Microscopes For Teachers

Teaching microscopes today may be purchased for less than $200 while high-end models can go as far as a little over $2,000. But price nowadays may not have anything to do with quality and everything to do with the range of features it offers. In most cases, the costs of teaching microscopes used in educational institutions are not a problem for the teacher. But if you are looking for a teaching microscope you can use at home for teaching after-school lessons or tutoring, choose a teaching microscope that befits the needs of your lesson.

For microscopes to qualify as ideal for teachers, they must at least possess the following criteria.

Multi-Viewing – A teaching microscope must always be able to accommodate at least two people viewing the sample or specimen simultaneously. This is critical as it allows you to see if your student is doing things correctly and you can even guide your student step by step, letting him know when he’s doing things right or wrong. More expensive models of teaching microscopes can even allow five people to view the specimen all at the same time, but if you’re not teaching group lessons, this might be more than what you need.

Digital Technology – Modern teaching microscopes today are equipped with digital technology. This is important and also a more affordable option for teaching group classes at home and if you’re unwilling to invest, for instance, in a five-head view teaching microscope.

Modern teaching microscopes may either come with a built-in camera or a camera accessory. Either way is fine, as long as you have the ability to capture images produced by the microscope. In most cases, these cameras are equipped with video capture technology as well, and this is important if you are studying live cells in motion and other mobile specimens. Some microscope cameras offer image editing options which allow you to add text and image overlays, inserting lines, symbols, and words to describe a particular image. Whether or not this is important, however, depends mostly on your teaching method.

Another essential aspect offered by digital technology is connection. Your teaching microscope should always have at least one USB 2.0 port available. This can virtually connect it with all kinds of equipment and gadgets. This port can connect your microscope to a computer, allowing for easy transfer of files, sharing of images, and multi-viewing. While you’re looking through the microscope’s eyepiece, your students will see what you’re seeing also through the computer screen.

Objectives and Eyepieces – These two are responsible for the total magnification of a microscope. Make sure to purchase high quality objectives to ensure optimal image resolution. As they’re both pretty expensive, just invest in the magnification range that your lessons require and nothing more than that. Teaching about geology, for example, requires a lower magnification range compared to microbiology as even the smallest rocks are still bigger than the average-sized microorganisms.

Illumination Technique – Again, the type of illumination technique you’ll require from a teaching microscope will depend on what kind of lessons you’re teaching. Bright field illumination is always offered so if that’s the only thing you’ll need, you can probably make do with a standard microscope. But what if you’re studying invisible microorganisms like bacteria? Then you’ll have to choose between dark field and phase contrast microscopy. While the latter’s more effective in studying invisible organisms, it’s more expensive, too. How about fluorescence microscopy? Are you interested in teaching your students about using fluorescent illumination?

Portability – If you think there will be times that you’ll be on the field teaching lessons then you need a microscope that’s designed for outdoor use. Firstly, it must be compact in size and weight so that you won’t have that hard a time carrying it around with you. Secondly, it must have an all-metal body so that damage is minimized if you accidentally drop it. Thirdly, it must be battery-powered and with adequate lifespan to last you at least the entire lesson. With a battery-powered teaching microscope, make sure that it has LED indicators to let you know if it’s still charging or running out of battery.

Special Features – Again, determining which special features of a microscope you’ll need depends on the lesson you’re teaching. A toolmaker microscope generally has a microtome to help you measure samples and specimens. For metallurgy and geology, you might want a microscope with an inverted frame to be able to study big rocks and other samples. Your field of expertise may or may not require an X and Y stage.

Consider this criteria carefully and you’re sure to go home with the ideal teaching microscope!

For more information, please visit http://www.teaching-microscope.com/