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iNaturalist Lab to introduce the iNaturalist app and website
iNaturalist Lab to introduce the iNaturalist app and website
Disclaimer: With the exception of the youtube video "Sambiology on iNat and Urban Ecology", all of the material on this website is of my own creation. Please feel free to use and manipulate any of it for your own use. - Curtis Eckerman
Disclaimer: With the exception of the youtube video "Sambiology on iNat and Urban Ecology", all of the material on this website is of my own creation. Please feel free to use and manipulate any of it for your own use. - Curtis Eckerman
This is the lab I use to introduce iNaturalist to the class. I do this lab on the 2nd week of the semester so that it is early enough to work on their first iNaturalist project.
The students watch a series of youtube videos before the lab that introduces them to iNaturalist and how to use the website as well as the phone app.
Below are the links to the youtube videos I use for the student's prelab preparation.
The second part of the lab is taking a field trip. I take them to a park next to our campus where we look at organisms and then practice making observations in iNaturalist.
Lab Topic - Introduction to iNaturalist.pdfI track all of the students' observations in a project in iNaturalist. Below is the project for the Spring 2019 course. With each semester I will save this project and make a new one for a new semester. This allows me to track student observations over many semesters.
iNaturalist Project - A semester-long project
iNaturalist Project - A semester-long project
The semester-long project is broken up into 5 parts and each part correlates to the 5 units I have in my course. Each project focuses on the organisms that we are focusing on in each unit. Below is a description of each unit project and the instruction sheet for the students. I also track all of the student observations in an iNaturalist project.
iNaturalist Project - Part 1 (General Observations)
iNaturalist Project - Part 1 (General Observations)
Part 1 is all about practicing observations. The students are expected to make a minimum of 30 observations and follow the class and iNaturalist guidelines. In this project I am getting them used to iNaturalist and helping them to make good observations.
iNaturalist Project _Part 1.pdfiNaturalist Project - Part 2 (Protists)
iNaturalist Project - Part 2 (Protists)
Part 2 focuses on protists. This is one of the more difficult parts of the semester project because it involves microscopes and organisms that are not easily identifiable. They only have to make 15 protist observations but it keeps them busy the entire 3 weeks of the unit to get all of them.
In the class unit 2 focuses on protists, fungi and the biodiversity of plants.
iNaturalist Project _Part 2.pdfiNaturalist Project - Part 3 (Plants & Fungi)
iNaturalist Project - Part 3 (Plants & Fungi)
In part 3 the students have to make 30 plant observations and 10 fungi observations. Given the nature of when fungi are present this can be a fairly easy unit or be a little more challenging.
In the class unit 3 focuses on the form and function of plants.
iNaturalist Project _Part 3.pdfiNaturalist Project - Part 4 (Invertebrates)
iNaturalist Project - Part 4 (Invertebrates)
Part 4 focuses on invertebrates. They have to make 40 invertebrate observations.
In the class unit 4 focuses on the biodiversity of animals with a heavy emphasis on invertebrates.
iNaturalist Project _Part 4.pdfiNaturalist Project - Part 5 (Vertebrates)
iNaturalist Project - Part 5 (Vertebrates)
Part 5 of the project focuses on the vertebrates. It is only 20 vertebrate observations that they need to make but the students often find this one to be difficult. This is why I emphasize the need to make these observations throughout the entire semester.
In the class unit 5 focuses on the form and function of animals.
iNaturalist Project _Part 5.pdfiNaturalist Extra Credit - Participate in the City Challenge or the Texas Pollinator BioBlitz
iNaturalist Extra Credit - Participate in the City Challenge or the Texas Pollinator BioBlitz
I offer 1 extra credit opportunity during the semester and it involves iNaturalist. In the Spring semester iNaturalist has the international city challenge and in the Fall Texas Parks & Wildlife hosts the Texas Pollinator BioBlitz through iNaturalist. This is a perfect opportunity to apply their iNaturalist skills for a community effort.
Below is the information for each of the extra credit opportunities.
iNaturalist City Nature Challenge (2019 version)
iNaturalist City Nature Challenge (2019 version)
This is an opportunity to show off your iNaturalist skills and to gain some extra points in the class.
Extra Credit Value: Up to 50 points (1 point for each observation you add to the city challenge project)
Instructions
Go to https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2019-austin and read the instructions on the project page
Make observations between April 26-29 (photos from before and after these dates will not be added and will not count towards the project or this extra credit)
Your observations will be added automatically to the project as long as the observations are in the Greater Austin area (see area defined on project).
Notes:
Add your observations between April 26-29.
These observations that you are using for the extra credit will not count towards any of the iNaturalist project requirements in class. (It is extra credit after all)
Multiple observations from the same species do not count unless they are from different areas of Austin
Your observations must meet the city challenge guidelines
You can track how Austin is doing compared to the other cities around the world by going to https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2019
Tracking Observations
I have made it easier to track your observations for the extra credit. You can go to the link below and it will display the observations that count for the extra credit but only includes students from this class.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/acc-biol-1407-city-nature-challenge-extra-credit-eckerman
Texas Pollinator BioBlitz (2018 Version)
Texas Pollinator BioBlitz (2018 Version)
This is an opportunity to show off your iNaturalist skills and to gain some extra points in the class.
Extra Credit Value: Up to 50 points (1 point for each observation you add to the Texas Pollinator BioBlitz project)
Instructions
Go to https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2018-texas-pollinator-bioblitz and 'follow' the iNaturalist project. Look in the top right of the project banner and you will see a "follow" link.
Read the instructions on the project page
Make observations between October 5-21 following the guidelines on the project page. (Only certain organisms will be added to the project so make sure to read the guidelines carefully.)
Notes:
Add your observations between October 5-21.
These observations that you are using for the extra credit will not count towards any of the iNaturalist module project requirements in class (It is extra credit after all).
Multiple observations from the same species do not count unless they are from different areas of Texas.
Your observations must meet the BioBlitz guidelines
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