Microscope Investigations
(This semester this virtual lab is only done in Biology 1408.V06, Biology 1408.V07, and Biology 1409.G01. You may ignore this page if you are not in one of these classes. Although if you think the topic is interesting, you are welcome to investigate. )
Note to students: This online lab was just modified due to the problems with the Blackboard platform transfer, so there may be some "bugs". Please let the instructor know if you think you have found one of those "insects". Although, if the "bug" is on one of the other websites -- outside of this instructor's control -- there is not much to do about it... Case in point, I just discovered that the web site for what used to be exercise four has disappeared. I am working on a replacement, but it will not be up until next week. There are also problems with the Blackboard Quiz for the 2nd Virtual lab exercise. This will hopefully be fixed by Wednesday. Meanwhile start reading the instructions on this page, and do the first exercise -- which deals with microscope parts.
Short Description of the Lab
Read this page, follow the instructions and do the virtual lab exercises by clicking on the links from this page. In most browsers the link will open as a separate page.
After each exercise you must login to Blackboard and submit a quiz -- located in the "Microscope Investigations" folder on Blackboard Plaza. (Note that if the links from this folder does not work, then instead access the quizzes via the quizzes link in the green frame on the Blackboard home page!)
All quizzes in the microscope virtual lab was originally set to be taken with Respondus Lockdown Browser, but because of the platform problems this is no longer necessary. There is, however, a password for all lab quizzes: exam. You have 4 hour for each quiz attempt. You may repeat a quiz as many times as it takes to EARN 100.
You must also communicate in the Collaboration bulletin board (MINIMUM 5 POSTINGS). (At the moment the links to this folder from Blackboard Plaza does not work, so instead access the Collaboration bulletin board via the discussions link in the green frame on the Blackboard home page!) THIS IS ALSO WHERE YOU MUST GO IF YOU NEED HELP. No e-mail or messages in the regular help desk will be answered about the virtual lab.
Microscope Virtual Lab Exercises
Microscope parts self-review at the Biology Corner. (The figure at The Biology Corner is interactive -- this figure is not.)
Students: This link stopped to work because the Biology Corner changed the URL a few days ago. The link has now been updated and it works again!
The "Microscope Parts Self-Review" will help you understand the structure of a microscope. Click on the microscope image above (it is a link) to navigate to the self-review. (It will open up as a separate window with MOST browsers. Close the window to come back to this page again.)
When you have finished the exercise, login to Blackboard and submit the "Microscope Parts Quiz" with a score of 100. This will make the next quiz visible.
NOTE: Because of the platform problems, if a Blackboard quiz is temporarily unavailabe, move on to the next exercise, and do the quiz later -- or "talk" to each other in the Collaboration Bulletin Board...
After passing the "Microscope Parts Quiz", click on the white, elongated button above, "Microscope Slideshow" located on the "Biology Corner". The slideshow will let you look at some images taken through a microscope. (When at the end of the slide show you are asked, on "your lab sheet, identify the following", navigate to Blackboard and open the "Microscope Slideshow Quiz".)
After viewing the slideshow, login to Blackboard and submit the "Microscope Slideshow Quiz", with a minimum 100.
NOTE: Because of the platform problems, if a Blackboard quiz is temporarily unavailabe, move on to the next exercise, and do the quiz later -- or "talk" to each other in the Collaboration Bulletin Board...
Virtual Microscope at the University of Delaware. (The figure at the University of Delaware is interactive -- this figure is not -- it is only a link to the interactive microscope.)
After passing the "Microscope Slideshow Quiz", click on the microscope image above of a "Virtual Microscope", at the University of Delaware. Take the "tour" and follow the instructions. After taking the "tour" you will be asked to measure the "letter e" on one of the virtual slides. (If you don't know how to do it just take the tour and do it when asked to in the tour.) (The Virtual Microscope requires the Flash 6 plug-in, which can be downloaded from the Internet for free. It might already have been installed when you purchase your computer, or use an STC computer with the software already installed. A link to download the Mac version is found here. As of this writing the instructor does not have the URL to the Windows version, but you can use Google to find it...)
After doing the virtual microscope excercise at the University of Delaware, login to Blackboard and submit the one-question "Virtual Microscope Quiz" on Blackboard, with a minimum 100.
NOTE: Because of the platform problems, if a Blackboard quiz is temporarily unavailabe, move on to the next exercise, and do the quiz later -- or "talk" to each other in the Collaboration Bulletin Board...
Below are some further instructions for the the University of Delaware virtual microscope.
