Community engagement / volunteer

Community Plant Activity Laboratory:

Previously available in-person activities are no longer options for this laboratory.

Citizen Science On-line

Go to this webpage for Zooniverse and read what it is about here. You can learn some general information about the platform and possibly use it for your video and your journal entry. Then, click on the “Projects” link on top (or bottom) of the page, then click on the “Biology” button to view all of the opportunities that are available to people. For your contribution, you will select from the “Notes From Nature” plant-based choices. This includes: Notes From Nature- NYBG, Notes From Nature- Southeastern U.S. Biodiversity, and Notes From Nature – WEDIGFLPLANTS. After you have selected and clicked on one of these options, then click “Learn More” to read and understand what the individual project is all about for your video and your journal entry and video.

You will need to register and sign in to Zooniverse to contribute for this assignment. Go to the top right of the screen and select “Register”. Put in your information and create a password.

Go to the Notes From Nature project that you selected from above. Select one of the tabs under “Get Started”. Click the “Tutorial” tab on the right of the screen to see how it works. Click through the brief tutorial. Watch the video if you want and click “Let’s Go!” to begin. If you get stuck and don’t know what to put in the next field, click on “Need Some Help With This Task?”.

You will need to take at screenshots of at least 3 herbarium specimens that you have digitized. You will need to do this Before you finish with a specimen and click “Done” (it will disappear). You will need to resize your screen to capture the entire specimen. To do this, go to your browser’s Settings and decrease the zoom until you can see the entire specimen. In Chrome, get to Settings at the top right of the screen by clicking on the 3 vertical dots. Take a screenshot, save it to your computer and name it. Change your Zoom back to normal. Continue digitizing the specimens and take at least 2 more screenshots of different specimens (following the instructions above). Proceed until you have finished 30 (thirty) specimens.

To see how many specimens that you have completed as you go, find your ID name at the top right of the screen and click on the down arrow. Then choose “Profile” and then “Your Stats”. Scroll up to see your ID name and the number of classifications you have made to date along with the project you have worked on. After you have digitized at least 30 classifications, take a screenshot that captures your ID name showing at least 30 classifications AND the image of the project you worked on beneath it (you may need to resize the zoom for this too). Save this screenshot to your computer and rename it. Take a video as described under the Padlet link. Complete the Journal assignment as described as well.

Video requirements are below:

While you are on the Zooinverse website, you will take a video of yourself describing your experience to share with the class AND you will also share one of your 3 photos. While keeping your video brief, be sure to include all of these items in your video:

Include all of these things in your video:

1. Your first name. Being specific, say what you did/do to keep calm during this time of social distancing. (This may be helpful to others)

2. Say which project you selected and mention something interesting about either Zooinverse or the project you selected.

3. How the work and results of the project you selected could be used by a scientist. Think about it and give an example being as specific as possible with your answer. There are lots of possibilities!

4. Show the image of one of the plants you digitized and mention something interesting about the plant that you learned from an internet search.

5. What you like about contributing to the project.

Smile!! Practice, but don't shoot for perfection. Using a note card is okay to remind yourself what to include on the video, but don't read from it.

Give yourself plenty of time to upload the video on YouTube. You will find the YouTube instructions under the Padlet link that is also within this folder. Post your video on the Padlet link.

The write-up needed for your Community Plant Activity is in the Community Plant Activity Journal. The journal entry requirements are in the journal. You will also insert the photos with descriptions in your journal.

Padlet link for Community Plant Activity Video

After following the Community Plant Activity Instructions, use your phone or camera to take a video of you at your computer on the Zooinverse site and have a plant specimen screenshot ready to bring up and show on your computer.

Include all of these things in your video:

1. Your first name. Being specific, say what you did/do to keep calm during this time of social distancing.

2. Say which project you selected and mention something interesting about either Zooinverse or the project you selected.

3. How the work and results of the project you selected could be used by a scientist. Think about it and then be specific with your answer.

4. Show the image of one of the plants you digitized and mention something interesting about the plant that you learned from an internet search.

5. What you like about contributing to the project.

Smile, have fun!! Practice but don't worry about being perfect (no one will be!)

Notes are okay to use if you need a reminder of what to say, but don't read from it.

Save your video on your computer. Open a YouTube account using these instructions. Upload your video to YouTube using instructions in this video. Upload your video as "unlisted" so only those with the link can view it for privacy. Wait for your video to upload, it can take HOURS. Copy the link to your YouTube video. Go to the Padlet link and create a new post under your name. Title the post, then click the link icon (next to the Up Arrow) and paste the link you copied.

Enjoy watching your classmates videos too while learning about what they did and learned too.

[Note to instructors: Students reported enjoying this activity and their video posts were enthusiastic. Students record their videos on YouTube but set them to "unlisted". They then share the links on Padlet. This allows students to watch each others' videos, creating a sense of community, without forcing them to be public on YouTube.]

Community Plant Activity Journal

In this journal, you will provide a write-up for your Community Plant Activity.

Part I. Copy and paste the following questions into your journal entry and answer them in full sentences:

1. What did you learn while completing this service activity? A new skill or something about yourself?

2. What was the most interesting part about it? This can be something about the project, Zooinverse, or about one of the plants you digitized.

3. a) As a result of this activity, are you more likely to volunteer for this organization (or another)?

b.) Also, what type of Plant-based service work do you think you would enjoy? (such as: helping park rangers keep up trails for visitors, greenhouse or field work for urban garden, volunteering at a garden to keep it beautiful with stone structure or weeding or planting, or something else that comes to your mind.)

Part II. Include 3 photos taken of specimens that you digitized and insert them into the journal (3rd button from the left on the 3rd row - do not use "Attach files").

1. Below each of the plant photos, type in the scientific name in the correct format. For example, the correct format of our species is Homo sapiens

2. Google the plant's scientific name, find something interesting about it, and in your own words, type that in just below the plant's scientific name.

Part III. Insert the screenshot of your stats. Make sure it is big enough to see the numbers and shows at least 30 classifications.