eCompendium Group Activity

 

1.About the eCompendium

With the increase of technology in the workplace, the use of programmes and databases for data entry and information retrieval is becoming more prevalent. This project will not only help you learn more about neo-tropical animals, their biology and conservation, but give you experience in eTools which can prove to a valuable asset to your future clients and/or employers.

 

Most importantly, the takeaway from this exercise is for you to have an idea of what is known, not known, and what is the most interesting feature for the species assigned to your group.

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2.Instructions

This group activity will comprise of the following steps:

 

1. Familiarise yourself with your assigned species using factsheets and if available, production modelling worksheets, which were part of projects for previous classes. Links to the files' location can be found in Table 1 below.

In the event you would like to have a look at the blank template for the factsheet and production modelling worksheet of past years' projects, please click here.

 

2. Filling out the Word database-entry template (link below), condense and ratify the content from the factsheets ensuring that information and references are cross-checked and factual. Ideally each factor should comprise of 2 to 3 sentences of high quality information, accompanied by 3 photographs and their references which can give someone unfamiliar with your species a good overview.

 

If during your research, you realise that information in the factsheet/production modelling worksheet from the Google Drive may not be 100% correct, or your group has found a better source/quality of information, please indicate this using track changes on the factsheet/worksheet. This allows me to see your research skills in action, which will work in your group's favour during marking.

 

For any original photos, information and videos your group submits, remember to reference both yourselves and your sources with name/s, date and location so that you all can be credited properly should the information be re-used. Remember, this is your contribution to science!

 

3. Your group will be required to enter information from the template into the PHP web application called the eCompendium over the course of 3 sessions as outlined below.

- Data entry session 1: questions 1 to 3

- Data entry session 2: questions 4 to 6

- Data entry session 3: questions 7 to 9

 

A short survey on use of the web application will ensue after each session. Please be sure to take mental notes, as during your final presentation, the additional question will touch on your experience using eTools.

 

4. The eCompendium will be up and running soon for testing.

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3.Link to Word database-entry template

Click the link below to access the template.

Database-entry template (MS Word)

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4.Links to factsheets/worksheets

Table 1

Group	Animal classification	Species
1	Crustaceans	Land Prawns/River Shrimp
1	Crustaceans	Blue Crab
2	Molluscs	Mangrove oyster
2	Alligators	Alligator/Spectacled Caiman
3	Insects	Emperor Butterfly
3	Insects	Stingless Bees
4	Lizards	Zandolie
4	Lizards	Matte/ Tegu
5	Snakes	Coral snakes
5	Snakes	Horse Whip Snake
6	Snakes	Red tailed boa constrictor
6	Snakes	Rainbow Boa
7	Snakes	Cooks Tree Boa
7	Snakes	Pit Vipers
8	Snakes	Anaconda
8	Frogs	Mountain Chicken
9	Turtles	Green Sea Turtle
9	Turtles	Leatherback Sea Turtle
10	Fish	Cascadura
10	Fish	Catfish
11	Birds	Green Ibis
11	Birds	Green Hermit Hummingbird
12	Birds	Scarlet Ibis
12	Birds	Lesser seed finch
13	Birds	Scarlet Macaw
13	Birds	Cocrico
14	Birds	Pawi
14	Birds	Osprey
15	Birds	Brown Pelican
15	Birds	King Vulture
16	Birds	Blacked headed vultures
16	Mammals	Agouti
17	Mammals	Tyra
17	Mammals	Ocelot
18	Mammals	Red Howler Monkey
18	Mammals	Capybara
19	Mammals	Nine-banded armadillo
19	Mammals	Red Brocket Deer
20	Mammals	Lappe
20	Mammals	Manicou
21	Mammals	Quenk
21	Mammals	Silky Anteater
22	Mammals	Lesser Anteater
22	Lizard	Green Iguana