The figure above is not interactive, but in the real "Virtual Microscope" it is, and you can fill in the number of micrometers in the rectangular box and check your answer before navigating to Blackboard to submit it. Click the submit button, and if your answer is correct you will see the green checkmark. (If your answer is wrong you will se a red X.) When you have done the measurement in the University of Delaware virtual microscope, login to Blackboard and submit the answer in the ONE QUESTION "Virtual Microscope Quiz". Unless you wish to continue using the virtual microscope, when you score 100 on the quiz (you submit the correct number of micrometers), you have reached the end exercise 3.
After passing the "Virtual Microscope Quiz", you must wait for exercise 4. It will not be awailable until April 02. In part this is because of the platform problem, in part it is because the original lab is no longer available online. Meanwhile, finish up the other exercises and quizzeds, talk to each other in the Collaboration Bulletin Board, -- OR -- do some other class assignment while you wait...
After passing the "Virtual Microscope Quiz", click on the electron microscope laboratory image above of a "Virtual Electron Microscope", at the Discovery Channel School. The lab used is a "backup lab", setup the last minute. The original lab can no longer be found online, and the first replacement lab did not work as intended.
The intent of this lab is to give you an idea about the 3-dimensional images in an electron microscope, as compared to pictures from a regular light microscope. Electron microscope pictures are interesting to look at, but the pictures in this "back-up lab" are a bit small compared to the pictures in the original lab -- one wish the were a little bit larger larger. They are slightly larger if you are on a low resolution "older" computer, as compared to a computer with a wide screen. It is still an interesting exercise -- and if you have kids they might enjoy looking at 3-dimensional pictures of spider eyes and human hair, with you!
Click on the image of the electron microscope lab to access the "Virtual Electron Microscope".
After doing the virtual electron microscope excercise, login to Blackboard and submit the four-multiple-choice- question "Virtual Electron Microscope Quiz" on Blackboard. When you score 100 on the quiz (you have identified four pictures correctly) -- and you have participated with minimum 5 postings in the Microscope Collaboration Bulletin Board -- you have reached the end of the lab.
GRADING CRITERIA:
1. 
and 
on Blackboard -- 30p
2. 
and 
on Blackboard -- 20p
3. 
and 
on Blackboard -- 20p
4. QUIZ PENDING setup -- on Blackboard (Virtual Electron Microscope Quiz) -- 10p
5. 
Blackboard Bulletin Board postings -- 20p
Texas Higher Coordinating Board requires that students learn to collaborate.
For this reason, as in the other virtual "investigations" lab, there is a bulletin board
where students are required to post a minimum of 5 posts, as part of the grade
-- asking questions or assisting other students with the lab
-- without coddling and/or giving away quiz answers.
GIVING AWAY QUIZ ANSWERS IS NOT ALLOWED.
Learning is not supposed to be easy, it is supposed to be challenging.
I hope you did these online lab exercises YOURSELF, and didn't ask another student for the quiz answers!? And if asked, I hope you didn't coddle the student asking and gave the answers...
Again (2nd time -- don't want anyone to miss it) the password for the quizzes: exam
If you have done everything as explained on this page, you have reached the end of the lab! Excellent!
Copyright © 2011, Jan A. Nilsson.Page created 15.II.2011, last updated 24.X.2011, most likely during the wee hours of the morning on an iMac -- for the record -- owned by Jan A. Nilsson. Web page layout and design © and intellectual property Jan A. Nilsson. Content on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice may not be used for commercial purposes. All rights reserved. Except for educational purposes and 'fair use' (see below), reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. If used for educational purposes and 'fair use', including photographs, source must be given. (Some clip art, texts and backgrounds used on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice downloaded for educational purposes and/or 'fair use' from Internet free domain has no source.)
-- Disclaimer: "Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice", at the time of writing located as a file under the South Texas College's (STC) web server with the general URL http://www.southtexascollege.edu/, is the intellectual property of Dr. Jan A. Nilsson, member of STC biology faculty. The content of Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice does not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of the STC faculty, staff, administration, and Board of Trustees.
-- Fair Use Notice:
Web pages on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice are used for educational purposes; I understand the "fair use notice" below as the correct interpretation of the copyright law. Fair non-commercial use is necessary in order to maintain an open and free Internet -- as originally intended. As an educator I thank whom it may concern for allowing the use of material under the "fair use rule" for educational purposes to educate this and future generations.
If anyone feels that his or her material cannot be used this way I will immediately remove it if notified. 
(Statement originating from www.sullivan-county.com/)
"This site [may contain] copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner."
