weBot – A Unique tool for learning plant systematics

weBot is an information and learning tool that helps students to learn how to correctly identify plant species by their scientific names: https://www.webot.ethz.ch/welcome. A large number of informative texts and images are available, e.g. herbarium, habitus, detail, etc. This Innovedum project has made it possible to add a query mode to the learning mode already implemented, which allows targeted exam preparation using specific species lists.

In the new interactive “Abfrage” mode, it is possible to analyse and name different plants using images and texts. Once a suggestion has been entered, it is immediately scored, giving students prompt and personalised feedback on their learning. Students from a variety of courses and conservation organisations can now train their systematic botany skills online and from anywhere*. Teachers can use the web interface to add new taxa, supplement existing taxa with additional information and media, and create species lists tailored to their learning objectives. The open architecture of weBot allows for future extensions for personalised use and game-based learning for the general public interested in systematic botany.

* weBot is the web-based further development of the Java-based learning applications “Herbar CD-ROM” and “eBot”, which have been supporting learning in systematic botany at ETH and beyond since 1999.

weBot is used as a learning tool in teaching at ETH in the departments D-USYS, D-BIOL and D-ARCH (e.g. for identification exercises and exam preparation) as well as at the University of Zurich and in certificate courses run by nature conservation organisations (e.g. Birdlife).

During lectures and field trips in systematic botany, key characteristics are usually worked out on real plants. weBot allows students to learn, recognise and repeat these key characteristics regardless of the season and location. Since weBot, unlike other plant learning apps, focuses on navigation through the taxon tree, students are familiarised from the outset with the importance of morphological characteristics at different taxonomic levels and acquire the necessary skills to be able to classify unknown species into the taxonomic system based on key characteristics.

The project goals were achieved, and a user-friendly query mode was successfully implemented in several iterations with input from students, project staff and other experts. Students used the new query mode during the project as part of the course “Systematic Biology: Plants” and will continue to work with it as part of the identification exercises and for exam preparation.

The diversity of the project team proved helpful in providing a wide range of feedback and perspectives. The personal commitment of individual team members and a flexible and agile programmer contributed significantly to the successful completion of the project, even though the requirements evolved during the process. The integration of weBot into courses such as “Systematic Biology: Plants” or “Vegetation and Soils of the Alps” allows students to use the query mode in a real context and actively apply their skills. However, during the project it also became clear that the integration of the query mode into teaching could be further strengthened. The flexibility of the learning tool means that in the future it can be used not only for botany but also, for example, for teaching mycology.

• weBot – ein Informations- und Lerntool für Pflanzen