Development of an Authorware-based Multimedia Application
for Floriculture Education: The Geophyte Module
Kelly Petoskey, William B. Miller, David
Price and Reg Baumgardner |
Department of Horticulture, Clemson University |
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Background
The goal of this project was development of an interactive, computer-based
multimedia tutorial for floriculture education. Multimedia refers to the
use of multiple media (for example, sound, video, text, graphics, and animation)
in the dissemination of information. Despite the fact that many users are
unaware of the terminology, multimedia pervades modern society in various
forms - airport kiosks, computer games, business presentations, even classroom
lectures. Interactive multimedia takes the multimedia concept a step further
and allows the presentation to be tailored according to the user's own interests
and experience. Good examples of interactive multimedia are computer games
and educational software.
The advantage of using interactive multimedia in education is that multimedia
presentation speaks the language of today's students. "Generation X"
was the first generation to be raised on MTV, Nintendo, and the increasingly
more sophisticated electronics of the computer information age. For better
or worse, frequent exposure to fast-paced electronic media has acclimated
these "Generation Xers" to a presentation style that is speedy
and complex. For brains accustomed to this type of stimulation, traditional
lecture-style teaching methods are out-dated. Multimedia provides educators
with powerful tools that help to excite students and to maintain their interest.
The Geophyte Module
The Geophyte Module is designed as a complement to Dr. Bill Miller's
Greenhouse Crop Physiology Course, HORT 310. The objectives of that course
are "...to introduce the physiology and greenhouse production of floriculture
crops as well as to give hands-on experience in production technology, scheduling,
economics, and regulation of crop growth and development." The module
provides students with a series of tutorial exercises pertaining to geophytes
(bulb crops). These exercises reinforce the material discussed in Dr. Miller's
class lectures and labs.
The Geophyte Module consists of four submodules: Production Statistics,
Geophyte Physiology, Geophyte Floriculture, and References. The first three
submodules are based on material presented in Dr. Miller's lectures, and
the fourth module directs students to additional information resources.
To date, the primary focus has been the content and interactivity of the
geophyte physiology submodule; however, the interface, basic navigation
scheme, and framework for each submodule is in place and ready for content
development. The program has been designed using "Authorware"
software, and currently runs in the Macintosh environment.
The Geophyte Physiology Submodule
The Geophyte Physiology Submodule seeks to reinforce student's understanding
of plant form and function. It includes definitions and discussions of geophytes,
underground storage organs, plant life cycles, survival mechanisms, and
dormancy. An explanation of the differences between various types of geophytes
includes visual comparisons of storage organ types. The comparison is set
up as a diagram that allows students to point with the mouse on the diagram
to access a balloon of information about the organ.
Separate sections focusing on the parts of each storage organ are designed
using diagrams with clickable arrows that provide the name of the part and
a brief explanation of it.
"Test Yourself" buttons appear at regular intervals throughout
the presentation that urge students to practice what they have learned from
the preceding pages. Some tests consist of open-ended questions that give
students feedback including hints and the correct answer if they cannot
get it. Click-and-drag matching exercises require students to match labels
with storage organs. Other matching exercises describe organ parts and ask
students to click on the part that matches the description.
Other Submodules
The Production Statistics submodule is devoted to worldwide production
of geophytes. Demographic data, the differences between forcing and dry
bulbs, and the difference between spring and summer flowering bulbs are
discussed.
The Geophyte Floriculture submodule provides detailed information about
growing specific crops. An index allows users to choose the crops in which
they are interested. This section will be useful not only to students but
also to floriculture industry personnel.
The References submodule is designed to provide students with additional
information sources, and it has a scrolling-text window to allow for added
references. In the future, more content and opportunities for interactivity
will be added to each of these modules.
Other Goals for the Future
There are several goals for the future of this module. First, the content
of each submodule will be extended, and interactivity will be added and
modified. Second, the use of sound and video media for reinforcing information
will be maximized. To date we have been limited by a lack of sound and video
media; however, we now have the capability for creating our own digitized
video, such as time lapse video of plants growing, flowers opening, seeds
germinating, and flowers senescing.
For the three interactive submodules - production stats, geophyte physiology,
and geophyte floriculture, tracking of test results may be incorporated.
Print buttons could be added to the reference screens and to the storage
organ diagram screens. Sound and text feedback should be modified, and the
module may be developed as a multi-platform application.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the Clemson University Advanced Technology Center
Instructional Development Awards Program and the Clemson University Ornamentals
Enhancement Program for partial funding of this project.
Last Updated 2/1/97
