Use of Computer Game Cotgame in Teaching Entomology 1

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Abstract
During the period 1977–1979, a computer assisted instructional tool known as COTGAME was used in teaching insect pest management at Mississippi State University. Computer models used in COTGAME simulate the interactions among a cotton crop and its main insect pests, predators, insecticide applications and weather. The game is divided into 3 phases: initialization, management and results. In the initialization phase, the user establishes the agronomic, weather and insect conditions for the game. During the management phase the user can select the next decision date, insecticide application, irrigation, fertilization or harvest. At each decision date a scouting report is provided. Once harvest is reached, the program produces a complete summary of the conditions set in the initialization phase, as well as the decisions and results which occurred during the simulated growing season. COTGAME has been used primarily to aid in the instruction of the economic threshold concept to both graduate and undergraduate students. In general, graduate students responded more positively to COTGAME than undergraduate students. The instructional value of COTGAME is discussed.

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