Purdue News
Purdue News
"Testing Dissolved Oxygen Using the Winkler Method" provides students with instruction on basic water chemistry testing, which is critical for maintaining healthy fish, said LaDon Swann, the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant aquaculture specialist who developed the CD-ROM.
"Dissolved oxygen is the most important water test conducted on a farm or in an aquaculture laboratory," said Swann, who works with high-school vocational instructors in Illinois and Indiana. He also works with a growing number of producers who are adopting aquaculture as an alternative agricultural crop or a full-time endeavor.
The interactive computer program is designed as a laboratory supplement for discussions about water chemistry and ecology for both vocational agriculture or agri-science teachers and students. In addition, secondary biology and chemistry teachers can utilize its focus on water chemistry, Swann said. Producers new to the field of aquaculture may also find it helpful.
"The CD-ROM is a valuable tool because it provides a self-paced learning experience that is reinforced through observations, simulations and practice-and-drill exercises," Swann said. "When students master the technique for dissolved oxygen testing, they will see the impact of better fish health and survival on the market."
The computer-based training features more than a 100 screens of text, 33 color photographs, 30 audio clips and two video segments to illustrate dissolved-oxygen concepts. Topics include:
The CD-ROM runs on any computer with a 4x or better CD-ROM player and soundcard, a Windows platform of 3.1 or higher, or Macintosh. The cost of the program is $15 for teachers and $25 for the general public. To place an order, or for more information on "Testing Dissolved Oxygen Using the Winkler Method," contact LaDon Swann, Aquaculture Specialist, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program, Purdue University, 1026 Poultry Science Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1026; telephone, (765) 494-6264; or email: lswann@ansc.purdue.edu
Checks should be made payable to Purdue University Aquaculture.
Source: LaDon Swann, (765) 494-6264; email, lswann@ansc.purdue.edu
Writer: Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; e-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
