This study was an attempt to compare the effectiveness of videotaped segments with that of conventional teaching methods. Students enrolled in business, chemistry, electronics, engineering, and nursing courses at Shoreline Community College (Washington) participated in the study. The Mann-Whitney test for unequal N and T tests was used to determine statistical differences in test performance between experimental and control groups. Students in business, chemistry, and nursing exposed to the videotaped instruction performed significantly better than those receiving conventional instruction. In electronics and engineering, however, only slight differences were found between the two groups. It was concluded that wider use of videotaped instruction for the teaching of special skills would be beneficial and that further exploration, especially in technical-vocational areas and the more cognitive subject areas, is desirable. (MB)