Most do not continue in Plant Pathology as graduate students and researchers. They must make field observations and recognize when plant health is adversely affected. They will make decisions to implement pest management techniques or obtain assistance from more highly trained professionals. Exercises in diagnosis of plant health disorders also offer other benefits to our students and teachers. By its very nature, diagnosis is a participatory process.
Students become actively engaged in collecting and analyzing information.
Thus, it becomes an active learning experience. Diagnosis also provides a context and mechanism of reinforcement for other course information. Diagnosis also requires integration and synthesis of information from diverse sources, and provides an introduction to crop culture and management. Abstract principles of integrated management may become concrete when applied to particular pest and crop situations. Our Approach Currently available computer technology and a highly innovative software package offer a tremendous potential for us to improve our curricula by integration of diagnostic exercises for students of crop protection.