Past projects 2
Measuring Hydrogen Ion Concentration...Got Acid? 09/01/14
Funded Oct 14, 2014The Hanna electronic pH meter along with standard calibration buffer solutions and storing solution will be a valuable tool for my students for the rest of this school year and for many years to come. Up to now pH (concentration of H+ ions) was determined using pH paper or indicators such as cabbage juice. These methods of determining pH are valid but do not have the high degree of accuracy that is possible with an electronic table top pH meter.
We are using these much appreciated resources to accurately and with a high degree of validity determine the pH of solutions that we are using for DNA gel electrophoresis, DNA extractions, protein purifications and protein separations using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We are able to determine the pH of these solutions to the .01 level rather than just to the whole number.
My students now have a much better understanding that pH is a measure of the concentration of H+ ions in solution and that ions conduct electricity. And that every hundredth of a pH point counts. Therefore, they have acquired a more accurate understanding of the correlation of a higher concentration of H+ ions means more electric current is conducted through the solution. My students have also gained the ability to check the pH of solutions just as they do in university research, medical, and commercial biotechnology labs. This is a valuable skill and they've acquired this skill while still in high school thanks to your generosity.
My students are very excited about being able to enhance their personal skills. They also let me know that their new knowledge is helping them in other classes. The conversations about pH have expanded from pH causes a change in the color of an indicator to how ion concentration changes electrical current and how that current is measured by an electrode. Some of the student comments range from "Wow, this is really cool!" to "I get it; the ions in the solution are conducting electricity!"
I am deeply grateful to the donors that gave to Donors Choose in support of my project because this allows me to take student learning to a much higher level than would be possible if I solely relied on the funding available through the district. It is completely validating to have the community support my endeavors as a teacher. I am completely committed to providing the best possible experiences to my students and having a vehicle that allows people to help me do what I love is entirely gratifying and hugely appreciated! Thank you for this valuable gift, your generosity is profoundly appreciated!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Miyamoto
Antibody-Antigen Interactions
Funded Aug 28, 2013We used the Antigen-Antibody kits in December when we were studying the immune system. Every year I try different ways to help students understand the interactions between antigens and antibodies. Like so many concepts in biology, it is difficult to teach topics that require students to visualize concepts with no physical hands on tools to attach the ideas to. By providing these ouchterlony kits you allowed me to help my students make connections about how antibodies attach to antigens and to see some actual evidence of these interactions.
My students thoroughly enjoyed this "hands on" experience. They have never worked with agarose before or used micropipettes. My students are now familiar with antibodies, antigens, antiserum, albumin, precipitin lines, equivalence zones, and antigen excess. This was an illuminating and rewarding experience for me and my students!
Some of the comments made by students included "Wow, this is really fun". (I believe in making science fun! And that doing real science is much more fun than sticking to the usual curricular resources available to educators.) I also heard students say "it is cool that we can see the microscopic antigens and antibodies interacting". I hope you can see by the photos and the letters that my students were thrilled by the opportunity you so generously provided! As a high school teacher, I am overwhelmed by your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Miyamoto