Alumnae Bring Technology to the Science Classroom

Released: 7/18/07

[Other School of Education News]

If there were any doubts that Marquette graduates are using cutting edge technology to teach science in their classrooms, Michele Korb (1999) and Kathryn Shay Hadley (2005) could lay them to rest.

Michele, a doctoral student who also teaches science education courses at Marquette, and Kathryn, teacher at Our Lady of Good Hope and a graduate of Marquette's teacher education program, highly value hands-on science and are always looking for new ways to bring this practice into their classrooms.

This past year, they put their ambitions to work by bringing a session of the remote technology called "Bugscope" to 75 second graders at Washington Elementary School in Wauwatosa where Kathryn was working as a Special Education Instructional Aide.  The second graders were learning about insects in science, and Kathryn decided to take their learning one step further. The technology behind Bugscope gives teachers control of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) for viewing bugs "up close and personal" and even offers online live chat with bug experts. Using this technology, the kids were able to view everyday insects in a whole new way, opening an intriguing world of inquiry and imagination.

Michele Korb introduced Kathryn to Bugscope during her EDUC 140 class (Teaching Elementary and Middle School Science) at Marquette. The course encourages students to utilize inquiry-based methods for teaching science as well as tap into community resources and expert knowledge to extend the reach of their classrooms. Kathryn feels fortunate that she was able to put this knowledge to use. As she states, “Seeing the children's eyes light up at every new microscopic insect image was priceless. It really had an effect on the children.”  Kathryn will be teaching 5th and 6th grade during the 2007-08 school year, and she plans to continue to use Bugscope in her classroom. 

Michele and Kathryn's work with Bugscope inspired them to collaborate on an article. Their piece will appear in the September, 2007 issue of Science and Children. 

For more information about Bugscope, visit  http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/