MicroscopyEducation
Remote Learning Facilitated by MyScope Explore Natalie P. Holmes,1†
* Matthew J. Griffith,2†
Nicolas C. Nicolaidis,3 Vijay Bhatia,1 Ingrid McCarroll,1 Jenny Whiting,5
Julie M. Cairney1,2,5 1
Michael Duncan,4 Paul C. Dastoor,3
Matthew G. Barr,3 and
Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, Te University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 2School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Te University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 3Centre for Organic Electronics (COE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia 4Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia 5Microscopy Australia Headquarters, Te University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia †Tese authors contributed equally.
*
natalie.holmes@sydney.edu.au
Abstract: In response to the requirements imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we developed a remote learning undergraduate workshop for 44 students at the University of Newcastle by embed- ding scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of Maratus (Pea- cock) spiders into the MyScope Explore environment. The workshop session had two main components: 1) to use the online MyScope Explore tool to virtually image scales with structural color and pig- mented color on Maratus spiders; 2) to join a live SEM session via Zoom to image an actual Maratus spider. In previous years, the under- graduate university students attending this annual workshop would enter the Microscopy Facility at the University of Newcastle to image specimens with SEM; however, in 2020 the Microscopy Facility was closed to student visitors, and this virtual activity was developed in order to proceed with the educational event. The program was highly successful and constitutes a platform that can be used in the future by universities for teaching microscopy remotely.
Keywords: microscopy, remote learning, virtual tools, outreach, structural color
Introduction In this article we detail the virtual lab that was developed,
including both the MyScope Explore simulation and the remote interactive live SEM demonstration, showcasing the journey to expanding remote learning tools during the COVID-19 pan- demic. In 2011 Microscopy Australia (formerly AMMRF) cre- ated—and now maintains—the online MyScope microscopy simulation training platform, which is a highly accessed tool. In the period from June 25, 2020 to June 24, 2021, MyScope was visited by 141,699 users and received 1,182,252 page views. Te user visits were from a total of 184 countries, with the top 7 countries accessing the site comprising 57% of all users, including the USA, India, UK, Australia, Pakistan, Germany, and China. Te MyScope (
myscope.training) online learning mod-
ules, including MyScope Explore (
myscope-explore.org.au), were developed to provide an online learning environment for those who want to learn about microscopy [1–3]. Te platform
42 doi:10.1017/S1551929521001322
provides insights into the fundamental science behind differ- ent types of microscopies, explores what can and cannot be measured by different material systems, and provides a realis- tic simulated operating experience for state-of-the-art micro- scopes (Figure 1).
The Workshop Platform – Pre-COVID-19 versus Now Te University of Newcastle Centre for Organic Elec-
tronics (COE) Spring and Winter Schools were developed as a platform for teaching undergraduate students from a range of disciplines and for developing and testing laboratory exer- cises that can be used beyond this event at other teaching insti- tutions [4]. Te electron microscopy component of the 3-day workshop is usually comprised of 45-minute excursions to the electron microscopy and X-ray (EMX) facility, whereby the undergraduate students participate in an electron microscopy demonstration of all stages of data collection, including sample loading, alignment, and detector selection—to careful selec- tion of aperture size, working distance, brightness, contrast, focus, and magnification settings for image optimization. For the 2020 workshop, held October 7–9, undergraduate students were not permitted to enter the EMX facility due to capacity limits associated with social distancing rules imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic; hence, a remote learning program was developed. Te remote learning program comprised two main components:
1. MyScope Explore Online Simulation: A remote learning simulation environment where the students simulated mea- suring Maratus (Peacock) spider specimens.
2. Interactive Live SEM Session: A practical session where the students remotely measured the real Peacock spider speci- mens on a Zeiss Sigma VP field emission SEM at the Uni- versity of Newcastle EMX facility by interacting over Zoom with a scientist operating the microscope (Figure 2).
www.microscopy-today.com • 2021 November
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