scholarly journals A low-cost do-it-yourself microscope kit for hands-on science education

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Anselmi ◽  
Zoe Grier ◽  
Maria F. Soddu ◽  
Naomi Kenyatta ◽  
Sharlene A. Odame ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Do It Yourself

Satisfaction Analysis of Experiential Learning-Based Popular Science Education

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Yuan Dzan ◽  
Huei-Yin Tsai ◽  
Shi-Jer Lou ◽  
Ru-Chu Shih
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Popular Science ◽  
Learning Effects ◽  
Education Planning ◽  
Content Learning ◽  
Hands On ◽  
National Science ◽  
Large Ship ◽  
Do It Yourself

This study employed Kolb's experiential learning model-specific experiences, observations of reflections, abstract conceptualization, and experiment-action in activities to serve as the theoretical basis for popular science education planning. It designed the six activity themes of “Knowledge of the Ocean, Easy to Know, See the Large from the Small, Challenge of Vessel Knowledge, Do It Yourself, and Small Book”, with the National Science and Technology Museum (NSTM) as the research site. A questionnaire survey was distributed to 660 visitors who participated in “Large Ship! Formosa! Popular Science Education” to understand their satisfaction and preferences of the activities. The findings of the study suggest that participants were highly satisfied with the activity theme content, learning effects, and the environment and equipment. They also preferred hands-on types of activities. Particularly, “fun and interesting” and “broadening knowledge” are important factors influencing participants' willingness of participation. Finally, the results can be provided to educators, practitioners, and administrators for future promotion of popular science education.

scholarly journals A build-at-home student laboratory experiment in mechanical vibrations

2021 ◽  
pp. 030641902110259
Author(s):  
GS Schajer
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
The Self ◽  
Mechanical Vibrations ◽  
Online Delivery ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Student Laboratory ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Laboratory Experiences ◽  
New Student ◽  
Learning Points

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many university educators to redesign their teaching to online delivery. This can be an effective approach for theoretical and conceptual teaching, but it is challenging to provide practical laboratory experiences. The objective here is to design a hands-on laboratory experience that can safely be undertaken by students remotely and that has substantial educational content. A new experiment was designed featuring a bifilar pendulum that students build themselves from readily available low-cost materials. This simple vibrating system has a surprisingly rich set of interesting physical characteristics that provide several important learning points. Initial trials indicate good student experience with the new experiment, notably an appreciation for the “do-it-yourself” aspect of the apparatus construction. The self-directed features and multiple learning features of the new student experiment make it attractive for use during Covid-19 times and beyond.

scholarly journals A Framework for a New Approach to Empower Users Through Low-Cost and Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3039
Author(s):  
Thais Pousada García ◽  
Jessica Garabal-Barbeira ◽  
Patricia Porto Trillo ◽  
Olalla Vilar Figueira ◽  
Cristina Novo Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Principles Of Design

Background: Assistive Technology (AT) refers to “assistive products and related systems and services developed for people to maintain or improve functioning and thereby to promote well-being”. Improving the process of design and creation of assistive products is an important step towards strengthening AT provision. Purpose: (1) to present a framework for designing and creating Low-Cost AT; (2) to display the preliminary results and evidence derived from applying the framework. Methodology: First, an evidence-based process was applied to develop and conceptualize the framework. Then, a pilot project to validate the framework was carried out. The sample was formed by 11 people with disabilities. The measure instruments were specific questionnaire, several forms of the Matching Person-Technology model, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale, and a tool to assess the usability and universal design of AT. Results: The framework integrates three phases: Identification (Design), Creation (Making the prototype), and Implementation (Outcome Measures), based on the principles of Design Thinking, and with a user-centered perspective. The preliminary results showed the coherence of the entire process and its applicability. The matching between person and device was high, representing the importance of involving the user in the design and selection of AT. Conclusions: The framework is a guide for professionals and users to apply a Low-Cost and Do-It-Yourself perspective to the provision of AT. It highlights the importance of monitoring the entire procedure and measuring the effects, by applying the outcome measures.

scholarly journals Semi-Active Magnetic Levitation System for Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5330
Author(s):  
Gisela Pujol-Vázquez ◽  
Alessandro N. Vargas ◽  
Saleh Mobayen ◽  
Leonardo Acho
Keyword(s):  
Pid Control ◽  
Magnetic Levitation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Control Scheme ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Levitation System ◽  
Magnetic Levitation System ◽  
And Control ◽  
Active Control Strategy ◽  
Cost Components

