Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have any apps for Apple Handhelds?

SPARKvue is a free app that can be downloaded from the App Store. It allows you to use the accelerometers found on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to measure acceleration in three dimensions. By adding a PasPort AirLink2 any PasPort sensor can be used to collect data and display it on these Apple devices.

Can the SPARK be used with SMARTBoards?

The SPARK is designed to be used with SMARTBoards. Each SPARK is shipped with a CD which includes a SPARKvue emulator. Simply load this emulator on the computer used with the SMARTBoard and connect the SPARK to the computer with a USB cable purchased separately (PS-2528) and your SMARTBoard becomes a giant SPARK learning system.

Are dataloggers not used primarily for teaching physics?

With over 80 sensors now available, there are applications for Pasco dataloggers in all of the sciences.

If I am a science teacher teaching outside my specialty how can the SPARK help me to teach a particular topic?

Each SPARK comes preloaded with 61 activities uniformly distributed over the areas of elementary, middle school, biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. The CD shipped with the SPARK contains a teacher reference file which for each of the activities provides the following:
     - Objectives for the activity
     - Time requirements
     - Materials list
     - Concepts that should have been covered prior to the activity
     - Instructions for preparation of activities
     - Safety Considerations
     - Sample data and answers to all questions asked in the activity

What type of professional development is available once I have purchased from your company?

As part of the purchase an on-site training session may be negotiated. Our website www.ayva.ca lists a number of free educator resources such as product and training videos, YouTube videos, On-line training and professional development, and free on-line experiments for use with Pasco Probeware