Training software for the visual detection of plant diseases

Abstract

EduAgro was created as an educational tool, free of charge to students; accessible through a web interface, using a desktop computer or a mobile device, with the aim of reinforcing students of the major Agronomic Engineering of Catholic University of El Salvador about the diagnostic subject matter of phytopathology, insect injury, and others.

EduAgro was initially equipped of catalogs about diseases caused by tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum) and green pepper (Capcicum annuum), offering as well a visual trainer that would work similar to a trivia game, innovating by means of a picture presentation to the user about a collection of credible pictures of the Salvadoran agriculture.

With the purpose of validating its effectiveness as an educational tool, there were created two diagnostic tests: one before the usage of EduAgro, and the other one after it; resulting that the average scores of the participants was increased from 2.6 (in the scale from zero to ten)  to 7.7, during a period not longer than two weeks. It was registered a greater use of the software during students` free time, thereby decreasing – though temporarily- the use of social networks and online games, changing them, voluntarily, for a more 
beneficial choice.