VideoLabs FlexCam iCam Technical Information PDF herunterladen (Seite 26)

ICT in the science department 1626 © CLEAPSS 2005

16.6.8 Video microscopy

This technology allows microscopic images to be observed simultaneously by a whole

class of pupils and, if displayed via a computer or digital recording device, images can

be stored and manipulated using suitable software.

This section covers the use in schools of cameras with microscopes. Various items of

equipment will be discussed, together with the factors to consider when choosing

equipment.

Video microscopy technology is constantly changing and the information here is based

on devices available at the time of writing. While analogue cameras have been used

with microscopes, these are now less commonly used.

Various digital microscopes

are now available with built-in cameras, which provide

opportunities for the display and manipulation of images without the need to connect

a digital camera to an existing, conventional microscope. See the discussion below for

factors to consider in deciding whether to choose this option or to make use of a

separate digital camera or flexcam attached to a good-quality microscope.

Some digital microscopes have a separate viewing eyepiece. When using a digital cam-

era with a separate microscope, it would also be useful to have a teaching-head arr-

angement, in which the specimen on the microscope can be viewed directly at the

same time as its image is being taken and displayed on screen. This enables the

operator to focus the microscope and watch the image directly. Using the arrangement

in this way also allows the teacher to face the class while the image is being displayed.

Advantages and disadvantages of video microscopy in schools

Microscopes are used for two distinct purposes in schools: to study organisms and

structures which are too small to be visible to the naked eye and to teach about the

range of sizes involved. There is no substitute for actual hands-on experience of

microscopes. For the second of these aims, students must use their own microscopes

but this concept can be appreciated with relatively little time spent.

The first aim, on the other hand, requires considerable time using a microscope of

sufficient quality for the work to be successful. There are distinct advantages in the

use of digital microscopy for some of this study, summarised below.

• The whole of a group of students can see and discuss a single, representative

specimen, without each having to look for a particular feature on the slide in

use; this saves time.

• Only one good slide of a particular specimen is required instead of a class set;

this saves money.

• A teacher can be sure that students are looking at the right part of the micro-

scope slide and are not confused by another structure or some artefact of the

system, such as dirt on the coverslip; this improves efficiency.

• Interesting images can be saved, edited and used repeatedly if wished, enabling

unusual images or those that are difficult to obtain to be available whenever

required and shared by all students. Revisiting images sometimes enables

previously-unnoticed features to be observed.

All secondary schools in England were issued with an Intel Play QX-3 computer microscope during 2002, courtesy of the

Science Year Kit Pot fund. This has been used successfully in many schools, but its optical performance cannot match that of

other digital microscopes such as the simple Motic Digiscope 300 and certainly not the more-advanced models from Motic and

other manufacturers. Further information on these simple digital microscopes is included in the CLEAPSS Guide R24x,

Magnifiers and low-power microscopes.

1 2 ... 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ... 57 58

Kommentare zu diesen Handbüchern

Keine Kommentare

VideoLabs FlexCam iCam Technical Information Seite 26

Kommentare zu diesen Handbüchern

Verwandte Produkte und Handbücher für Sicherheitskameras VideoLabs FlexCam iCam