Certain textbooks can be replaced with computer based expert systems, but
these systems need experts trained in the subject matter and computer
technology for their creation.

To meet this need the following OBJECTIVES are set forth:

     1.  Enrich the educational experience of students by involving them in the   
        creation of a CD-ROM Dendrology Expert System which will replace        
        textbooks that are currently used in four Botany courses.
     
     2.  Improve instructional effectiveness by engaging undergraduates in the   
         creation of this expert system which will require utilization of their            
          newly/simultaneously acquired knowledge of trees and wood into a format 
         that is both self reinforcing and beneficial to future students.
     
     3.  Test the effectiveness of this method of learning compared to current     
          pedagogic practices.
     
                                 
                 I.  MUDES DATA BASE COMPONENTS

                    A.  WHICH DATA BASE TO USE?
                    B.  ANGIOSPERM TREES
                    C.  GYMNOSPERM TREES
                    D.  ANGIOSPERM WOODS
                    E.  GYMNOSPERM WOODS
                    F.  ANGIOSPERM TREE DISEASES
                    G.  GYMNOSPERM TREE DISEASES


                     II. DEVELOPMENT STEPS
                                

     A.  INITIAL MENU DEVELOPMENT
     B.  CREATION OF INITIAL DATA BASES
                AND MODIFICATIONS TO INITIAL MENUES
     C.  CAPTURE OF DIGITAL IMAGES **
          1. Angiosperm Bark, Leaves, Flowers, Fruit, Winter Twigs
          2. Gymnosperm Bark, Leaves, Cones, Winter Twigs
          3. Transverse, Radial, and Tangential Longitudinal
              Sections of Angiosperm and Gymnosperm Woods
          4. Disease Symptoms of Angiosperm and Gymnosperm Trees
     D.  CREATION OF COMPOSITE SPECIES SPECIFIC IMAGES
     E.  CREATION OF ON-LINE HELP TEXT
     F.   CREATION OF COMPOSITE ON-LINE HELP IMAGES

** Sequential modification of digital image capture methods steadily improved the
resolution of the images: 1.  Video tape images from Camcorder.  2.  Quicktake
digital still camera.  3.  NTSC color charge coupled device.   4.  RGB charge coupled
device.  5.  Kodak DC120 digital still camera.  Currently the RGB CCD is used for
microscopy images and the DC120 is used for images collected in the field.
                      III. TESTING PHASES
                                
                                

     A. FIELD TESTS BY INITIAL DEVELOPERS FOLLOWED BY   
               MODIFICATION OF MENUES AND DATA BASES TO               
               CREATE ALPHA VERSION
     B. FIELD TESTS OF ALPHA VERSION BY DENDROLOGY         STUDENTS
          1. Half the class used MUDES for field/laboratory
             identification of trees and woods
          2. Half the class used hard copy dichotomous keys
             for tree identification and GUESS computer-aided
             wood identification for wood identification
          3. Performance of two groups compared with regard to:
               a. Mean quiz and examination scores
               b. Mean success rate for identifying unknown
                  species of trees and woods
               c. Mean time taken to identify unknowns.
          4. MUDES group surveyed with regard to usefullness of
             the MUDES