Development of the Plant Pathology Laser Videodisc

Laser videodisc is a technology that is just beginning to be used to enhance agricultural and forestry education. We share our collective experience in producing a laser videodisc of plant disease images. This experience will be useful to other novices in the use of emerging technologies such as the laser videodisc to enhance their productivity and avoid costly errors and should be invaluable to anyone considering the production of their first videodisc. O MOST UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES OHC SCCS 311 almost overwhelming array of new technologies that have the potential to make teaching more effective. Some of these include telecampus (which is the creation of multiple campuses connected by an interactive video network), interactive video, CD-ROM, and laser videodisc. It can be discouraging to watch an expert zip thorugh a demonstration of an expensive new technology and not feel confident in reaching a reasonable decision about appropriate applications of the technology in one's own classroom. How could the technology be used? How does one become skilled in using the technology? Who would develop the teaching materials? Would students use and/or have access to the technology? Is the expense justified in improved teaching effectiveness? Less than 5 yr ago, the authors of this paper were novices in the application of electronic technology in the classroom. We all teach courses in plant pathology, however, and were concerned about our ability to present high-quality visual images to our students, especially since much of our subject matter is related to microscopic features of pathogenic organisms and plant diseases that are more active during the summer growing season rather than the academic year. Despite our amateur status in teaching technologies, we were able to learn about one F.H. Tainter, Dep. of Forest Resources, Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC 29634-1003; G.L. Schumann, Dep. of Plant Pathology, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003; and T.A. Evans, Dep. of Plant and Soil Sciences, Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE 19717. Received 22 Apr. 1994. •Corresponding author. Published in J. Nat. Resour. Life Sci. Educ. 24:48-52 (1995). facet of this technology—interactive videodisc—and create what we think is a valuable teaching tool. We suspect that there might be a number of othej instructors who could benefit from a review of our experiences in producing a laser videodisc and some interactive teaching materials. We would certainly do some things differently, and perhaps more efficiently, if we were starting again with our current knowledge.