- Empty cart.
- Continue Shopping
How To Buy a Classroom Digital Microscope
- Posted on
David Walling- 8
- Categories: Elementary Science,High School Biology,High School Earth and Environmental Science,High School Microbiology,Middle School Science,PreK Science
Digital microscopes have become a critical tool for classrooms. They allow teachers to display the live magnified image for all students to see. Even students in a virtual learning environment can see the live image and engage in the discussion.
So what do you look for in a digital microscope? How do you buy a digital microscope?
#1 - Software
- Will the software work with your computing devices? If you have chromebooks, is there a chromebook solution? What about iPads? Is there an app?
- Is the software easy to use? Is it reliable or does it crash regularly?
- Does the microscope software include the education features that you need? Can you measure? Can you annotate? Can you compare two images side-by-side? Can you create a quiz with an annotated image?
- Does the company offer technical support? Can you call someone if things aren’t working correctly? Can you email and get a helpful response?
#2 - Image Quality
This should actually be #1, but if it doesn’t work with your device, the image quality really doesn’t matter because you can’t see it anyway…
There are two primary factors here:
- Resolution
- Optics
A low resolution image may be ok if you’re only looking at it on your phone or a small computer monitor. But if you’re going to project for the entire classroom to see, a crystal clear image is critical to achieving the educational outcome you desire.
Resolution is one way that image quality is measured and this is the most common way to compare one digital image to another. It is however, not the only factor that influences image quality. The quality of the optics is another important factor, but it’s much more difficult to evaluate on paper (or on a screen).
Consider digital cameras, for example. If you are comparing two digital cameras and both have 5 megapixel resolution. Which do you choose? Do you base it on price? What if one is a Nikon and the other is a brand you’ve never heard of? Nikon is known for quality and part of that is the optics they use in their cameras. This component is very difficult to measure or compare on a table or spreadsheet.
#3 - Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important components of a good microscope.
Most handheld digital microscopes have built-in lighting. It is very important to consider the life of that light source. If the bulbs burn out on your handheld digital microscope, it’s little more than a paperweight. You cannot get a good image without good lighting.
Consider the warranty of the digital microscope and if the light is included in the warranty.
Another lighting option is to use a backlit microscope stand. This will deliver an image more like that of a traditional microscope as both are lit from underneath.
#4 - Warranty
How long is the warranty? What does it cover? Will the company stand behind their product? Will they help if you have problems?
Most digital microscopes were not built for the rigors of the classroom. Your digital microscope WILL be dropped. It will endure at least some abuse. And it will be used regularly. A long warranty is a sign of a quality product.
Keep in mind that the dollar investment is not the only cost of a digital microscope. The teacher will need to take time to learn how to use it. If it breaks and is not replaced, that time has been wasted. It’s a much wiser decision to get a product that will last.
#5 - Teaching Materials
How to get started with student explorations? You probably have lots of ideas about how to use the microscope with students, but some microscopes include microscope grade level specific investigations that are aligned to science education standards to help get a jump start.
For example, the SmartMicroScope 5M from SmartSchool Systems includes investigations in the 5E model and aligned to state science education standards and the NGSS:
- 20 Elementary Investigations
- 20 Middle School Investigations
- 20 Biology Investigations
Online access to these investigations is included with each digital microscope.
Summary
Choosing the best digital microscope for your classroom should not be taken lightly. It can be a big investment. Keep these considerations in mind, choose a reputable seller with a good warranty, and you’ll have the perfect microscope for your classroom. Your students will love it!
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
This was a very good post. Check out my web page 85N for additional views concerning about Cosmetics.
As someone still navigating this field, I find your posts really helpful. My site is QN6 and I’d be happy to have some experts about Airport Transfer like you check it and provide some feedback.
You’ve written terrific content on this topic, which goes to show how knowledgable you are on this subject. I happen to cover about SEO on my personal blog Article City and would appreciate some feedback. Thank you and keep posting good stuff!
Your posts in this blog really shine! Glad to gain some new insights, which I happen to also cover on my page. Feel free to visit my webpage 57N about Thai-Massage and any tip from you will be much apreciated.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me. https://www.binance.com/ur/register?ref=WTOZ531Y
Hey, I enjoyed reading your posts! You have great ideas. Are you looking to get resources about Thai-Massage or some new insights? If so, check out my website QU9
Hey there, I love all the points you made on that topic. There is definitely a great deal to know about this subject, and with that said, feel free to visit my blog YW9 to learn more about Thai-Massage.