It’s Tuesday, May 17, 2022, and time for Science at ClickSchooling!
(bugscope.beckman.illinois.edu/)
Grades K-12, with parental supervision
This website, sponsored by the Imaging Technology Group at the University of Illinois, was conceived to allow K–12 students to interactively view bugs under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) over the web for free.
Students collect some bugs and mail them to the scientists at Bugscope who prepare the insect specimens for viewing through the electron microscope. Then, a session is scheduled for students to view their specimens and discuss what they see with the Bugscope scientists — all from a regular web browser over a standard broadband internet connection.
You can schedule a session, or simply follow along as a guest whenever a group is having a session. (In that case, simply login as a guest, no password is required.)
When you get to the website, you’ll see information about Bugscope along with a list of “Upcoming Sessions.” At the time we reviewed this review, there was a Homeschool Group scheduled. So, homeschool groups are definitely welcome to participate.
To better understand this website and what it provides, it’s helpful to “Take the Tour” – you’ll find a link for it at the bottom of the home page. Use the menu at the top of the page to sign up to participate, access a microscope tutorial, read the F.A.Q.s., and browse the Archives: Every session is archived at the site and includes a transcription of the presentation and still images of student-submitted bugs as seen through the electron microscope. When you go to this page, just click on one of the markers on the map, and a new page opens with the full session that was provided to a classroom or other group of students.
This is a remarkable resource and would make a great Homeschool Support Group science project.
