Cons

  • Expensive to have technology
  • Increases screen time

Pros

  • Increasing access to information
  • Opportunities for students to make contributions as citizen scientists
  • Encourages digital literacy
  • Increases student engagementRisks
  • Technology could detract from time outdoors if used inappropriately

iNaturalist

  • Primary goal – connect people to nature
  • You can upload photos and get scientists to help identify what you see
  • Adds to observations and scientific data
  • Great platfom for carrying out BioBlitzes!

Seek by iNaturalist

  • Application created by a naturalist
  • User friendly
  • Hold it up with your camera, and it will tell you what it is
  • Not contributing to data
  • Great for kids to identify stuff

iTrack Eildlife

  • Easy to use
  • All the animal tracks in one place
  • Costs a little bit – $8 to install
  • Great tool for education

Merlin

  • Free bird Identification App
  • Can answer a few questions to get suggested birds or upload a photo to the app for identification
  • The cornell Lab also has learning games!

Marine Debris Tracer

  • Platform for tracking marine debris
  • Contributes to a database of debris in ocean

Seaweed Sorter

  • Created by researcher, Patrick Martone (UBC) a seaweed expert

PeakFinder

  • Hold up to any mountain and it identifies the names of peaks around you
  • Can help you get your sense of place when you are out hiking
  • Does cost around $4.00
  • Peak Visor – free
  • Version, but doesn’t have as many options
    • Built in compass

Glove Observer

NASA app

  • Beautiful photos from space
  • Simple but full of content

Skype A Scientist

  • Skype a scientist in your classroom – free service
  • Resources on website to prep students beforehand
  • Not just a lecture, but they do have prerecorded sessions too
  • Totally free!!