Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) has established the Microscopic Imaging Technology Learning Centre (“the MITLC”) funded by Quality Education Fund in 2021. MITLC is equipped with scanning electron microscopes and advanced microscopes for developing a database of high-quality biological images. This database is image-based, and includes a numbers of microscopic images and videos of animals and plants. The invisible tiny world is now revealed with this database.

In addition, the MITLC is the first learning centre in Hong Kong which provides secondary students research grade microscopic imaging devices for learning. Students who are studying Biology in senior forms and Integrated Science in junior forms are allowed to investigate organisms and gain biological knowledge through our advanced microscopic imaging system.

Objectives

• Introduction of STEM element to biological education by establishment of a Learning Centre open to all secondary students, for microscopic observation and imaging of biological world, utilizing modern technology.
• Providing a platform for teachers and students to access and download high-quality microscopic images and videos for teaching and learning purposes.
• Encourage teachers to use images and videos of local organism examples in biology education.
• Design learning activities and production of teaching materials for learning of microscopy

Our Work

In this QEF project, we have designed 5 courses with different depths for the MITLC. Three of them are suitable for senior form students studying biology while the other two courses are suitable for junior form students. From January to July 2023, we provided a total of 40 lessons (26 lessons for senior form, 14 lessons for junior form), with over 900 participating students. Through the learning activities, students acquired the skills to utilize different microscopic imaging techniques. Not only did they learn how to operate a scanning electron microscope, a stereo microscope or a compound microscope, but they also conducted analysis and discussion based on the microscopic photos or videos they had taken in classes. They also shared their learning achievements with their classmates.

Senior Biology Classes:

1. Exploring Electron Microscopy – Reproductive Strategies of Flowering Plants
2. Exploring Electron Microscopy – The World of Insects
3. Exploring the World of Aquatic Microorganisms

Junior Classes:

1. Exploring Electron Microscopy – Flowers and Pollens
2. Exploring the World of Aquatic Microorganisms

Moreover, we have organized 4 teacher workshops in March, June and October 2023, with more than 70 teachers attending. The content included: Sharing the skills of identifying aquatic microorganisms by the microbiological medical technologist ; co-organizing workshops with the Education Bureau for biology teachers to operate different types of microscopes; preparing temporary mount slides to observe different stages of mitotic cell division in plant cells; introducing the use of the microscopic image database on this webpage by the biology panel teacher of Ho Koon Centre.

After the completion of this project, the MITLC will continue to support the daily biology courses in Ho Koon Centre, and our biology teachers will continue to update the content of the database.

Production team

Ho Koon Natural Education cum Astronomical Centre (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen)

Project supervisor: Mr. KWOK Chi Tai (Principal)

Teacher in charge of the project: Ms. AU Chi Yan

Research officer: Ms. FU Ka Wing

Biology teacher: Mr. WONG Chi Chun, Mr. CHAN Kam Kong, Ms. WONG Hoi Yan, Ms. CHIM Hoi Ying, Mr. CHUI Chun Fung

Intern: Ms. HO Wing Yu, Mr. CHAU Yam Chiu