NET BASED FOSSIL IDENTIFICATION FOR COMMON FOSSILS FROM THE CINCINNATIAN (UPPER ORDOVICIAN) OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO

After field trips that involve fossil collection, accurate identification of fossils to the species level is often difficult for students who have had limited training in paleontology. Many of these students find identification guides frustrating to use and often their identifications are inaccurate. This program is a simple net based program utilizing PowerPoint that allows large numbers of students to accurately identify their specimens from their dorm room or other networked computer at Cedarville University without having to come to the lab to use paper identification manuals. The program is based on visual identification, so younger (K-12) students can use the program as well. About 70 species from nine major groups of fossils from the Cincinnatian (Upper Ordovician) of Southwestern Ohio were digitally photographed. On the first page of the program, students can visually select what kind of fossil they think they have (brachiopod, gastropod, trilobite, etc.) and then click on the appropriate link. This takes them to a page that describes and illustrates the general morphology of the group and then links them to pictures and descriptions of various species within that group. I have found that this program has markedly increased the accuracy and speed of fossil identification and has decreased student frustration level. Review of this program before field trips has helped the students become more familiar with the types of fossils they might be able to find. Similar programs could be made for net or web based rock or mineral identification.