able to compile and compare the data they gather with what other students have gathered at the same site or different sites at different times, days, or seasons. Thus, they will be able to discuss and compare results with other classes participating in the program. As time goes on, it is hoped that the database can prove useful to citizens, scientists, and policy makers alike.

This on-line curriculum and data base, reached through the "Our Schools, Our World" website, will also provide a variety of content, including: Cablevision editorials with hyperlinks to resources about Long Island Sound; a map of the Sound and neighboring an area with "hot links" from environmental sites and nature centers to tours and information about those sites; environmental games for kids of all ages; links to valuable related sites on the web; a calendar of events; and a bulletin board for posting comments, ideas, and information; information about policy issues and ongoing efforts and programs relating to improving the environment of the Sound and the neighboring ecosystems; and information about programs in various communities.

Representatives of the following organizations are working with Cablevision as advisers and coordinators of educational aspects of this effort: Our Board of Advisors includes Peter Kohler, Editorial Director News 12; Peter Schmidt, Director, Queens College Center for Teaching and Research; Bette Schneiderman, Co-Chair Education Technology Long Island University at C.W. Post; Mike Byrne, Co-Chair Educational Technology Long Island University at C.W. Post; Dr. Fran Roberts, Visiting Professor, Long Island University at C.W. Post; Bruce Lincoln, Institute for Learning Technologies, Columbia Universtiy; Mike Deering; Executive Director Friends of the Bay; Susan O'Handley and Noal Kundub, Save the Sound; Amy Frieman, Director, Sweetbriar Nature Center; Joan Hendricks, Regional Director Public Affairs, Cablevision; Norma Goldberg, Manager Community Affairs; and Donna de Soto, Manager of Educational Development, Optimum Online.