Science teaching colleagues,
As you may know from my previous posts here, I am interested in the potential of the Foldscope microscope for adult secondary education science and/or health literacy classes. I have just received a reply from the Foldscope inventor, Dr. Manu Prakash at Stanford University, indicating interest in including ABE science classes in a beta test of Foldscope. For more information about the beta test go to http://www.foldscope.com If you are interested in the possibility of participating, please email me at djrosen123@gmail.com . If you know other adult basic education science educators who might be interested, please forward this post to them, and ask them to contact me. I am eager to know if our field is interested in participating in this beta test, and would like to hear from those who are interested before Friday April 11th.
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Comments
Colleagues,
I have heard from adult education science teachers and health literacy educators in Ohio, New York and Louisiana who are interested in beta testing the Foldscope high power, durable, inexpensive (under $1.00) microscope in their classes. If you are interested, please email me by Friday, April 11th. If you know adult education science or health literacy teachers who may be interested, please forward my original post on this, and ask them to email me. If you want to learn more about the Foldscope, watch the videos at:
Inventor, Manu Prakash's TED Talk:
http://www.ted.com/talks/manu_prakash_a_50_cent_microscope_that_folds_like_origami?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2014-03-08&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_content=talk_of_the_week_button
A more recent YouTube video:
http://www.technologyreview.com/view/525471/the-1-origami-microscope/
Thanks.
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Science teaching colleagues,
I am excited to report that the adult education teachers of science volunteer Foldscope microscope beta test project, with over a dozen adult basic and secondary education teachers, has been fascinating, worthwhile for teachers and students, and has had a range of kinds of learning for students. Winding down now -- I already have 25% of the lesson plans and project reports -- I can tell you that making the Foldscopes was easy for teachers and students, that with minor exceptions they worked well, and that teachers and adult learners liked them. (Some learners want to buy them for themselves and/or for their children when they are available). When I get all the reports, I hope by the end of June, I will write a project summary and post it here. Then, if you have questions -- which I hope you do -- I could ask some of the participants who are already members of the Science CoP -- or others who would be willing to join -- to answer them.
For more information about the Foldscope, an inexpensive, fairly high-powered, durable microscope that one can carry in one's pocket, designed in particular for low-income and developing countries, you could watch these videos:
Inventor, Manu Prakash's TED Talk:
http://www.ted.com/talks/manu_prakash_a_50_cent_microscope_that_folds_like_origami?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2014-03-08&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_content=talk_of_the_week_button
A more recent YouTube video:
http://www.technologyreview.com/view/525471/the-1-origami-microscope/
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Science teaching colleagues,
Remember the Foldscope beta test project launched here last year? The Foldscope, you may recall, is a newly-invented, high-powered pocket microscope that is projected, when released, to cost under $2.00. The beta test is now complete, and although most of the participants were in poor countries, adult education teachers of science and their students, at my request, were also included. You can read the Final Report and below is the background and summary of the project in that report.
What do you think? What questions or comments do you have about the report or the project?
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
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Background
In April 2014, I posted this message to the LINCS national adult education teachers of science community of practice:
“I am interested in the potential of the Foldscope microscope for adult secondary education science and/or health literacy classes. I have just received a reply from the Foldscope inventor, Dr. Manu Prakash at Stanford University, indicating interest in including ABE science classes in a beta test of Foldscope. For more information about the beta test go to http://www.foldscope.com . If you are interested in the possibility of participating, please email me….. If you know other adult basic education science educators who might be interested, please forward this post to them, and ask them to contact me. I am eager to know if our field is interested in participating in this beta test, and would like to hear from those who are interested before Friday April 11th.”
There was a very positive response, so I submitted a proposal to the Foldscope project, and in December 2014 it was approved.
I proposed to distribute Foldscopes to teachers who would agree to:
Over several months, seven teachers, from various parts of the country: Evanston, Wyoming; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Beaver, Pennsylvania; Springfield, Ohio; Winterville, North Carolina; Monroe, North Carolina, and Largo, Maryland, used Foldscopes with their adult learners in short-term science projects. Below are their reports, and lesson plans.
Many thanks to Manu Prakash and his Foldscope project team for providing access to the Foldscopes for beta testing with adult basic skills learners in the U.S., and for being immediately responsive to my many inquiries and requests as the beta test project began. Many, thanks, too, to the dedicated adult education teachers who created lesson plans, beta-tested the Foldscope with their students, and wrote the reports included here.
Summary of Project Findings
“To be able to carry a microscope to different environments enables students to think about education in a completely new way. Education is no longer restricted to the classroom; it is a part of everyday life and living.” April Lange, Evanston Wyoming
Advantages and opportunities provided by the Foldscopes included:
Challenges in using Foldscopes included:
Other comments:
End of Summary. For the individual teacher reports and lesson plans, read the Final Report .