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Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=7776		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  makmak16 [ 01 May 2018, 01:10 ]
Post subject:  Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Hello All,

TLDR: I'm looking for the Videodiscovery Math Sleuths laserdisc and teacher's guide.

I've been collecting laserdiscs since 2013 and my father has poked fun at me for doing so occasionally. However a few months ago, out of the blue, he tells me he was on a team for making a math themed educational laserdisc. :o I have been doing weeks worth of research on the product and it seems it was a market flop. It is not even listed in the LDDb.

My father was hired as an "Instructional Specialist" as he was a mathematics professor at the time at a local state university. Essentially he overlooked the curriculum side of the production.

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Videodiscovery was a Seattle educational company who distributed their video curriculum on Laserdisc instead of VHS. They were able to utilize the barcode reader to jump around the disc quickly.

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I have his acceptance letter, student resource guide, and the promotional pamphlet, but my father and I would love to find the actual laserdisc and watch it. If anyone know how I can get my hands on the disc please let me know.

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Author:  laserking [ 01 May 2018, 01:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Hi makmak16,

That's very interesting! It sounds like you come from a good laserdisc family! You must have gotten the laserdisc genes from your father's side of your family, although he forgot to tell you about it until recently! :lol: Sadly, I have never seen a copy of the disc you are looking for. In fact, I didn't know that it existed. I have several discs from the publisher Videodiscovery in my collection, but not that one. Among the ones I have are the similarly themed "Science Sleuths" discs, which you will find listed here. I will have to keep an eye open for the math one , and I'll let you know if I see a copy of it around.

Best Regards,
David :wave:
Author:  admin [ 01 May 2018, 01:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
makmak16 wrote:
I'm looking for the Videodiscovery Math Sleuths laserdisc and teacher's guide.


Nice piece of LaserDisc making history!

Google didn't find much but it looks like a University in Australia got a copy of it so it was definitely released:

Math sleuths [kit].
Student resource book (149 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.), teacher's manual (142 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.), videodisc (12 in.), videocassette ((VHS)(11 min.) : sd., col., ; 1/​2 in.)
Seattle, Wash. : Videodiscovery, c1994.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9045179?q&versionId=10476153

Julien
Author:  signofzeta [ 01 May 2018, 16:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
This is a terrific story. I hope you can find a copy.
Author:  happycube [ 03 Nov 2019, 00:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Someone* posted this on youtube:



(* - not me, it would've kept it's aspect ratio if I did ;) )
Author:  dl [ 12 Mar 2020, 00:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Hello,
You may be in luck - I have a copy! I was formerly the northwest regional manager for Videodiscovery and have one of each title in my demo collection. The set I have includes the disc, Teacher’s Manual, and 4 Student Resource Books (use to retail for $379). At the time this wonderful disc came out in the mid 1990s, schools were shifting most of their technology budgets into networking and wiring schools for the internet.

Unlike a typical laserdisc movie, you do not merely “play” Math Sleuths. This educational disc requires a specialized laserdisc player with “random access” using a remote control that searches by frame number (00001-52000), or ideally, using a barcode reader. The title offers 10 math mysteries students can solve by searching the laserdisc for clues, such as short video clips of scientists, mathematicians, business owners and kids, plus inspect relevant photos, and view charts/graphs/maps that reveal data, formulas, and other info. Uses humorous characters and a real world problem-solving approach to help teach math to middle schoolers.

Do you have a specialized laserdisc player by chance, such as Pioneer’s 2800?
I’m afraid it will not work, otherwise.
Author:  cplusplus [ 12 Mar 2020, 01:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Thanks for coming to the forum to share this information. Any additional laserdisc related information you could share would be great.

In regards to player compatibility, any player should be able to play it since it is just a CAV disc, but a CLD-V2400/V2600/V2800/etc would be ideal in order to use the barcode features.

Could you share the list of the titles you have in your collection?
Author:  dl [ 12 Mar 2020, 02:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Yes, you’re right about the player but you must be able to search by frame number (not time as you would for a movie) using the remote, as all the directories and teaching materials are setup to support frame number or barcode searches. And a barcode reader is much, much faster! My player is a pioneer 2400. The video linked above is a perfect example of what happens when you press “play” on this kind of laserdisc - it plays through all the still frame slides (charts and photos) at 30 frames a second and only looks normal when it reaches a video clip.

Regarding a request for more info, I have a Vudeodiscovery catalog but can’t seem to upload photos of the Math Sleuths pages.

