This series of case-based studies was developed to help students better understand how microscopy provides us with important information about our world.

There are 4 real-world case studies that ask students to: 

• Understand the scenario by reading background references.
• Collect and interpret data.
• Analyze results and make a recommendation. 

These educator resources provide all the curriculum materials educators need to integrate the case study into a classroom. The 4 case studies are below. 

1. Battle of the Biofilms: students consider using fluorescent antibodies to determine how to best treat a Legionella biofilm on a cruise ship. 
2. The Fatal Flu: students will solve an outbreak mystery using information from Gram stains, fluorescent microscopy and transmission electron micrographs. 
3. Aches on a Plane: students role play being epidemiologists from the NYC Department of Public Health to investigate a case of suspected food/water poisoning from airline passengers.
4. Middle Ear Mayhem: students consider the general increase in resistance of microbes to antibiotics and how this potentially impacts the number of recurring otitis media (infections of the middle ear). 

View Lesson Plan

To learn the case studies outcomes, how they can be adapted to your classroom and students reactions of the case studies, read "An evaluation of web-based case studies in microscopy".