RLTider: 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

http://www.amazon.com/Phone-Mobile-Microscope-Micro-iPhone/dp/B00A6MTIS2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373466141&sr=8-2&keywords=cell+phone+microscope

Cell phone telescope

http://www.amazon.com/Neewer%C2%AE-Optical-Telescope-Camera-Tripod/dp/B009YR2986/ref=sr_1_5?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1373466292&sr=1-5&keywords=cell+phone+telescope

Cell phone spectrophotometer kit

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jywarren/public-lab-diy-spectrometry-kit

Cell phone spectrophotometer paper template

http://www.asdlib.org/onlineArticles/elabware/Scheeline_Kelly_Spectrophotometer/PaperBaseplateTemplate3%20Layout1%20(1).pdf

Cell phone spectrophotometer general instructions

http://www.asdlib.org/onlineArticles/elabware/Scheeline_Kelly_Spectrophotometer/

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

http://butane.chem.uiuc.edu/pshapley/Enlist/Labs/SpectrometerLab/Spectrometer.html

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

http://www.juniata.edu/services/ScienceInMotion/Biology.html

Juniata College Chemistry

http://www.juniata.edu/services/ScienceInMotion/Chemistry.html

Juniata College Middle School

http://www.juniata.edu/services/ScienceInMotion/Chemistry.html

AMSTI - Alabama Science in Motion Biology

https://fp.auburn.edu/asim/State%20BIOLOGY/experiments%20biol%20MASTER%20TOC%20linked%20list.asp

AMSTI - Alabama Science in Motion Chemistry

https://fp.auburn.edu/asim/State%20CHEMISTRY/Old%20files%202/experiments%20chem%20MASTER%20LIVE%20alpha.asp

AMSTI – Alabama Science in Motion Physics

https://fp.auburn.edu/asim/State%20PHYSICS/experiments%20MASTER%20Physics%20and%20PS.asp