WHAT
EXACTLY IS A SCOPE-ON-A-ROPE?
The Scalar™ VL-7 EX SOAR
consists of a miniature, self-lighted video camera with interchangeable
magnifying “objective” lenses. Each magnifying lens has a “contact
tip” which is at the focal plane of the lens; therefore, simply by touching
the SOAR tip to the sample, a teacher or student automatically produces
an in-focus image on the TV screen.
It can be held by
hand, can function both as a compound and as a dissecting microscope,
and can be used to examine traditional slides and samples. Since
the sample does not have to be placed on a microscope stage, however,
a sample of any size can be viewed. Little if any preparation
of the specimen is necessary.
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WHY
"SOAR"?
After obtaining a very
useful industrial video instrument as part of a research grant in 1992,
the Socolofsky Microscopy Center at LSU began testing it, and
other similar devices, with local teachers to determine its value in
a classroom setting. We gave it the name Scope-On-A-Rope so that
teachers and others would recognize the name among those of other high-tech
instruments rapidly being introduced to science and education.
The acronym is appropriate, because teachers and students can easily
SOAR through hands-on activities that have been very difficult in the
past! The SCALAR CORPORATION began incorporating the suggestions
of our microscopy laboratory and those of our test teachers into what
we believe to be an exceptional teaching tool. Through an informal
lending program we introduced this completely new prototype SCOPE-ON-A-ROPE
(SOAR) to selected teachers in Louisiana and Tennessee during 1998 and
1999, and the newest model became available this year. This video-based
technology is proving to be an invaluable aid to K-12 classroom teachers
in all disciplines.
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WHAT
DOES IT DO?
The Scalar SOAR can
be used for exciting classroom demonstrations that would normally require
a microscope and other sophisticated equipment. It is extremely
easy to use in the normal classroom setting, but can perform advanced
microscopy functions as well. It is hand-held and can even be
used by a five-year-old to provide instant, excellent, in-focus images
magnified up to 200X on a regular classroom TV. Its "real time"
video camera provides normal-appearing motion essential for viewing
living, moving specimens. And the whole class can see the fingerprint,
butterfly wing scales, living protozoans, prepared slide, microfossils,
structure of crystals, or almost anything worth examining - all at the
same time!
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WHY
WOULD A TEACHER WANT ONE IN THE CLASS?
Instant intellectual
gratification provided by a SOAR frees the teacher from the kind of
technical difficulties normally encountered with school microscopes
and video equipment. The teacher does not need to assist students
individually. But most important, students are instantly interested!
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WHY
WOULD STUDENTS WANT ONE IN THE CLASS?
Extremely enthusiastic
students can see their own samples immediately shown on TV. A
student can temporarily capture “freeze frames” on the monitor by pushing
a button. Instant discoveries are made: the visibly active sweat
glands in their own fingerprints, sophisticated observations of micro-ecosystems
in drops of pond water or in flower centers, tiny fossils in rocks and
sand, form and function in natural and man-made objects of all kinds.
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HOW
DIFFICULT IS IT TO USE?
This SOAR is very portable
and easy to hook up to the TV in 5 minutes or less. It requires
very little space, and is ready for use without any other accessories.
A teacher may need 5 or 10 minutes to figure out how it works the first
time, but students seem to know instinctively! Maintenance
is minimal, often completely unnecessary. With a little additional
effort SOAR can also perform more sophisticated functions, such as dark-field
or polarizing microscopy applications.
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WHAT
WOULD A TEACHER DO WITH IT IN THE CLASSROOM?
Use it to help teach
science, math, art, and other subjects!
The SOAR is a powerful
tool for any subject where observation is important. Communication
is enhanced by images; TV images are comfortable for classroom learning,
and realtime display makes observation of living samples easy and relates
form and function. Meeting curriculum standards can be greatly
facilitated with this student-engaging classroom aid.
Watch students discover
a whole new world!
The SOAR is probably
best utilized if left set up in the classroom, always available for
spontaneous use by students. The 30X and 200X objective lenses
open new windows for observation and appreciation of the world around
us, and students literally cannot avoid formulating inquiry concepts
when they use them.
