Buying a Microscope

You've figured out what microscope is best for you and you're ready to dish out the money for one that'll be worth it. Here's the top ten features to think about as you make this purchase. Remember, in many instances, you're investing in the future!

1. Student-Proof Features: Things like locked-on eyepiece(s), one-piece head, retractable objective lenses and locked on stage clips can make a world of difference in the classroom.
2. All-Metal Construction
3. Built-In Cord Holder
4. Unique Features like retractable sealed objectives, built-in carrying handle and Pointmaster eyepieces can make your microscope even better!
5. Warranty: Make sure you're familiar with the warranty of the microscope you're looking to purchase.
6. After-Sales Supports: This can be crucial when you excitingly unpack your microscope, think you're ready to go and then something doesn't work right. Technical and digital support can get you back up and running.
7. Energy-Efficient Illumination: Cool light, low electricity use, long-lasting bulb, easy bulb access.
8. Variable Illumination
9. User Manual
10. Standardized Design to Meet Curriculum Needs

"Keeping the 'T' in STEM"

In 1994, Laura Reasoner Jones started an after school club called Girls Excelling in Math and Science (GEMS Club) to encourage girls to engage in STEM activities and spark their interest in STEM career fields.  Over the past 18 years, Jones says they've had a ball and the girls have thrived.

This year, Jones wants to do something she hasn't done before: motivate girls to embrace technology as creators, not users. Since it's been easy to offer experiences and activities in the other three STEM components (science, engineering and math) Jones wants to focus her energy on breaking down the barriers that keep women and young girls away from technology.

Jones explains that early exposure to IT can build confidence in girls, and encourage them to pursue future educational opportunities in the field. Even better, careers in IT are plentiful, high-paying and meaningful.

Despite the facts, enrollment and participation in computing classes has been dropping steadily since the 1980s, and fewer and fewer women are graduating with computer science or IT degrees. There's two problems here: girls are missing out on great career opportunities, and the world is missing out on their talents and perspectives as women.

Jones says that there are several resources we can look at to overcome this dilemma. The National Center for Women and Information Technology offers educators 60 downloadable ideas, including Computer Science in a Box, which teaches the premises of computing without the use of machines. Then there's Alice (alice.org), a program that encourages children, particularly girls, to explore computer science and programming.

While the programs Jones mentions may spark an interest in IT, a girl won't really be enticed unless she feels comfortable in the area. Jones encourages everyone to look around the computer lab/room where girls learn. If the room looks like a locker room or "man cave," educators may want to consider transforming the room to a place where girls and boys of all cultures are welcome with posters of successful men and women alike. 

We can all work together to make technology inviting and not intimidating for girls - let's do it!

To read more of Jones' commentary, click here.

Career of the Month

NSTA's career of the month for October is inventor! Dean Kamen, inventor of the segway, is an incredible example of an innovator and entrepreneur. He holds more than 440 United States and foreign patents, many of them for medical devices like the portable dialysis system and an all-terrain wheelchair.  It isn't surprising that Kamen has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He also founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit that runs robotics competitions to generate excitement in students about science and technology.

Kamen's advice to students: do what you're passionate about. As he told Luba Vangelova, "Nobody will get really good at something unless they're passionate about it. We all went to gym class, but those who wanted to excel at sports had to commit themselves to practice after school. Science and math are the same."

To find out more and to look at other interesting STEM careers, visit the NSTA website.

Selecting the Right Microscope

Swift knows that choosing the right microscope for your classroom can be confusing. Before you decide to buy, here are some important questions you should ask yourself:

• Will you be teaching elementary, intermediate, high school or university students?
• Do you need a microscope with special features like the ability to capture images?
• Do you want a microscope that can be used in the classroom as well as out in the field?
• Do you want a microscope that can integrate with your existing technology or with future technology?

Okay, now that we have the basics answered, it's important to evaluate the major microscope types. There are compound microscopes and stereo microscopes.

Compound microscopes are comprised of two lens systems: the eyepiece and the objective. They provide high magnification power and a two-dimensional view of specimens. Compound microscopes also have several eyepiece options including monocular (one), binocular (two) and trinocular (three, generally used with a camera). Compound microscopes are ideal for applications such as viewing blood samples, cells and cell structures, bacteria, pond water and liquids. It is generally thought that monocular microscopes are easier for young students to use.

