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Montana State University-Northern and Montana Prairie Products have teamed up to produce a digital herbarium of Montana's common range plants on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM is an interactive, visual collection of grasses, forbs, shrubs, and weeds common to Montana. An Internet style interface allows users to browse the common and scientific names of approximately 150 plants and their characteristics, and view stunning graphic images of individual plants. A thumbnail listing of the images and eight image slide shows are also packaged with the digital herbarium. Other features include audio pronunciations of the scientific names of the featured plants and text descriptions of each plant. Tom Welch, an Agricultural Technology professor at MSU-Northern, developed the idea for the CD-ROM and has been the project coordinator. He has been active in developing ways to utilize computer technologies for teaching agriculture and was working with a USDA grant targeted at exploring innovative ways of creating laboratory experiences with digital technologies. Carol Sparks has a degree in Range Management and owns Montana Prairie Products of Plevna. Carol provided the plants for the project and compiled many of the text descriptions. Scott Strobel, a multimedia artist and web designer at MSU-Northern, compiled the CD-ROM, and Brian Sindelar, a Natural Resource Management Consultant of Belgrade, provided the audio pronunciations of the scientific names. Welch says, "The CD-ROM was designed as an interactive learning tool for those wishing to identify and learn about Montana's wonderful range plants that contribute so much to our state and its people." The digital herbarium is an excellent computer resource for 4-H and FFA members, ranchers, junior high and high school science teachers, college students involved in natural resource studies, government agency staff, and others interested in Montana range plants. The CD-ROM is available from Montana Prairie Products with discounts available to schools and students. Interested persons should write HC 75, Box 11, Plevna, MT 59344, call (406) 778-2320, or e-mail sparks@midrivers.com. Aurora Borealis Info, Disclaimer, Executive Council & Directors Return to Aurora
Borealis Summer 1999 Index Page |