{"id":4534,"date":"2024-03-18T10:20:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T18:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/?p=4534"},"modified":"2026-10-22T17:03:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T00:03:32","slug":"using-apps-in-the-field-to-deepen-our-understanding-of-our-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/2024\/03\/18\/using-apps-in-the-field-to-deepen-our-understanding-of-our-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Apps in the Field to Deepen our Understanding of our Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Digital devices may be used purposefully in the field for identification of plants and animals using the camera or audio on site. INaturalist and Leafsnap allow for the identification of plants based on a photo, while Merlin uses the microphone to identify nearby birdlife. Further, apps like Windy and OceanConnect allow us to understand the patterns of wind and water nearby. Google Maps allows to locate ourself on a map and explore nearby terrain from an aerial view.<\/p>\n<p>Try out some of these apps to deepen your understanding of the place around you. Capture screenshots and field notes for sharing on your website.<\/p>\n<h3>Apps for Identifying Plants and Animals<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>iNaturalist<\/strong> is a community-driven platform where nature enthusiasts can record, share, and discuss their observations of the natural world. It serves as a tool for citizen science and a repository for biodiversity data, which can be used for research and conservation efforts. The platform encourages users to explore and connect with nature while contributing to a collective understanding of global biodiversity. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/\">https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The <strong>Merlin Bird ID<\/strong> website is a comprehensive tool for bird identification, offering free resources to help users identify thousands of bird species. It features a Bird ID Wizard that guides users through a step-by-step process to identify birds they see or hear. The site also includes Sound ID, which listens to birds around you and provides real-time suggestions, and Photo ID, which identifies birds from photos. Both features work offline. Additionally, users can save birds to their life list and explore lists of birds near them. The platform is powered by eBird and utilizes community-contributed photos, songs, and calls, along with expert tips and range maps from Birds of the World<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/merlin.allaboutbirds.org\/\">https:\/\/merlin.allaboutbirds.org\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Leafsnap<\/strong> is a mobile application that allows users to identify plants by simply taking a photo. It features a large database of plant species from around the world and provides detailed care guides for each plant. The app also includes a feature to manage plant care reminders and track tasks related to plant maintenance. It\u2019s designed to be easy to use and helps users quickly learn about the plants they encounter.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/leafsnap.app\/\">https:\/\/leafsnap.app\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Apps for Understanding the World Around Us<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>OceanConnect <\/strong>offers free marine forecasts, nautical charts, and current ocean conditions for ocean activities and research in BC, Washington, and Alaska.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/oceanconnect.ca\">https:\/\/oceanconnect.ca<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Windy <\/strong>offers weather radar, wind, and waves forecast for kiters, surfers, paragliders, pilots, sailors and anyone else seeking to understand the wind.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.windy.com\">https:\/\/www.windy.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Google Maps <\/strong>provides an aerial overview of our location and what is nearby.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\">https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Identifying Invasive Species<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. These species can adapt to the new area easily, reproduce quickly, and harm property, the economy, or the native plants and animals of the region. Not all non-native species are invasive; to be classified as invasive, a species must meet these harmful criteria.<\/p>\n<p>You can find information about <a href=\"https:\/\/bcinvasives.ca\/take-action\/identify\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">invasive species in our region here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some questions to prompt discussion about invasive species<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is it from here or from away? <\/span><\/li>\n<li>Is it a native of non-native species?<\/li>\n<li>Are all native species invasive?<\/li>\n<li>What do you think was the intention behind bringing the species here?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Exploring Indigenous Language and Usage of Local Plans<\/h3>\n<p>Practice identifying species in this area using the <a href=\"http:\/\/saanich.montler.net\/WordList\/plants.html\">SEN\u0106O\u0166EN language<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ethnobotany<\/strong> is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants. It explores how different cultures use and perceive plants, particularly for medicinal, nutritional, and religious purposes. Ethnobotanists aim to document and understand complex interactions involving plants, traditional knowledge, and cultural practices<\/p>\n<p>Explore different <a href=\"https:\/\/learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca\/playlist\/what-are-some-medicinal-plants-in-b-c-how-theyre-used\/\">native medicinal plants of B.C.<\/a> as well as their native and modern uses.<\/p>\n<p>Explore the <a href=\"https:\/\/hcp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/WSANEC-Ethnobotany-Trail.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">W\u0331S\u00c1NE\u0106 EthnobotanyTrail<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Digital devices may be used purposefully in the field for identification of plants and animals using the camera or audio on site. INaturalist and Leafsnap allow for the identification of plants based on a photo, while Merlin uses the microphone&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/2024\/03\/18\/using-apps-in-the-field-to-deepen-our-understanding-of-our-environment\/\">Continue Reading &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4535,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology-in-the-field"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4534"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6294,"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4534\/revisions\/6294"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}