NCJ Number
119229
Journal
School Safety Dated: (Spring 1989) Pages: 20-22
Date Published
1989
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Interactive videodiscs can teach youths about choices and consequences and offer the potential for reducing underage drinking, drunk driving, teenage pregnancy, smoking, and other harmful behaviors.
Abstract
Eighty-five percent of at-risk youths are visual learners, with television the main visual medium. Thus, traditional instructional approaches are ineffective with these youths. However, several companies have developed interactive video discs focusing on such issues as dropping out, substance abuse, literacy, and career guidance. Discs make learning faster, stronger, and cheaper. They are also fun to use. They combine video's excitement with a microcomputer's power. The discs designed for youths reflect recognition of the specific characteristics of adolescents, such as their view that they will live forever. Thus, they can immediately show the consequences of each decision the youth makes. The disc designed to prevent dropping out supports the video experience with a student workbook and a teacher/counselor guide. Although an estimated 15,000 disc players are now in use in education, many more are needed. Interactive videos will probably be marketed through cable television if the public schools do not increase their use of them.