Video-Probe Microscopy to help Undergraduates Visualize the World

学生在从宏观世界到微观世界的概念转换上有很大的困难。我们建议开发和传播一系列材料，将一种革命性的教学显微镜——视频探针显微镜——引入大学科学入门课堂，帮助学生实现这种转变。该仪器的效率和戏剧性的效果在之前的试点激光资助中得到了证明，探索微观结构：向生物学学生和教师介绍高科技显微镜的图像，工具和应用NSF/LaSER（1991）。这款技术先进的显微镜由一个袖珍的手持自发光摄像机组成，可互换的放大镜通过混合光纤/电子电缆连接到控制盒上，控制盒又连接到电视显示器上。任何年龄和能力的使用者只要将镜头的尖端触碰在被审视的物体上，就能立即在普通电视显示器上产生一个适当放大倍率的光线充足、对焦的图像。这个工具对于激发我们的本科生物和地球科学实验室的研究，特别是对于非科学专业的学生来说，将是非常宝贵的。录像可以按正常方式进行。

Students have great difficulty making the conceptual transition from the macrocopic to the microscopic world. We propose to develop and disseminate a collection of materials to introduce a revolutionary teaching microscope, the video-probe microscope, into introductory college science classrooms to help students make this transition. The efficiency and dramatic effect of this instrument was demonstrated in a previous, pilot LaSER Grant, Exploring Microstructures: Introducing Biology Students and Teachers to Images, Tools and Applications of High-Tech Microscopy NSF/LaSER (1991) . This technologically advanced microscope consists of a tiny, hand-held, self-illuminated video camera with interchangeable magnifying lenses attached by a hybrid fiber optic/electronic cable to a controller box which in turn connects to a television monitor. By touching the tip of the lens to any object under scrutiny, a user of any age or ability immediately produces a well-lighted, in-focus image of the appropriate magnification on a regular television monitor. This tool will be invaluable in stimulating investigation in our undergraduate biology and earth science laboratories, particularly for non-science majors. Video recordings can be made in the normal fashion.