Intel Microscope Resources (web based)
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/intelplay/liveview/index.html Excellent site, owned by
Michael W. Davidson, Kirill I. Tchourioukanov, and The Florida State University.
There is a simulated (java) Intel microscope with a choice of microrganism being viewed.
Image capture and time lapse etc. can be demonstrated with this.
They have a Virtual Scanning Electron Microscopy (java tuorial) where you can look at:
grasshopper, bullet ant, carpet beetle, house dust-mite, fruit fly, diatom at magnifications up to
10 000 X.
Modifications to the Intel…
http://www.molecularexpressions.com/optics/intelplay/modifications.html
Excellent site run by enthusiastic scientist/teacher … http://www.rmcain.com/mcama/
This site has a gallery of images, body science, and real-time interactive Intel microscopes
looking at “projects” you can look at and ask questions about.
(Also details on building an underwater and a hydroponic Intel set-up)
From the Digital Blue site (They make the microscopes) (http://www.playdigitalblue.com/home):
http://www.playdigitalblue.com/tech_support/qx3/faq/ …has info’ on frequently asked questions
http://www.playdigitalblue.com/tech_support/qx3/specpaper/ .. printing stickers
http://www.playdigitalblue.com/tech_support/qx3/issues/ … known issues and solutions
http://www.playdigitalblue.com/tech_support/qx3/docs …QX3+ activity guides (Acrobat)
A QX3 photo gallery … http://www.gigaflop.demon.co.uk/qx3/ has links also.
Intel (no longer make the microscope though) official site … http://www.intel.com/intelplay/
How to modify an Intel microscope… http://hometown.aol.com/microfab/QX3.HTM
BECTA site:
http://forum.ngfl.gov.uk/WebX?230@194.H7sFa50ooj3.0@.efa2a85 there is a Rosemary
Feasey forum here on matters relating to the use of the Intel microscope. (see below)
http://forum.ngfl.gov.uk/presentations/primaryscienceonline/feasey.pdf
pdf Intel document
http://forum.ngfl.gov.uk/presentations/primaryscienceonline/feasey.ppt
Intel powerpoint presentation (Rosemary Feasey)
http://forum.ngfl.gov.uk/presentations/primaryscienceonline/feasey_lessons.pdf
Intel sample activities e.g.
8 previous messages and 44 following messages
Title: KS2 activities (3.)
Author: Jane Kennedy, MK Primary school, Teacher
Date: 04:31pm May 6, 2003 GMT
Rosemary
Is there an activity with the Intel microscope that you could recommend for me to try out with KS2
children. Something really simple that is a good starting point and will cover some aspect of the
National Curriculum.
Title: good activities (3.1)
Author: rosemary feasey, northumbria university, Lecturer
Date: 04:49pm May 6, 2003 GMT
HI Jane
There are lots of interesting activities with the Intel that link to the National Curriculum. If you haven't
already looked at the resources section with and the powerpoint presentation of mine, you will find a
selection of activities there. I will offer a few linked to different areas of the national curriculum and
hope that they provide a starting point for you.
One would be to get children to look at an invertebrate such as a spider under the Intel, and get children
to ask 10 - 20 questions about it that they could then go and answer either in school time or class time.
They could take a photo, print it out of a part of the spider and become an expert in that part - e.g. ask
only 5 questions for example, the leg - udner the Intel they will see joints, hairs, claws and could ask
questions related to those, find the answer, create a fact file or have a session with the class like this 'ask
the expert'. This could lead children into work on invertebrates, life cycles, habitats etc.
Children could bring several pieces of clothing from home made from different fabrics, take photos of
them, then compare and contrast the different fabrics and then ask questions that can be investigated e.g.
which fabric is the best insulator (predict from using the close up photos and suggest reasons,
which would be the most waterproof (the one that we can see holes in or the one with the tight weave
and very small holes?)
Then carry out a fair test, see if their predictions were correct and use their photos to explain their
results.
One course one of the best and simplest activities is just to let children view themselves e.g. eye, ears ,
mouth, nose, hair, skin. This links very well and provides a nice starting point for ourselves.
These are just a few suggestions - if you would like to offer specific activities link to a particular topic
please let me know - good luck with using the Intel.
Best wishes
Rosemary Feasey
National Curriculum in Action web site… example of a lesson using the Intel microscope:
http://www.ncaction.org.uk/search/comment.htm?id=1434
Good website with many ideas for all key stages with some lesson plans and a gallery
http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/ec/teachers/microscope/
Use Hertfordshire’s site: www.thegrid.org.uk
Search using the word search option at the top of the page to locate Intel based Information. eg.
http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/ict/research/projects/microscope/nascotwood/ has details of
using the microscope for an art lesson
More links to microscope based materials :
http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/ec/teachers/microscope/links.htm
Kent Education ..3 pages of links to ideas by them for the microscope:
http://www.google.com/u/kented?q=microscope
Finally …a QX3 user group forum:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/qx3/
Latest… if you have lost the install disc which came with the Microscope, you can download
the software (over 60Mb.. takes 10 mimutes+) from this link:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/download.asp?url=/4419/eng/QX3Plus.exe&ProductID=
.. A new Qx5 Microscope with more and improved functions is due out at the end of November 2004.
(obtain from www.tts-shopping .com or www.taglearning.com …page 41 in their catalogue £79.95)
And if your bulbs fail… we will have some in stock at Acre Lane when they arrive from the USA.
Neil Jones