Monday, August 19, 2013

Can you see me now? Cell phone microscope and telescope

Engage students in citizen science activities through the use of a cell phone microscope or telescope. (Remind students to use ethical care with cell phone photography and sharing of pictures online.)

With just a small lens attached to a cell phone case or with a lens holder, students can produce high quality photographs of the microscopic world or even digital bird watching/natural studies. Available online for under $50, some just $5, the small lens can be glued to a cell phone case (not the cell phone itself!) or attached to the aperture of the cell phone by an adapter.

Not only can the cell phone be used as a microscope or telescope, emerging technology involves the use of the cell phone as a spectrophotometer, one of the workhorse instruments in modern science laboratories.

So, the question is, can you see me now

Below are some links to information on the use of cell phone microscopic or telescopic lens:

Cell phone microscope

Cell phone telescope

Cell phone spectrophotometer kit

Cell phone spectrophotometer paper template

Cell phone spectrophotometer general instructions

Cell phone spectrophotometer diffraction grating source and general instructions on how specs work

Free science lab activities – prepared and vetted by classroom teachers and science professors – middle to high school – some of the labs require high tech equipment and some are low tech

Juniata College Biology

Juniata College Chemistry

Juniata College Middle School

AMSTI - Alabama Science in Motion Biology

AMSTI - Alabama Science in Motion Chemistry

AMSTI – Alabama Science in Motion Physics

AMSTI – GLOBE – free PowerPoint presentations and other resources for teachers
http://www.amsti.org/Science/GLOBE/tabid/63/Default.aspx/

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Toys from Trash

How do you engage students? One way I have found to create excitement is to use common, everyday objects in teaching. Traveling down the aisles of the local big box store or toy shop, I look for items I can use to illustrate science concepts.

Arvind Gupta maintains one of my favorite websites on using toys in the classroom. See his great website at: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/toys.html.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Android Apps I Like

The quest for the perfect app is on. I am always looking for a better, easier way to teach various concepts in science. Below are some of the Android apps I have reviewed and might find useful in the secondary science classroom.

Scientific Calculator Android App

Droid Tesla Android App

Physics Wizard Android App

Hiccup As Lite Android Lite App

Clicker School Android App

A Selection of Audubon Field Guides Android App