Last summer our staff looked into purchasing hand held microscopes that could be connected via USB port to a computer monitor or a television. The YouTube video I've linked to (above) shows two different teachers using a Proscope hand held microscope in their classrooms. The first teacher is working with elementary students and is addressing life science objectives. The second teacher discusses how his high school students will capture still images of flower structures which they will save, label and study. This video is about 8 minutes long.
The benefit of using hand held digital microscopes is that all the students along with the teacher can see the same images at the same time. This allows the teacher to more effectively assess how well each student is understanding the subject matter. Most students enjoy looking at something that is "real" and not just an illustration in a textbook. In the life science classroom, the students are able to see, feel and share much more if they have access to this kind of technology. To see more ideas for using hand held microscopes, please take a look at another video called "Microworlds" made by 5th grade students at Manoa Elementary school in Havertown, Pennsylvania. The students did a really great job! The learning objectives were to have the students develop their powers of observation while developing descriptive vocabulary of object properties. This video is about 9 minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0O8miZczI4
Thanks! Diane
Thursday, September 25, 2008
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3 comments:
Wow, I am amazed myself at that hand held microscopes. I have never used one but I think that it sounds like a great tool. I especially like the fact that the students can see the same images as the teacher at the same time.
Diane
I don't know much about microscopes but that seems to be an amazing tool to have in class.
JR
Hey Diane. Did your school end up buying the digital microscopes? Are they very costly? What a cool tool for the classroom! I can see how it would help each student individually. I agree that the students would much rather be hands-on with the equipment and the activities than just read about it and look at the pictre in a textbook....not to mention how much more they will learn!
~Michelle
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