Microscopy video hosted on LUTube (Dr John Heritage - Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology)

Brief outline of the project

Students are often intimidated by the apparent complexity of light microscopes but with a bit of practice, these instruments are not hard to set up for optimal results. This video was designed to use a personal delivery by the module manager to show that setting up a microscope is not such a hard thing to do.

Aims and Objectives (Why?)

This video aims to take away some concerns that students have about setting up a microscope, using a familiar figure, the module manger, actually going through the process quickly and efficiently, while explaining what each step is and why it is used.

Project methodology (How?)

Setting up a microscope is a process that should be done in a logical order, which was pre-defined. The storyboard was thus defined by the process to be illustrated. The introduction and end were extemporised on filming.

Reflections on the experience

Using a proscribed method and a technique that is very familiar, it was very easy to produce this video. Shot choices were easy since they suggested themselves from the outline of the technique being illustrated. Editing the material was also a straightforward experience. It probably worked as well as it did, however, because the subject material was very familiar and I was able to describe the process largely as a one-shot sequence. Familiarity with the subject is the key to the success of this project. Colleagues and laboratory demonstrators like the video, which has only just been released to students. Although feedback has been requested through the VLE link, the video has only been viewed seven times at time of writing.

Links / other information

The video is accessible on LUTube: http://lutube.leeds.ac.uk/mic6jh/videos/385

It has also been uploaded directly into the VLE MICR1010 content collection - but access is exceptionally slow by this route.