Using Videos to Enhance Student Proficiency in Soil Science Calculations.

Topics in a soil science course that involve calculations have traditionally been challenging for students. Students often request additional assistance in preparing for exams that involve calculations related to volume-mass relationships, soil water expressions and fertilizer commendations. As a substitute to one-on-one review meetings, we prepared videos that discussed various equations and discussed step-by-step calculations of sample problems. Videos are produced by Adobe Connect®. Online links to the videos are provided to students for unlimited access. Students have found these videos as helpful tools in enhancing understanding and proficiency in performing calculations. While a number of students did not use the videos due to various reasons, many students who accessed the videos believed that their scores in assignments and exams were definitely better because of the extra help provided by the videos. Student comments about the videos were generally positive and they recommend that similar videos be prepared to compliment classroom discussions of complicated concepts in soil science.