Videodiscovery titles in collection:
Anatomy & Physiology (with 3D goggles)
Life Cycles
Pollination Biology
Understanding Earth
STS Forums
Science Discovery (elementary & middle school lesson books)
Life Lab Science
Bio Sci II
Bio Sci Elementary
Encyclopedia of Landscape Plants
Science Sleuths
Science Sleuths Elementary
Math Sleuths

Missing from collection:
Physics at Work
Physics of Sports
Chemistry

I have a few other educational titles and some movies as well.
Author:  cplusplus [ 13 Mar 2020, 02:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
dl wrote:
Anatomy & Physiology (with 3D goggles)

So this disc was recorded in 3D? I don't see it in the database.
Author:  signofzeta [ 13 Mar 2020, 02:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
dl wrote:
Yes, you’re right about the player but you must be able to search by frame number (not time as you would for a movie) using the remote, as all the directories and teaching materials are setup to support frame number or barcode searches. And a barcode reader is much, much faster! My player is a pioneer 2400. The video linked above is a perfect example of what happens when you press “play” on this kind of laserdisc - it plays through all the still frame slides (charts and photos) at 30 frames a second and only looks normal when it reaches a video clip.

Regarding a request for more info, I have a Vudeodiscovery catalog but can’t seem to upload photos of the Math Sleuths pages.

Videodiscovery titles in collection:
Anatomy & Physiology (with 3D goggles)
Life Cycles
Pollination Biology
Understanding Earth
STS Forums
Science Discovery (elementary & middle school lesson books)
Life Lab Science
Bio Sci II
Bio Sci Elementary
Encyclopedia of Landscape Plants
Science Sleuths
Science Sleuths Elementary
Math Sleuths

Missing from collection:
Physics at Work
Physics of Sports
Chemistry

I have a few other educational titles and some movies as well.


Virtually every single LD player made since the dawn of the format will allow you to select individual frames of CAV discs. It was a standard feature from the prototype stage and was supported by (very very nearly) every single player ever made by companies that made LD players until the end of the format. The only players that don’t are two or three extremely low end decks that I think were PAL.
Author:  dl [ 13 Mar 2020, 04:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
I must be mistaken about having seen a “play only” player. It was decades ago. Still, the barcode reader is a superior method for accessing Videodiscovery’s resources. Typical consumer models do not have one.

The A & P disc has a couple chapters of 3D photos. Not the whole disc.
Author:  signofzeta [ 13 Mar 2020, 04:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
You search by time on CLV discs. The same button searches by frame number if it’s a CAV disc. It’s the same button/feature it just depends on disc format. You can search by frame number through any CAV disc, many of which have image galleries on them just like educational discs. I’m %100 sure I’m correct on this as I have in the past kept lists of frame numbers for looking up certain frames like the beer can missile in Macross: Do You Remember Love or FX stuff in Aliens.

That guy from In Search Of...shows how to do it in this video: https://youtu.be/EJ5msrmf5Twthe
Author:  rein-o [ 13 Mar 2020, 04:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Yeah, you are doing something wrong if you can't access the stuff.
I've only had one industrial player and that was over 12 years ago, but I was always able to play
industrial discs without the thick metal on the dead side.

Would either have to keep pressing play or press play and then step through if it was all stills.
Good luck and enjoy LD
Author:  makmak16 [ 03 Jun 2020, 07:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Hello dl!

I have found a copy of the Math Sleuths. That was my copy in the video above.(I know it's streeeetched. I'm working on it.) As you can see in the video I used PSC mode on my CLD-D460 to play each of the photo directories as single frames per photo. I have a version of the video where I, in the editing software, paused each photo for 2 seconds but it was soooo long.

I'm sorry it's been so long for this reply. Lot of stuff going on right now is Seattle, where I'm at. My dad died recently and was never able to watch it but if you're ever looking to sell your entire Videodiscovery collection, you let me know. I've been slowly piecing books and discs together as they show up on eBay.

Edited to re-upload pictures.
Author:  dl [ 03 Jun 2020, 21:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Hello Makmak,
I’m so very sorry to heat about the loss of your father. It’s sad he did not see the disc, but great that he contributed to it and you have a copy. I’d be happy to mail you one of my student manuals if you’d like. Just need a mailing address.
Regarding my collection, I’m downsizing and ready to sell it but need to speak with my daughters first, as they get first dibs. What’s the best way to reach you to follow up? Is it ok to post an email address here?
Condolences and best wishes,
Diane
Author:  makmak16 [ 03 Jun 2020, 22:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Videodiscovery Inc. Math Sleuths Educational Videodisc
Thank you for the quick reply even after several months. I sent you a PM with my email address.

If your daughters are anything like my brother and I, they wouldn't let you sell off the products you were a part of. (There was no "Diane" listed in the credits but you were part of the Videodiscovery team.) Although I hope they are not like my brother and I because I definitely want your collection. :lol:
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