January 29, 2007
The pursuit of an efficient way to identify, diagnose
and treat diseases in plants has led a
University of Queensland
lecturer on an interesting learning curve through cyber
space.
Dr Vic Galea from the
School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences (LCAFS)
developed the unique project, A Virtual Plant Pathology
Lab CD-ROM, in response to a challenge from the
University to enhance the learning opportunities for
students through the use of technology.
The School is part of UQ`s
Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary
Science (NRAVS).
Dr Galea's project was recognised at the prestigious
Australasian Society of Computers in Learning in
Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) conference, winning not
only the President's Award for Excellence but also an
individual award for outstanding achievement. The award
has also helped the project gather international
recognition.
Dr Galea said the Virtual Plant Pathology Lab project
was a collaborative project between himself and the
University's Teaching and Educational Development
Institute (TEDI), with the original concept born from
the necessity to provide students in the field with a
reliable and comprehensive diagnostic tool.
“The Virtual Plant Pathology lab CD-ROM gives agronomy
students the ability to work their way through a variety
of scenarios in relation to the crop they are
diagnosing, eliminating potential disease culprits as
they examine the symptoms in the field,” he said.
Students further engage in this learning activity by
discussing cases with each other using an internet
forum. Later, they use this same forum to solve a new
problem by forming an online team.
“This project is a great example of the technology and
innovation that characterises the agricultural
industries in Australia and around the world,” Dr Galea
said.
“It's extremely exciting to be involved in a project
that will help make the next generation of agronomists
and plant specialists more efficient and effective plant
pathologists.
“With an increasing global population, the need to be
able to minimise and eliminate diseases in food and
grain crops is becoming vitally important.”
Following the receipt of the ASCILITE award at the end
of last year, the international momentum for the Virtual
Plant Pathology Lab is gathering pace and talks are
already underway for the CD to be used throughout the UK
as an exemplar in excellent practice.
