What is a digital microscope?
A digital microscope looks very similar in appearance to a regular microscope, the difference is what's inside. Digital microscopes have a tiny digital camera built in them can project captured images onto a computer screen. Digital microscopes usually come with computer program and are connected to a computer via USB.
How can it be used?
The digital microscope can be a very useful demonstration tool in the classroom, by allowing all students to view exactly what the teachers wants students to see. This tool can also be useful to science teachers of elementary students, who may not be ready to use a traditional microscope independently. Digital microscopes are perfect for studying plant parts and viewing live specimens, such as insects.
Advantages...
Digital microscopes have some features not found in traditional microscopes such as:
- Data saving capabilities. Images captured by the microscope can be saved to the computer and accessed at a later date.
- allowing many students to view the same specimen simultaneously
- Students do not have to independently focus the microscope, which can sometimes lead to students not seeing the correct image.
- ability to record video and capture real-time images, allowing students to observe objects growing or decaying.
- allowing students and teachers to add special effects, drawings, and text to images projected onto the computer.
While digital microscopes are a wonderful classroom tool, there can be some disadvantages:
- students do not get the practice of using a traditional microscope
- can be expensive
Students of any age can be the audience. Digital microscopes can be great to use with elementary students who probably have had little exposure to microscopes. This tool can also effectively be used with middle and high school students.
To learn more about digital microscopes and how they can be used in the classroom, check out these sites:
My opinion of usefulness
I think digital microscopes are an excellent tool to use in the science classroom, and I can definitely see myself using them in my future classroom. I like knowing that my students will be able to see the specimen as I intend. Using traditional microscopes, students often have trouble bringing the specimen in to focus which may result in the student not successfully viewing the specimen. Digital microscopes will also allow me to make my lessons more interesting by showing images in real-time such as an insect moving or microorganisms swimming in a sample of pond water.
I do think it is necessary for science teachers to allow their students a hands-on lab experience and for that reason, I do not think digital microscopes should be used on lab days. Students need to acquire the skills to focus and adjust a traditional microscope. I do think think this tool is perfect for demonstrations, and non-laboratory instruction.
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