Stereo microscopes feature lower magnification power and higher resolution for viewing the surface of solid, larger specimens. Stereo microscopes are equipped with both incident and transmitted illumination. Because of this feature, stereo microscopes may also be used for viewing translucent specimens like plants and pond water organisms. Stereo microscopes will provide a finely detailed, three-dimensional image of the specimen and are ideal for viewing coins, stamps, inspecting gems, fossils, rocks, machine and electrical components.

   

An SM100 Series Stereo
 Microscope

Send Your Teacher to STEM Camp!

Want to give back to your child's teacher and give them the opportunity to learn all about math and science? Well, here's your chance! Apply to send a 3rd through 5th grade teacher to the 2013 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teacher's Academy! Teachers, you can apply too!

The Academy was started by professional golfer Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy. Working with ExxonMobil, they created a special learning environment just for teachers. The Mickelsons wanted to develop a program that inspires teachers from across the county in and math and science and equips them with tools to ignite their students' passion for these subjects, and that's exactly what they did. While they're at the Academy, teachers do lots of cool math and science experiments that they can share in the classroom. 

Joined by math and science experts from the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) and Math Solutions, teachers are taught fun ways to teach their students about math and science. When teachers return, they'll be ready to develop the next generation of science savvy citizens who will grow up to make the next breakthrough in medicine, in energy or in any other science or math field.

All expenses are paid for the one week program for the teachers selected. In 2012, over 200 teachers were selected.

You only have until Oct. 31 too apply, so you better do it quickly! To learn more about the program and to apply, click here.

Cultivate a Professional Tutor State of Mind

Teachers, have you run into problematic children who just refuse to learn in your class? Sometimes even after expending ginormous effort into preparing lesson plans and elaborately engaging activities, some children will still stubbornly resist to learn (or perform). Fortunately, this scenario tends to diminish as kids grow older. Some kids simply grow out of it. Others settled for the fact that they must learn to earn a future. And still others stumble to get by. Is this really it? Must these students submit to the dismal "reality" and be "forced" to learn?


Fortunately, education is the combined efforts of both teachers and parents. And the exciting news is, last we checked, anyone can adopt the mindset of a professional tutor! Whether you are a beginner educator,  a veteran teacher, or a concerned parent, you are able to tackle universal problems that children struggle in their process of learning. 

Marian Ruben, who recently published How to Tutor Your Own Child, offers some tried-and-tested, distilled advice for the parents who are dealing with kids who find learning boring. In one of her chapter's, the ingenuity of Marina's approach lies in her emphasis of basics, which concerns 

1. the parents to show that they care about learning to their child, and 
2. the parents to acquire the mindset of a professional tutor

(If you don't love learning, for the sake of your child, pretend you do.)

In case you find the talk above too fluffy for your pragmatic-liking, there are some practical pointers she provides to tackle everyday problems you encounter. For instance, how you may take opportunities to show your enthusiasm in learning in various contexts:

Here are other ways to show that you love learning:

• Value learners. Whether it means making positive comments about the "nerd" character in a television show or praising the efforts of a neighbor who has decided to study gardening, send your child the message that you admire people who make the choice to investigate and acquire knowledge.
• Ask follow-up questions. Let's say uncle Frank visits and talks about his interest in phrenology. Don't just go "uh huh." Find out what phrenology is, why he started studying it, and whether anyone still really thinks that you can measure architectural talent by skull shape.

Even if you don't really believe any of the above, the book is full of little gems worthy of a hearty chuckle: (And let's be honest, in the profession of teaching, who doesn't need a good chuckle?) 

STUDENT: Why do I have to study Portuguese? That's not fair.
BAD PARENT-TUTOR: Life's not fair.
GOOD PARENT-TUTOR: What if Brazil invades America? You'll be able to translate!

Lastly, we leave you with a quote to ruminate to start off the week:

taking action and taking the right action can be two very different things. - Cal Newport (Study Hacks)

(excerpt via How To Tutor Your Own Child, Study Hack Blog)