Swift Optical Instruments Blog

An Education Revolution...

2012-02-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

Is an online education revolution coming? Or is it happening already? We have compiled a list of existing online tools designed to make the life of the teaching community a lot easier.

Teacher Tube

Instead of clicking around hopelessly on YouTube where you are guaranteed distraction, teachers can now upload their teaching videos in one place to share with like-minded educators and students.

Be data driven, Not data drowning.

Kickboard keeps classrooms afloat. Integrated student academic and behavior records highlight trends. Automated classroom management systems save teachers time. Customizable settings mean Kickboard fits your school's existing systems from the start.

Kickboard for Teachers

The command: Be Data Driven. Manage your class efficiently by having an automated management system in place where you can sync class data (grades) into meaningful trends (the correlation between student grades and behavioural problems). Bless your data analysis junkie heart.

Edmodo

The Facebook of eClassroom. A "secure social learning network" that solves the problem of schools banning Facebook. It encourages interaction and collaboration among students and teachers because it puts you in the mindset of socializing, with teachers, and students.

Edutopia - "K-12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies that Work" Cleanly packaged website with a clear goal. How-to videos are posted based on real life case examples, such as, online learning in Idaho. Any forward-thinking educator can now share their teaching experience with online and digital tools.

With start ups launching at a heady pace, and iPads being hand out to students to promote a digital learning environment, there is bound to be a learning curve for educators as they embrace this new technology and fancy management systems. Are teachers ready for this revolution? Can we find the right way to use these new tools for the same purpose - to teach effectively? How are teaching methods different because of the different tools used? We welcome the input of all teachers who are curious enough to test this technique and those who are ahead of the curve and using these digital tools.

(via Fastcoexist.com)

Hair, Hair, Hair!

2012-02-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

Just like people, not every hair is the same. Put this notion to the test in an at him experiment! All you need is your microscope, a couple of slides and hair, of course. Try collecting hair from people with different hair colors - dyed or natural, from pets like dogs, cats and rabbits, a man's mustache or beard, scissors and tweezers, and wherever else you can find it. You can obtain hair by taking it from a hair brush, cutting it out or completely pulling it out.

If you collect hair from another person, some interesting things to ask that person are: is your hair dyed? Do you use conditioner? Do you use a hair dryer, a curling iron or a hair straightener?

After labeling the various hairs you have, place 1/4" to 1/2" pieces of hair in a drop of water on a slide, cover it with a cover slip and label it. Check out the piece of hair and not your observations on a piece of paper. Do this with all of the hair samples you have. Once you're finished look at all the differences you noted!

Here are some questions to keep in mind: Do you notice a difference in hair that had been dyed and hair that was a natural color? Was there a difference in hairs of different natural colors? What did hair that came from the head look like compared to hair that came from the face? What about differences in human hair and pet hair?

For more information on this experiment and more activities you can do at home, visit the Great Scopes activity page.

2011 Recap, The Year of Marie Curie

2012-02-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

Although 2011 is behind us now, it's never late to reminisce the significance of the past, and especially of the first woman who won the Nobel Prize and who went on to win another, in chemistry and physics. Look, for the sentimental ones out there, we aren't really

Lauren Redniss, an artist, has taken Marie Curie's story much further. Blending part history, art, love narrative, and a generous dose of creativity in a collage format, the result is a pure inspirational cocktail of a coffee table book any curious mind will appreciate. For the more scientifically inclined, Redniss thoughtfully chose the following printing technique and thus expressed the well-coined phrase "the medium is the message" only too well.

"To stay true to Curie’s spirit and legacy, Redniss rendered her poetic artwork in an early-20th-century image printing process called cyanotype, critical to the discovery of both X-rays and radioactivity itself — a cameraless photographic technique in which paper is coated with light-sensitive chemicals. Once exposed to the sun’s UV rays, this chemically-treated paper turns a deep blue color."

Suitable for: Budding scientists, working scientists who have an appreciation for art, any curious mind with an affinity for a biography celebrating this incredible woman, or anyone who want to see that paper glow under the sun!

Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout, Lauren Redniss

Fisher also gives us some lesson plan ideas. (via Fisher Science Ed)

"Classroom Discussion

1. Discuss ways in which the discovery of radiation had an impact on the world, both positive

and negative

2. Marie Curie achieved a great number of things during her lifetime. Research and list 10 of

her accomplishments"

(via BrainPickings)

Grant Alert Part 1: Discover the Nikola Tesla and Marie Curie in your class now

2012-02-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

Science Teachers, did you think we were going to rub it into your faces the charm and glory of the superb Marshmallow Cannon creation and then leave you stunned and helpless? Let us assure you that you thought only partially correctly. We compiled the following list of Grant Funding so now your class can invent the best Oreo Shotguns. And beyond.

K-12 Teachers, Earn up to $200 for your Science and Math Programs, brought to you by AIAA, The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

If food is too much of a carnal motivator for your students, and your class wants something more intellectually stimulating, well: does RoboRescue fit the bill? You get to make robots and your robots get to help deliver medical supplies in dire life-and-death situations.

Aerospace Grants by the Air Force Association. Nuff' said. Since we believe in the proverb "hard work and preparation meets opportunity", we encourage you to start writing your applications for this undeniably cool grant offer.

Are you passionate about Entomology? Say, studying insects under a microscope? Look no further and take the chance to expand your current curriculum! Entomological Foundation beckons.

Extras! Because in case none of the above interest you and you want to strike your own pot of gold, a well-written grant proposal will always be appreciated. Here's some Grant Writing Tips from BP.

With the above funding and resources, your kids can make rocket science happen, literally! Stay tuned for Part 2.

On Celebrations of The Marshmallow Cannon and The Best Awestruck Expression

2012-02-08T02:36:00.000-08:00

So we have seen this and we rightfully celebrate:

In case you are feeling a little overwhelmed and underachieved after watching the video above, and that nagging feeling is compelling your inner scientist to DO something with science right! now! We have the perfect recipe for you.

Recipe for Five Minute Ice Cream (with a generous dollop of enthusiasm for Chemistry)

Just like the Extreme Marshmallow Cannon, it combines a tasteful sweetness and a wow-inducing science factor. And now it's up to you to think of an edgy name for it.

Registering Your Digital Microscope.

2012-01-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

You just bought a new digital microscope. Now you’re wondering if there is an update to the software that comes with your purchase?

To access the latest version of software, you must register your digital product. You may do this by going to the Motic Website and clicking on the support tab, and then click on the "register your digital product." Next, fill out the information requested; such as the DM serial number (which can be found on the CD sleeve), your email, where you purchased the microscope, and purchased date.

Once the information is entered, press submit, and you will receive a confirmation email with your username and password. Now you may login and download the latest version of the software.

What's Living in Your Backyard?

2012-01-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder what really causes that furry green stuff to grow in a body of water and sit at its surface? Did you ever think that something could be living in that green stuff, more commonly referred to as algae? Microorganisms – defined as tiny one-celled organisms, viruses, fungi, and bacteria – live in buckets of water that have been sitting out too long and places like ponds. For fun, collect some water from your local pond (about 3 cm. deep) and look at it under the microscope. See how many different things you and your family can see! For this experiment and more that you can do at home, visit the American Society for Microbiology’s education page.

Burgers, Fries and Microscopes

2012-01-03T09:22:00.000-08:00

Whether you like it dry, with extra cheese or with the works, a burger is one of America’s staples. And, of course, it just isn’t a burger unless it comes with a side of crisp, golden fries. Do you ever wonder what the juicy American classic looks like under the lens of a microscope? What about all the fixings? Laurence Zuckerman, Thomas Fellers, Omar Alvarado and Michael Davidson of Florida State University put the infamous crowd pleasers under the scope for a closer look at what we’re eating. Check out what they saw!

