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219 Goal The overall objective is to increase both the level of discussion and education regarding water and related issues in Colorado using interactive CD-ROM and Internet technology, The project targets elementary, middle school and high school classrooms across the state utilizing Colorado Content Standards. ~ Project Status The Colora<lo Foundation for Agriculture is currently developing, and has plans to distribute more than 4,000 interactive, multimedia CD-ROMs and teacher's guides entitled, "A Rivers Journey - Water in the West". Focusing on water management and water issues, one part of this interactive computer program follows the course of the Colorado River, Users can see how the water is used, what happens to it and learn how it is managed, Water issues such as pollution, conservation, flooding, best management practices for agriculture, mining, construction and urban areas, total maximum daily 10i\ds and much more will be available for students to explore. The CD also presents the historkal background of water rights and management within Colora<lo, An important off.shoot of this project is that educators wil(be encouraged to develop and implement programs in their classrooms that help educate students and their families about our water resource, Also being disuibuted with this projec~ are updated versiol)S of the electronic Water Wise P-12 curricula and Colorado Readers on Water Topics and the Understanding Water Activity Book. Project Description The CD-ROM "A Rivers Journey. Water in the West" and actompanying teachers guide is a tool for educators that uses current technology to develop an understanding of water management and an awareness of the importance of the resourCe, The CD hl\5 five levels ofmatertal: . A 'slide show' journey down the length of the Colorado River with captions, narration and maps . Summary text addressing water topics and issues as they are encountered in the 'slide show' . lntemet connectivity to water Web sites and resources . Essay length text on selected water topics : . Are-distribution of the complete pre.school through 12'h grade Water wise Curricula (an updated version of the Water Education Initiative CD) plus the Colorado Reader issues on water and the Understanding Water Activity Book This material is also designed to be availahle via the Internet for users with higher-bandwidth connections, We feel that it is important for students of dilferentlevel~ to begin to understand our water resource and its importance and so does the state of Colorado as directed by Colorado Science Content Standards, As more and more demand is put on this resource, it is critical weeducate students about how their actions or in- actions impact it It is also important for them to know how water resources influence other indusuies such as agriculture and manufacturing, Add to this the city and urban water requirements, mix in pollution, add a fuw dry years and we have a complex dynamic that touGhes many core educational areas, It is important that students and adults understand this complex challenge. The problem we have encountered is that most schools do not have current materials available to encourage an awareness and understanding of our water resources, how to conserve tliis resource and how to maintain the quality of this ,esource and how to manage this resource.