This paper describes how to construct a low-cost magnetic levitation system (MagLev). The MagLev has been intensively used in engineering education, allowing instructors and students to learn through hands-on experiences of essential concepts, such as electronics, electromagnetism, and control systems. Built from scratch, the MagLev depends only on simple, low-cost components readily available on the market. In addition to showing how to construct the MagLev, this paper presents a semi-active control strategy that seems novel when applied to the MagLev. Experiments performed in the laboratory provide comparisons of the proposed control scheme with the classical PID control. The corresponding real-time experiments illustrate both the effectiveness of the approach and the potential of the MagLev for education.

scholarly journals Mask R-CNN Based C. Elegans Detection with a DIY Microscope

Biosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Sebastian Fudickar ◽  
Eike Jannik Nustede ◽  
Eike Dreyer ◽  
Julia Bornhorst
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Image Acquisition ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Do It Yourself

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is an important model organism for studying molecular genetics, developmental biology, neuroscience, and cell biology. Advantages of the model organism include its rapid development and aging, easy cultivation, and genetic tractability. C. elegans has been proven to be a well-suited model to study toxicity with identified toxic compounds closely matching those observed in mammals. For phenotypic screening, especially the worm number and the locomotion are of central importance. Traditional methods such as human counting or analyzing high-resolution microscope images are time-consuming and rather low throughput. The article explores the feasibility of low-cost, low-resolution do-it-yourself microscopes for image acquisition and automated evaluation by deep learning methods to reduce cost and allow high-throughput screening strategies. An image acquisition system is proposed within these constraints and used to create a large data-set of whole Petri dishes containing C. elegans. By utilizing the object detection framework Mask R-CNN, the nematodes are located, classified, and their contours predicted. The system has a precision of 0.96 and a recall of 0.956, resulting in an F1-Score of 0.958. Considering only correctly located C. elegans with an [email protected] IoU, the system achieved an average precision of 0.902 and a corresponding F1 Score of 0.906.

Development of Bioimpedance Sensors and Measurement System for Biomedical In-Vitro Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 496-499
Author(s):  
Stadler B. Eng. Sebastian ◽  
Herbert Plischke ◽  
Christian Hanshans
Keyword(s):  
Measurement System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Impedance Measurement ◽  
Microtiter Plate ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Single Chip ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Store And Forward

Abstract Bioimpedance analysis is a label-free and easy approach to obtain information on cellular barrier integrity and cell viability more broadly. In this work, we introduce a small, low-cost, portable in vitro impedance measurement system for studies where a shadow-free exposure of the cells is a requirement. It can be controlled by a user-friendly web interface and can perform measurements automated and autonomously at short intervals. The system can be integrated into an existing IoT network for remote monitoring and indepth analyses. A single-board computer (SBC) serves as the central unit, to control, analyze, store and forward the measurement data from the single-chip impedance analyzer. Various materials and manufacturing methods were used to produce a purpose-built lid on top of a modified 24-well microtiter plate in a “do it yourself” fashion. Furthermore, three different sensor designs were developed utilizing anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes and gold-plated electrodes. Preliminary tests with potassium chloride (KCl) showed first promising results.

scholarly journals Emotional Performance of a Low-Cost Eco-Friendly PBL Methodology for Science Education. Approach in Prospective Teachers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Míriam Andrea Hernández-Barco ◽  
Jesús Sánchez-Martín ◽  
Florentina Cañada-Cañada ◽  
Isaac Corbacho-Cuello
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Science Education ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Bologna Process ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Science Field ◽  
Cognitive Improvement ◽  
Emotional Dimension ◽  
Scientific Subject

The emotional dimension in education has become increasingly important in recent decades. Enhancing the emotional dimension of prospective teachers in science subjects is higher education stuff responsibility. The implementation of active methodologies could modify the traditional student-teacher roles that are encouraged by the educational policies implemented in the Bologna Process. The principal aim of this work is to describe a Project Based Learning methodology and to introduce it as potential resource for the emotional and cognitive improvement of 19 prospective primary teachers enrolled in a scientific subject. This is a qualitative study with a transversal sustainability approach in the context of a research line focused on Higher Education for Sustainable Development. A questionnaire was designed and filled by the students at two different times, before and after implementation of the activity. The initial feedback from students was surprisingly enthusiastic by the fact that they were working with rockets, despite of this is not a common emotion in the science field. The results show the emotional improvement of prospective teachers after the implementation. It is concluded that a correct science education is necessary during the training of teachers taking into account their emotional dimension and the social repercussion due to the future transmission.

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