Primary and Early Years > Interest > Science

P16: Improving teaching and learning through the use of microscopes in Years 3 and 4 science
Author: Claire Price, Class teacher, Hunwick Primary School, Durham
Date: 2005

The teacher investigated how the use of Digital Blue microscopes would develop learning in science. The pupils used the microscopes connected to laptops,or an interactive whiteboard, to examine the structures and opacity of a range of materials. The teacher felt that the microscopes would particularly appeal to visual and kinaesthetic learners.

Using the microscopes has enabled the children to take a more active, participatory role in their learning, and to gain greater ownership of their learning experiences. The teacher observed that the children enjoy science lessons more when using the microscopes. In particular, they liked sharing their findings with the rest of the class, a process which the technology facilitated. The amount of detail provided by the microscopes enabled the pupils to draws conclusions of a much higher quality than usual and their technical vocabulary and general communication skills have improved significantly. The self-esteem of students with special educational needs has also improved significantly.

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Primary and Early Years > Interest > Science

P42: Can digital microscopes promote learning in Literacy lessons?
Author: Claire Price Hunwick Primary School
Date: 2005

Summary

Following on from a previous study that found that the confidence and understanding of children with special educational needs (SEN) was considerably enhanced by the use of digital microscopes in science, this study looks at using digital microscopes to support creative writing in Literacy.

Claire concludes that the microscopes impacted in the following areas:

a) Improved confidence, responsibility and independence of SEN children.

b) Boys' improved descriptive vocabulary

c) More able and talented children. The use of a digital microscope enabled the teacher to spend more time developing the gifted and talented children.

d) Usability. The flexibility of the resource - Claire comments that not all areas of literacy are suited to the use of digital microscopes, but she also names several areas where they could be used effectively.

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