Course Content:
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Microscope
- Guide to selecting a Microscope
- How to set up microscope
- Parts and functions of a typical microscope
- Microscope best practice
- How to collect a soil sample
- How to look after your microscope
Lesson 1.1: – Lesson 1 Recap and How to Add a Camera to your Microscope – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Regen Ray Milidoni
Lesson 2: Sample Preparation
- Diluting & Preparing Slides
- How to Focus correctly on your Slide and which magnification to use
Lesson 2.1: – Lesson 2 Recap and Special Guest Stephen from microscopes.com.au shares what to look for when buying a microscope. – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Regen Ray Milidoni
Lesson 3: Morphology of Bacteria
- True bacteria, Actinobacteria,
- Spirilla, Spirochetes,
- Anaerobic Bacteria as indicators
Lesson 3.1: – Lesson 3 Recap and Looking at soil samples under the microscope to find bacteria. – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Regen Ray Milidoni
Lesson 4: Morphology of Fungi
- Decomposer fungi,
- Mycorrhizal fungi,
- Diameters, Color
Lesson 4.1: – Lesson 4 Recap and Looking at soil sample to find Fungi – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Regen Ray Milidoni
Lesson 4.2 – BONUS CALL with Matt Powers – How to Expand Your Microscope’s Viewing Capabilities – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Matt Powers and Regen Ray Milidoni
Lesson 5: Morphology of Algae, Protozoa & Nematodes
- Algae, Pollen, Parasites, Microarthropods
- Protozoa; Flagellates, Amoebae, Ciliates
- Nematodes; bacterial-feeding, fungal-feeding, predatory, root-feeding
Lesson 5.1: – Lesson 5 Recap and Sharing our mid-course outcomes and learnings – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Regen Ray Milidoni
Lesson 6: Morphology of Other Materials in the Soil
- Identifying other materials such as cellulose, plant debris, thread, diatom shells, mineral particles.
- Distinguishing between other materials & organisms
Lesson 6.1: – Lesson 6 Recap and Using the microscope software on Mac and PC – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Regen Ray Milidoni
Lesson 7: Quantification (Counting Organisms)
- Sampling considerations,
- Replication,
- Determining diameters, lengths, numbers
Lesson 7.1: – Lesson 7 Recap and Using the Microscope to identify what life is in the soil – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Regen Ray Milidoni
Lesson 8: Data from Counting Fields
- Putting the numbers in the spreadsheet
- Why do we need to count the B:F ratios
Lesson 8.1: – Lesson 8 Recap and Key takeaways from the course and what’s next – Replay of Live Group Coaching Call with Regen Ray Milidoni
Course Quiz
- A self correcting quiz that will test your skills
