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 Digital Microscopy Leadership
Grades 6-8 Cairo, Egypt 2006
At the 2006 MAIS Annual Conference in Cairo, Egypt, a major goal of
project MAIS ZOOM was to prepare a cadre of MAIS region middle
school teachers as Digital Microscopy Leaders (DMLs) to introduce
digital microscopy to their students, integrate it throughout the
science curriculum, and diffuse it to their colleagues and the
greater school community. A major step toward that goal was
achieved during the ZOOM Pre-Conference and related programs
presented in Cairo. |
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Presented ZOOM topics included: |
| Overview of Project ZOOM |
| Alignment with Project Aero |
| Components of DigiScope—microscope, camera, computer |
| Use of DigiScope—magnification, stage use, capturing still or video images |
| Use as a stand-alone microscope |
| DigiScopes and Motic software |
| Model DigiScope lessons from the life, earth, and physical sciences |
| Individual and small group student projects |
| Large group demonstrations |
| Production of time-lapse mini-movies, PowerPoint presentations, etc. |
| Student Evaluation Techniques and How to Use Them |
| Leadership strategies for
in-school diffusion to teaching colleagues, administrators, and
the school community |
| Preparation for future MAIS Conference presentations |
| Project evaluation |
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Each participant received 2 DigiScopes, Motic software, reference books titled
K-8 Experiment Manual and Magnificent Microworlds Adventures, assorted supplies, copies of the Project AERO standards, model lesson plans, the ZOOM Competency Checklist, and other references related to microscopic studies including identification of organisms likely to be observed with the DigiScope—Daphnia, Planaria,
Hydra, Nematodes, etc.
Primary instructors for the Cairo ZOOM programs included Dr. Vickie Harry and Ms. Karen Spuck, both of Clarion University, Clarion, Pennsylvania.
Sixteen school leaders, teachers, and administrators participated in the ZOOM Pre-Conference. They represented 11 schools from 8 countries. The participants, their schools, and the countries represented were as follows: |
| Name |
School |
City/Country |
| Valerie Bowler |
Casablanca American School |
Casablanca, Morocco |
| Tina Centurio |
CAISL |
Lisbon, Portugal |
| Denny Dunmire |
American School of Madrid |
Madrid, Spain |
| Craig Ferris |
CAISL |
Lisbon, Portugal |
| Amy Kempler |
American School of Madrid |
Madrid, Spain |
| Wayne Maher |
Deira International School |
Dubai, UAE |
| Terry McLeavy |
Marymount Paris |
Paris, France |
| Andrew P. Mechling |
American School of Madrid |
Madrid, Spain |
| Amina Mechkor |
American School of Tangier |
Tangier, Morocco |
| Khadijah Mumtaz |
CAISL |
Lisbon, Portugal |
| Cory Patterson |
American Intl. School of Egypt |
Cairo, Egypt |
| Melissa Robertson |
American School of Madrid |
Madrid, Spain |
| Andrew Sartain |
Cairo English School |
Cairo, Egypt |
| Paul Sexton |
American Cooperative School of Tunis |
Tunis, Tunisia |
| Adriana Teresa |
Narmer American College |
Cairo, Egypt |
| Rachael Van Fleet |
American School of Milan |
Milan, Italy |
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Program evaluations from ZOOM participants were outstanding, with
overall ratings of 4.81 out of 5.0 on a scale ranging from possible
highs of 5.0 to lows of 1.0, with an average of 3.0. With 10 program
assessment items to be rated (e.g. “With the skills I learned in MAIS ZOOM, I am ready to implement ZOOM in my own classroom.” < 4.87
>, “The purpose of the program was clear.” < 5.0 >, “The instructors
were well prepared for presenting the program” <4.88>), all items
received rating of between 4.69 and 5.0. Further, all evaluative
comments were very positive including, “Thank You. This was
awesome!” “Excellent!” “The instructors were amazing! I learned
tons!! Thanks!” “It was a very positive day! Many thanks!” “It was
great!” “Extremely practical and user friendly.” and “I am a lot
less scared of the microscopic world now.”
Even after the MAIS Conference, testimonials kept coming in. Here is
an example of one received just two short weeks after the conference
ended: |
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“The MAIS conference and especially the ZOOM pre conference was a
fantastic experience. You will be happy to hear that within 48 hours
of my return to the school I had set up one of the DigiScopes
trained 3 other members of staff how to use it and then used the
scope during an open evening for parents. The parents were able to
see their child's slides (onion cells) projected onto the wall of
the laboratory whilst the child told them all about it. The parents
were extremely impressed and the scopes made all the difference. We
all look forward to using the scopes at every opportunity and I will
endeavor to keep the log updated. My thanks to you, Vickie and Karen
for the work involved.” |
Finally, among the 16 participants, 12 made requests for on-site
visits from project staff to assist in making ZOOM presentations or
doing ZOOM workshops for school faculty and administration.
Following are photos of ZOOM participants engaged in various digital
microscope activities.
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While awaiting more participants, Vickie and Karen survey the ZOOM
room set-up at the Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel in Cairo. |
Only several more participant are expected. Fifteen, the maximum
from thirty applicants, had been accepted. Sixteen participated. |
Vickie and Karen check an applicant against the list of accepted
participants. |
Dr. Harry begins the ZOOM Pre-Conference by welcoming participants,
presenting a program overview, and describing an “icebreaker”
activity in which participants learn about some microscopic
organisms and introduce a partner colleague to the group.
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Digital Microscopy Leadership - Grades 6-8 Cairo, Egypt 2006 - Page 2 ->
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