elementary, high school, adult
being developed in Indianapolis, IN; final product to be useful for many Midwestern States
Central Hardwoods "Virtual Forest" CD ROM
to be completed by August, 1996.
on-going
Using an aerial map of a typical central hardwood forest stand, the user of this CD may "drop into" the forest by clicking one of numerous sites. Each of these sites within the forest is a navigable scene that allows the student to look in any direction, as well as up and down, to get a panoramic view of the forest. At each site, the student will be provided a variety of tools to collect data that may be used to explore the forest, including tree ID keys, a caliper to measure tree diameter, and a tape measure to determine distances on the forest floor so stand density can be calculated. A panel of experts on various natural resource topics will also be available at the click of a mouse to answer questions. These will be created by videotaping interviews and converting them to an interactive format, giving the student control over the sequence and extent of questions. Another interactive feature to be included on the CD will be the public domain program TWIGS, which can be used to provide a quantitative description of various forest management strategies. In addition to the interactive features, the CD will contain a large amount of statistical data and reference material. The CD will be made available to educators for an anticipated cost of $15.
Sam Carman, Indiana Division of Forestry, 402 W. Washington, Room W29G, Indianapolis, IN 46204, phone 317-232-4105.
dnrdof@ideanet.doe.state.in.us
This project is being funded completely by donations and grants, and is still falling short of what is needed for completion. We would like to hear from any States or private entities interested in providing support for this project.