Final answer:
Start with the microscope stage positioned low and use the coarse focusing knob to make initial adjustments before centering the specimen over the light and using the fine focus.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you first begin to use a microscope, you should position the stage low. This is typically done using the coarse focusing knob, which handles large-scale movements and is especially useful with the 4x and 10x objective lenses. Ensure your specimen is centered over the light before raising or lowering the stage to achieve an initial focus. After this coarse adjustment, you can switch to the fine focusing knob for more precise adjustments, particularly at higher magnifications such as 40x or 100x objective lenses.