Train Your Lab Instructors for Basic Microscope Troubleshooting and Preparation!

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2013, Volume 34

Abstract

It can be a daunting task for student lab instructors (LIs) to deal with common microscope problems during a lab exercise. We prepare our LIs for this with a simple exercise. Microscopes are set out on the bench-tops with items (stage stop, iris diaphragm, condenser, illuminator, etc.) "mal-adjusted." The LIs must troubleshoot any problems and focus on a prepared microscope slide specimen in a specified time or "race" to see who can clean the scope and focus first. They must also deal with other additional common student errors (i.e. slide upside down on the stage) to win a small reward.

Keywords:  microscopes, lab instructors

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2012)