Botany laboratory two: iNaturalist

Seventeen hours prior to class an observation Dr.Yomai made in 2024 was identified to Genus Pipturus.

This provided the launchpad for the laboratory. Prior to class the Urticeae folder was pulled from the herbarium. The class began with a look at the herbarium sheets and the information they contained. Then the Pipturus observation was brought up on the Smartboard. This allowed a demonstration of how the iNaturalist observation is a digital herbarium sheet. Observer, scientific name, location, date and notes.

The iNaturalist slide deck followed naturally after the above introduction. 

Prior to class a photo was taken of Jasminum sambac including a flower, leaves, and floral bracts. This was used in a demonstration of iNaturalist on the Smartboard using Smart mirror and a cell phone. The demonstration included uploading a photo, making an identification, withdrawing an ID, editing an ID, sharing an observation, and accessing the taxon page.

The laboratory had the students make three observations, one from each of the following classes:

1. Class Polypodiopsida
2. Class Liliopsida
3. Class Magnoliopsida

The submission would be links to the three observations. 

The class then went outside. In prior terms the students have scattered, but this term the students generally stayed together. 

Note that the rubric for this laboratory proved problematic, almost unusable, and I might have to copy and replace the assignment to get the rubric to operate properly.