Furman University

Scope-On-A-Rope 
at
Furman University

Through collaboration with Louisiana State University (LSU), we have engaged in a new educational initiative that utilizes a handheld, digital microscope with interchangeable magnifying lenses. These “Touch & View” lenses allow you to magnify images by touching them with the microscope lens tip. Focuses instantly. No knobs to turn or squinting through an eyepiece. Adrienne Lopez, LSU SOAR Coordinator, helped launch our effort with a Scope-on-a-Rope workshop to 25 STEM teachers in Fall 2010. With a borrowed scope from LSU, Furman piloted a loaning program in 2010-2011. Through NSF/NIH funding, we now have 7 scopes available (see descriptions below). Any South Carolina teacher involved with science curriculum in a public, private, or parochial K-12 school within the upstate region of South Carolina, or an administrator wishing to promote science education within his/her school, is eligible to request use of the instrument. Read more about our loan program.

All of our scopes have been purchased through School Technology Resources (STR).  For a full description of the software and hardware requirements and capabilities consult the STR site.  A brief description of the three types of scopes is provided below.  This YouTube video also provides a good overview for the first two scopes - the ProScope HR2 and the Scope-on-a-Rope L2.

1. ProScope HR2   3 scopes available
   Utilizing a USB connector - this scope connects to any desktop or laptop computer and can be used to transmit to a projector or promehtean board in the classroom setting.  The accompanying software program (provided by STR) enables still and video capture capabilities.  Interchangeable lenses enable magnification of 50, 100, 200 or 400 times.


2. Scope on a Rope L2   2 scopes available
   This analog version enables direct connection to any TV or projector (only needs to plug into a yellow video connector).  Without the need for a computer, this system provides the best resolution on your TV or projector.  In addition, the lenses (available in 50, 100, 200 and 400x) are interchangeable with the ProScope HR2 (described above).


3. ProScope Mobile   3 scopes available
   ProScope Mobile is the first Wi-Fi digital camera microscope available. The ProScope Mobile displays live images wirelessly to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch AND NOW WORKS ON WINDOWS PC'S. It creates its own Wi-Fi network, allowing multiple devices within range to connect to it and display the live image on many screens simultaneously using the free app and Windows software. Images can be captured simultaneously to all devices using the capture button on the camera handset; the images are saved right on the iPad/iPhone/iPod touch and Windows PC for viewing or downloading. The ProScope Mobile is battery powered and uses the same lenses (1x up to 400x) and accessories as the ProScope HR2 and the Scope On A Rope L2. 

For more information contact:

John Kaup, PhD
Coordinator of Science Education
john.kaup@furman.edu
864-294-3773

Read more about the LSU Scope-on-a-Rope program.