"Televise" students
or classroom demonstrations!
Also supplied with
this SOAR is a regular “1X” or infinity lens which can be interchanged
with the magnifying lenses. This lens allows the handset to be
used like a regular video camerawhich can focus at infinity and also
up close.
Make videotapes!
Images produced on
the TV may be videotaped by VCR in the normal way, so that the third
period class can see what the first period students brought in!
Teachers can easily make study films for the class and students can
produce science project videos. At LSU, TV/VCR combination units
are routinely used with the SOAR to simplify video recording of the
unexpectedly exciting samples that always turn up! SOAR
also can be used easily to document longer term projects of various
types, even non-science ones!
Make photos and prints!
An easy-to-use videoprinter
can be plugged into the SOAR to produce instant photo-quality prints
for exhibits and science fair projects. A computer programmed
for video-capture may also be used with the unit in order to obtain
computer printouts or digital files of TV images.
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HOW
DO REGULAR TEACHERS FEEL ABOUT IT?
Teachers at all grade
levels who have participated in LSU’s lending program report unqualified
success with the hands-on classroom use of the SOAR. Its images
captivate students of all ages. Life science teachers
are impressed by the increased interest that students show in the complexities
of our environment after they have seen details they never suspected
to exist. High school students try harder to use their regular
microscopes after they've seen the possibilities introduced by the SOAR.
Teachers in art, communications, earth science, chemistry, special ed,
home ec, and other disciplines also find this SOAR to be a versatile
and exciting classroom partner.
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WHY
IS LSU PROMOTING THE SOAR?
In 1992 the first industrial
model was obtained with funding from an NSF joint research grant to
Dr. Jim Wandersee and others in the
Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Cindy Henk and others
in the Life Sciences Microscopy Facility in the College of Basic Sciences.
The enormous educational potential
of this instrument became apparent, and when the grant’s work was
completed, Cindy began lending it to local
teachers. Their response was overwhelmingly positive.
Dr. Harold Silverman, Professor in the Department of Biological
Sciences and Dean of the College of Basic Sciences, was impressed
by the enthusiasm of local teachers for the use of this technology,
and through university outreach programs, encourages its introduction
into every possible classroom.
The Scope-On-A-Rope
project is a part of LSU's efforts to enhance undergraduate biomedical
education and has been supported by a Howard
Hughes Medical Institute award to LSU for that purpose.
Adrienne Lopez,LSU's new SOAR Coordinator,
manages an extensive SOAR lending program,
which in the past has made the expensive industrial models available
at no charge to thousands of appreciative
teachers and students annually.
Cindy Henk and Harold
Silverman, through the Department
of Biological Sciences, have been working closely
with teachers, students, and design engineers at Scalar
Corporation to optimize the SOAR for easiest and best classroom
applications. This improved, lower-cost SOAR is now available,
and the grant has provided a number of these both for the lending program
and for partner school systems in Louisiana. They have
been used extensively in workshops and programs
for students, teachers, and others (see Classroom
Activities), which have supported by
the Biological Science Department and education outreach grants from
HHMI and The National Faculty.
Dr. Pam Blanchard, Assistant Professor in LSU
Curriculum and Instruction, has also conducted many aquatic
biology and geology education projects and
workshops with the Scalar SOAR, and is leading an effort
to produce self-guiding lesson plans (see
Published Instructions) in these areas. Many
other current LSU faculty in science and art education, including Dr.
Catherine Cummins, Dr. Jim Wandersee, Dr. Leslie Koptcho,
Kathy Thompson, and Dr. Mark Hafner have also introduced
and utilized the Scalar SOAR in assorted education venues. LSU
personnel continue to be impressed
by the enthusiasm of teachers and students who have used the new
SOAR. LSU therefore hopes to promote
this novel technology so that all classrooms may SOAR
with Scalar’s Scope-On-A-Rope!
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WHERE
CAN I GET INFORMATION ABOUT VENDORS?
Click
here!
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