Bugscope Project Overview

David M. Stone, University Laboratory High School, Urbana, IL

What is Bugscope?

New Educational Outreach Project (part of the World Wide Laboratory)

Students control an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope to image insects

Primary Goal

To demonstrate that relatively low cost, sustainable access to a scanning electron microscope can be made available to K-12 classrooms.

My Involvement with the Project

November, 1998 - First Approached

Focus: In-class projects dealing with entomology, microscopy, basic principles of scientific research.

January, 1999 - $600,000 ESEM Arrives

February, 1999 - Student Training (Preparation & Positioning of Specimens, Computer Interface)

March, 1999 - First Classrooms Observe

Observations: single-hour, online microscopic examination of specimens they have collected and mailed to Bugscope staff in Illinois.

March - June, 1999

Grant Writing, Proposal Guidelines for Teachers, User Guide and Teacher Manual Prototypes, Arthropod General Information and Classroom Activity* Development

Grants are Listed Below:
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Proposal 1: Hurst Foundation Proposal

RFP: http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/projects/Hurst_Grant/grant.html#call

Proposal: "Biology Curriculum Enhancement Using Digital Images and Audio"
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Proposal 2: Provost's Initiative on Teaching Advancement RFP

RFP: http://www.uni.uiuc.edu/~dstone/provostrfp.html

Proposal: "Bugscope Development: Inquiry-based Learning and Teaching With Emerging Technologies" Funded for $6800.
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Proposal 3: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Office of the Provost and
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Teaching Advancement Board Teaching Advancement
Workshops RFP.

RFP: http://carousel.lis.uiuc.edu/~iris/iris.htm?rn=16231&fmt=O

Specific Instructions for Submission: http://www.provost.uiuc.edu/tab/workshp-app.pdf

Proposal: "Microscopy and Entomology Workshop for Teachers Incorporating Bugscope into Their Teaching"

Article Regarding Role of Uni Students in Bugscope

Studying Small on Bugscope, April 14, 1999, U of I Daily Illini.

Education Reform Connection

  • Authentic (students use the same tools used by scientists)
  • Interactive (communication between classroom and scientists at Beckman Institute)
  • Open System (fosters working outside of classroom texts)
  • Distance Independent
  • Globally Accessible
  • Includes Regularly Updated Online Activities and Resources
  • Learner Controlled
  • Self-contained
  • Easily Navigated (Point and Click)
  • Online Support
  • Structure Allows for Collaborative Learning

    • * Activities include culture, development and experiment activities utilizing WOWBugs , a species of parasitic wasp that is easily cultured and harmless to people. In the classroom, WOWBugs reproduce successfully upon blowfly pupae, which are commercially available through biological supply companies. A number of WOWBug-related activity and resource books, videotapes and slide sets are commercially available. I would like to have some of my students perform a number of these activities, modifying and videotaping those activities determined to be most suitable for students at different grade levels (e.g. K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12). Finally, I would like them to pursue more advanced studies using these insects. Students will follow up their activities by performing activities dealing with cryptic coloration, development of aquatic predatory insects, fruitfly life cycles, host plant preferences, simple extraction of leaf litter organisms, pitfall trapping and sowbug habitat preference. We will develop web pages that outline the procedures, including high quality graphics of the activities and short MPEG movies illustrating incorporated techniques if awarded a Hurst Foundation grant.

    Developed 6/25/99. Last modified 6/25/99.