The Beaches You Walk On

2011-12-30T13:29:00.001-08:00

Sand: the epitome of a relaxing vacation by the water for thousands around the world. But, what’s in sand? What makes up its grainy texture that smoothes your skin and hurts your eyes? Dr. Gary Greenberg wondered the same thing when he first started checking out sand under his microscope. What started with simple curiosity led Greenberg to something beautiful. With magnifications of up to 250 times, Greenberg used acupuncture needles to arrange his specimen and then started photographing it. The beauty of what Greenberg found left him speechless. “Every time I look through my microscope I am fascinated by the complexity and individuality created by a combination of nature and the repeated tumbling of the surf on a beach,” Greenberg stated to Catalyst in October, 2011.

Greenberg adds that studying sand doesn’t only make for marvelous pictures; it can reveal the history of a place both geologically and biologically. For example, a grain of sand from the desert will probably be pitted or covered in pock-marks from where it collided with other grains while a grain of sand from the ocean will have a much smoother surface.

To read the entire Catalyst article, click here. If you want to check out more of Greenberg’s work on sand, visit his gallery.

Dissect Your Favorite Veggie

2011-12-21T14:04:00.001-08:00

Want to get up close and personal with your favorite vegetable? Have your child pick out his or her favorite veggie (don’t worry, you can do it too!) and start your dissection with a magnifying glass and a child-safe knife. Have your child locate all the parts of the veggie before cutting it into smaller pieces and examining it with the magnifying glass. After that, if you want to make things really interesting, discuss with your child how their vegetable adapts to its habitat. Then, for the grand finale, prepare tissue slides with tissue from their vegetable and check them out under the microscope. For more science activities with vegetables, click here.

Your New Microscope...Now What?

2011-12-21T12:02:00.001-08:00

Whether it was an early Christmas gift or a purchase for your amateur microscopy hobby, your new microscope has finally arrived. Now what? You want to check out cells, hairs and anything you can get your hands on, but you can’t figure out how to use this thing. Let us help you!

Start by getting acquainted with the parts of your new microscope. After that, master focusing in on an object and your life as the “next big scientist” will become much easier. When you’re focusing in on a specimen, always start with the scanning objective; if you don’t, you won’t be able to see anything on a higher power objective. You’ll need to use the coarse knob to focus and, while the image will still be small, you should be able to see something during this process. Once you’ve focused with the scanning objective, switch to low power and use the coarse knob to focus in on your image again. Just as before, if you don’t focus in on your specimen here, you will not be able to see anything at a higher power. Now you’re ready for your high power objective! Switch to your high power objective and only use your fine adjustment knob to focus on your object. Once you’re focused, you can adjust the brightness of your specimen by adjusting the diaphragm.

For more information on using your microscope, help with parts of your microscope, tips on drawing your specimen, creating a wet mount and much more, visit biolgycorner.com.

Identifying Your Swift Microscope

2011-11-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

How do you identify your Swift microscope, in case, you need to order parts or service for it? On some of the older Swift scopes, the model may be printed on the head of the microscope, but in most cases, you will find the model on the base plate on the bottom of the scope. In many cases, you will find bulb replacement information there also. If you can't find this information, take a digital picture of it, and send it to your Swift service dealer for assistance.

What is S.T.E.M?

2011-11-15T09:16:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of talk and buzz around the term S.T.E.M., but what is it? Simply stated, S.T.E.M. is an acronym that stand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. S.T.E.M. education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning where academics are paired with real-world lessons as students apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics in contexts that make connections between lessons learned in the classroom setting to work and community applications. It takes learning and theory to the next level, in which students do not simply learn concepts but demonstrate and apply this learning to application. (Tsupros, 2009) S.T.E.M. programs turn a typical classroom into one that is dynamic, real, and driven by problem-solving, discovery, and investigative learning.

Using your Motic software.

2011-11-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

Motic software will allow you capture images, manipulate images, and report out on your findings. The features are user freindly and easy to use. Teachers and students will benefit from the use of Motic software in the classroom.