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 MAIS
School Site Visits
A critical element of Project MAIS
ZOOM is for the teachers who were prepared as Digital Microscopy
Leaders (DML) to diffuse or spread Digital Microscopy Technology (DMT)
within their school communities. The intent of this Diffusion Phase
of ZOOM is to (1.) encourage more teachers to use DMT with their
students, and (2.) encourage MAIS school administrators, directors
and principals, to acquire more DMT units for classroom use,
ensuring that all MAIS students have DMT experiences. |
The in-school diffusion mechanism may include a variety of options.
There may be DML invitations to colleagues to observe DMT classes
or projects in progress, inclusion in a grade-level or small group
staff development program, or participation in one-to-one
instruction. It is important to include teachers, where possible,
in the actual hands-on manipulation of the DigiScope and learn its
educational and technological applications and potential. Programs
for school parent groups is also an important part of the diffusion
effort, enabling them to see DMT in action while seeking their
support for more units per classroom.
Assisting the DMLs during the Diffusion Phase will be ZOOM project
staff members making school visits at the request of the DMLs.
During on-site school visits, ZOOM staff will assist the DMLs with
classroom utilization and in-school diffusion of ZOOM instruction
and technology, meet with teachers, administrators and parents,
assist with materials and class presentations, troubleshoot
problems, and offer general support. The number of school site
visits are determined by need, requests from DMLs, and grant
resources available to support travel.
Following are reports and photos from several ZOOM school site
visits: |
ZOOM School Visit by Dr. Vickie Harry
Carlucci American International School of Lisbon, Portugal
May 8 – 9, 2007 |
Tina Centurio, fifth grade teacher at CAISL organized and arranged
the ZOOM school visit at CAISL for May 8 – 9, 2007. With the help
of the tech aide, five computer stations with DigiScopes and
computers were ready and available for student users. In addition,
my laptop was connected to a projector and a DigiScope for
instruction and demonstration purposes.
Live critters from Carolina Biological traveled with me to CAISL
from the US including vinegar eels, Planarians, Daphnia, Hydra, and
a variety of Protozoa. Plant samples included an onion and some
Elodea. Some small things including pennies, cork, sandpaper,
screen, Egyptian pounds, fabric, feathers, screen sugar, salt,
Epson salt, and sand were also available to explore. Three
children’s books were also shared. They included Science Verse,
close up, and The World of the Microscope. Two identification
guides were brought and left at the school to assist the teachers
with naming microscopic critters.
Tina arranged for classrooms of children and their teachers to
visit her classroom for a DigiScope lesson. On May 8, we began with
Tina’s fifth grade class. After reading a poem from Science Verse,
I reoriented the fifth graders to the Motic Play software. (Tina
had demonstrated the DigiScope and software after returning from
the ZOOM Workshop at the MAIS Conference in Cairo in November
2006.) After reviewing the Capture, Full Screen, Album, and Record
and Play Video icons, the children began exploring the non-living
specimens. Especially the pennies and the screen samples generated
great excitement.
In the afternoon, a class of fourth graders and a class of third
graders visited Tina’s room for a DigiScope lesson. After teaching
the children the Motic Play software by using the DigiScope,
laptop, and projection system, the children set to work exploring
small things. Again, the children showed great excitement when
viewing the samples on the computer screen. Near the end of each
session, the children met some vinegar eels. Many squeals and other
sounds of excitement were heard throughout the classroom.
In the morning of May 9, again I taught a lesson using the
DigiScopes with Tina’s fifth grade class. The children explored all
the live critters and plants. They captured images, made videos,
measured samples, and added text to images. The children learned
the technology very quickly, experiencing great enthusiasm and
excitement as they worked together in groups of 4 or 5 students.
In the afternoon, Tina’s teaching partner brought the other fifth
grade class for a DigiScope lesson. After a review of the software,
(again, Tina had done demonstration with this class after returning
from the Cairo workshop), the children explored the samples and
specimens. Later in the afternoon the other fourth grade class
visited Tina’s classroom for a lesson.
Tina’s science leadership enabled more than 100 children and their
teachers at CAISL to experience the DigiScope technology. Katie,
the elementary principal, visited the classroom during a lesson.
Her excitement and thanks were very evident. |
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ZOOM School Visit by Dr. Vickie Harry
American School of Madrid, Spain
May 11, 2007 |
Andrew Mechling, a participant in the ZOOM Workshop at the MAIS
Conference in Cairo in November 2006, coordinated and made
arrangements for a ZOOM visit for ASM. Andrew planned a lower
school workshop for the morning and an upper school visit for the
afternoon.
Six DigiScopes stations with laptops were set up in the elementary
school. For the first workshop session, six K – 1 teachers attended
the session from 9:00 to 10:00. After an orientation to Motic Play
software and its interface with the DigiScope using the projection
system, the teachers explored living and non-living samples from
the small things collections. The living critters included vinegar
eels, Planarians, Copepods, Stentors, and other Protozoa. From
10:00 – 11:00 ten second and third grade teachers attended a
similar workshop. And from 11:00 – 12:00 six participants including
aides, substitute teachers, and fifth grade teachers attended.
Karen Dunmire, the elementary school principal, was present for
each of the sessions. Her support for Andrew’s leadership endeavors
was clear. Bill O’Hale, the director of the school, also stopped by
the workshops to show his support for the ZOOM Project. Both
administrators obviously appreciated Andrew’s Digital Microscopy
Leadership (DML) in the school. All in attendance exhibited great
excitement and enthusiasm.
In the afternoon, the six DigiScope stations were moved to the
upper school along with the projection system. Eight upper school
teachers attended a workshop from 1:00 – 3:00. The participants
included the middle and high school science teachers and the lab
technician. We explored the living and non-living samples I brought
with me. The teachers were exited about capturing images, learning
calibration, and learning how to record and play videos of the live
critters.
The lab technician had prepared a saturated solution of copper
sulfate at my request. We explored a crystallization lab developed
by Science in Motion at Clarion University. The lab was a great
success and the teachers were fascinated by the growth of the
copper sulfate crystals as they cooled.
Additional DigiScopes have been ordered for the lower and upper
schools for next year. After Andrew, Melissa, Denny, and Amy
returned from the Cairo workshop, they began using the DigiScopes
in their classrooms. After the workshop on May 11, all the teachers
are interested in using the technology in their classrooms. Each
school will have a class set of the DigiScopes to use for next
year.
Andrew’s outstanding science leadership at the ASM has had a huge
impact on the advancement of DigiScope technology now and for the
future at ASM. |
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