Increasing Student Understanding of Microscope Optics by Building and Testing the Limits of Simple, Hand-Made Model Microscopes
The ability to effectively use a microscope to observe microorganisms is a crucial skill required for many disciplines within biology, especially general microbiology and cell biology. A basic understanding of the optical properties of light microscopes is required for students to use microscopes ef...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society for Microbiology
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v13i1.374 |
| _version_ | 1819011944589295616 |
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| author | Kevin Drace Brett Couch Patrick J. Keeling |
| author_facet | Kevin Drace Brett Couch Patrick J. Keeling |
| author_sort | Kevin Drace |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ability to effectively use a microscope to observe microorganisms is a crucial skill required for many disciplines within biology, especially general microbiology and cell biology. A basic understanding of the optical properties of light microscopes is required for students to use microscopes effectively, but this subject can also be a challenge to make personally interesting to students. To explore basic optical principles of magnification and resolving power in a more engaging and hands-on fashion, students constructed handmade lenses and microscopes based on Antony van Leeuwenhoek’s design using simple materials—paper, staples, glass, and adhesive putty. Students determined the power of their lenses using a green laser pointer to magnify a copper grid of known size, which also allowed students to examine variables affecting the power and resolution of a lens such as diameter, working distance, and wavelength of light. To assess the effectiveness of the laboratory’s learning objectives, four sections of a general microbiology course were given a brief pre-activity assessment quiz to determine their background knowledge on the subject. One week after the laboratory activity, students were given the same quiz (unannounced) under similar conditions. Students showed significant gains in their understanding of microscope optics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:36:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef580c74e408494394322930a1fe9719 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-7877 1935-7885 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:36:12Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef580c74e408494394322930a1fe97192022-12-21T19:20:16ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852012-01-01131454910.1128/jmbe.v13i1.374Increasing Student Understanding of Microscope Optics by Building and Testing the Limits of Simple, Hand-Made Model MicroscopesKevin Drace0Brett Couch1Patrick J. Keeling2Department of Biology, Mercer University, Macon, GA 31207Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T1Z4Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T1Z4The ability to effectively use a microscope to observe microorganisms is a crucial skill required for many disciplines within biology, especially general microbiology and cell biology. A basic understanding of the optical properties of light microscopes is required for students to use microscopes effectively, but this subject can also be a challenge to make personally interesting to students. To explore basic optical principles of magnification and resolving power in a more engaging and hands-on fashion, students constructed handmade lenses and microscopes based on Antony van Leeuwenhoek’s design using simple materials—paper, staples, glass, and adhesive putty. Students determined the power of their lenses using a green laser pointer to magnify a copper grid of known size, which also allowed students to examine variables affecting the power and resolution of a lens such as diameter, working distance, and wavelength of light. To assess the effectiveness of the laboratory’s learning objectives, four sections of a general microbiology course were given a brief pre-activity assessment quiz to determine their background knowledge on the subject. One week after the laboratory activity, students were given the same quiz (unannounced) under similar conditions. Students showed significant gains in their understanding of microscope optics.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v13i1.374 |
| spellingShingle | Kevin Drace Brett Couch Patrick J. Keeling Increasing Student Understanding of Microscope Optics by Building and Testing the Limits of Simple, Hand-Made Model Microscopes Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| title | Increasing Student Understanding of Microscope Optics by Building and Testing the Limits of Simple, Hand-Made Model Microscopes |
| title_full | Increasing Student Understanding of Microscope Optics by Building and Testing the Limits of Simple, Hand-Made Model Microscopes |
| title_fullStr | Increasing Student Understanding of Microscope Optics by Building and Testing the Limits of Simple, Hand-Made Model Microscopes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increasing Student Understanding of Microscope Optics by Building and Testing the Limits of Simple, Hand-Made Model Microscopes |
| title_short | Increasing Student Understanding of Microscope Optics by Building and Testing the Limits of Simple, Hand-Made Model Microscopes |
| title_sort | increasing student understanding of microscope optics by building and testing the limits of simple hand made model microscopes |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v13i1.374 |
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