![]() The plants included were specifically chosen for their prevalence in the ACFL, so you are sure to have plenty of success in finding them!įofF: That’s great to hear, and it sounds like you’ve done your research to make it 100% relevant to the ACFL how cool! Are there any plans to expand the app or add to it in any way? The goal is that eventually you can wean yourself off of my app and discern for yourself what kind of plant you are looking at, just from thinking logically about some of the characteristics that you observe. This can be an enriching way to bond with your child out in nature, or for you to bond more closely with nature itself. SB: The benefits of using this app on a hike are to teach yourself or your child how to identify native local plants on sight by sharpening your deductive reasoning and observation skills. What would you say to someone who already knows a whole lot about pacific northwest flora? What are the benefits of adding the app to their toolbox? The screen then shares the plant name and a picture for comparison.įofF: It does sound quite simple and effective. ![]() The app progresses down the line of questioning until a final plant identification is reached. Doing so presents a new choice, and new corresponding images to choose from. The app presents the user with two images and a choice: "Does the plant have broad and flat leaves or needle-like leaves?" The user is to click on the picture that most closely matches the plant they are trying to identify. I have chosen the most common native plants to this particular region of Skagit County, with the advice of fellow Friends of the Forest staff and volunteers. The student is guided to compare different plant characteristics along the way to identification, learning more about the nuances of scientific classification and hopefully getting more comfortable with deductive reasoning as they go.įofF: It’s great that you chose to let our own brains work a little harder than letting our phones do it for us! What about for those of us who aren’t accustomed to using apps or to whom phone technology is still a little daunting? How does it work? SB: Rather than using a simple "point and shoot" style app which immediately identifies the plant using the phone's camera, my app encourages the use of observation and logic to reach a conclusive plant identification just like the Pacific Coast Tree Finder. ![]() The booklet is probably best known for its simple dichotomous key format, which allows for a more interactive plant identification experience for students.įofF: That’s a great starting point! Is that why you chose to go a little less techy with this app? With this general concern in mind, I decided to model my app project after the old Pacific Coast Tree Finder, a little blue booklet popular amongst fellow naturalists and outdoor educators. Having these skills becomes vital when one's phone dies or loses service. As a past teacher and naturalist, I have often noticed how new technologies can sometimes encourage important skills to atrophy, such as being able to read and navigate with just a map and compass. Sarah Bly: This app actually originated as a class project for a workshop I took last year. Friends of the Forest: What inspired you to create this app? ![]()
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