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Students Teaching Parents – Tech Night at Bridgewater Elementary

Overview

As a progressive science teacher at Bridgewater Elementary School in Nova Scotia, Tony Eisnor has been providing his students with the opportunity to experience hands-on science. This year, the province has made a significant investment in PASCO sensor kits, equipping every single elementary school with multiple sensors and access to SPARKvue software. “My students volunteered to put on an evening presentation for parents, demonstrating the PASCO general science sensor and the weather sensor connected to iPads,” says Tony. “Every year we put on a demonstration showing how the students are using iPad technologies in the classroom for the next year’s grade 5 parents. This year we incorporated the PASCO sensors and they were a big hit.”

Investigation

“A pair of students demonstrated the use of the general sensor using the temperature probe and did an experiment using alcohol, water and mineral oil to show the different evaporation rates of liquids. The resulting data was broadcast live to the parents in the audience using the schools’ Apple TV connected to a digital projector. Another student showed how the weather sensor with anemometer is used in the grade 5 curriculum, to gather data on wind speed and gusts as well as humidity. He demonstrated the data logging capabilities of the equipment as well.”

Outcome

“When the presentation was complete, parents only had one question: ‘How many of the airlinks and sensors does the school currently have and are there plans to purchase more?’” A very successful introduction to the new technologies developed by PASCO and put into Nova Scotia classrooms!

PASCO Products

  • Sparkvue Software – FREE
  • Airlink – PS-3200
  • General Science Sensor – PS-2168
  • Weather Sensor – PS-2154A
  • Weather/Anemometer PS-2174

Moving Beyond Cookie Cutter Labs

Overview

Adrian Deakin is the Science Program Area Leader and a Chemistry Teacher at Shaftesbury High School in Winnipeg. Adrian has been using PASCO equipment with his science students since 2000. Over the years he has incorporated datalogging into his science lessons and has also hosted working sessions at the local STAM conference to help familiarize other teachers with PASCO probeware.

Investigation

“I use PASCO colorimeters along with SPARK units when I am teaching my grade 11 chemistry students how to dilute solutions,” says Adrian. “We first make a kool-aid solution of known concentration and then we dilute the solution to a second known concentration and analyze it for transmittance. After converting transmittance values to absorbance we compare the absorbance readings to the proportionate change in concentration after dilution. Another grade 11 lab is the calculation of the average rates of evaporation of volatile Liquids, namely acetone, ethanol, and methanol. Students are able to monitor the temperature changes as part of the experiment. A higher level lab that I have done using colorimeters is the calculation of the percent copper in brass. Brass shell casings are dissolved in nitric acid making a solution of copper (II) ions which is tested for absorbance against a series of standard solutions. I also have students determine the concentration of ammonia in household ammonia solution via titration with hydrochloric acid. They use pH probes to monitor the pH of the solution every 1 mL upon the addition of HCl and generate a curve of pH versus volume of titrant.”

Outcome

“In the first lab, the students observe that there is a linear relationship between concentration and absorbance for coloured solutions. They also learn that transmittance values change when examined with different colours (wavelengths). Although we don’t go into further calculations, the students learn that this relationship is called Beer’s Law. In our second lab, as long as students are careful, graphs turn our very well and they can calculate the slope of the line as the substance is evaporating. It is an excellent way to introduce students to types of intermolecular forces, phase changes, and the difference between endothermic and exothermic reactions. In the advanced lab, the concentration of copper ions is used to determine the mass of copper in the sample and the percent copper is calculated by comparing the experimentally determined mass to the mass of the shell casing. These values can then be compared to typical percent composition values of brass.” These are no old-school labs!

PASCO Products

  • Sparkvue Software PS-2400
  • Airlink PS-3200
  • Colorimeter PS-2121
  • pH Sensor PS-2400
  • Temperature Sensor PS-3201
  • Motion Sensor PS-2103A

A Middle School STEM Challenge

Overview

Located south of the Assiniboine on the western edge of the city of Winnipeg, River West Park Middle school is part of the Pembina Trails School Division and serves students in kindergarten through to grade 9. River West Park’s program aims to challenge children academically, guided by Manitoba’s provincial curriculum standards. Todd Johnson is a science teacher at River West Park Middle School, and is integrating a STEM component into his grade 8 science class through a water quality engineering design challenge.

Investigation

“My students are conducting water quality project right now where they have been tasked to design a water filter. We will then compare which group’s filter does the best job at filtering out the water” explains Todd. “Before we started the project we had an in depth water quality discussion. I then took some time to show the students how the PASCO water quality sensor works. We tried a few different water samples as a class to view how the sensor reacted to different water samples. I then used the free water quality lab in SPARKvue (projected using a tablet and ScreenBeam) to discuss the specifics of how this particular water quality sensor works (i.e.: using electrical current etc..). Students proceeded on their STEM project, by planning and designing water filters from a given set of supplies. They could choose to use whatever they wanted. Supplies included cotton balls, coffee filters, paper cups, bowls, jay cloths, clothes-pins and paper, among other items. Water samples were obtained from a local pond, and made worse by adding salt and sand. We obtained a base reading for the water sample (~8350), and then each group tested their water filter to see whose filters did the best job of creating a cleaner water sample.”

Outcome

“The results were interesting, since samples after filter use were only marginally better than the original reading.” Todd and his students used these results to brainstorm on the likely reason for such outcomes. “The students discovered that salt is not filtered in this process and that it must be the salt which accounts for most of the poor water quality reading.” “Some samples actually made the reading increase. Students were again challenged to determine the possible reasons for such an outcome. They realized that some groups had used sand in their filters, and that the sand may have added other contaminants to the water.” “I would like to expand the project with further explorations,” says Todd. “Students could investigate ways to remove salt from water and could try those methods to see how that changes the reading on the sensor.” A ‘hands-on’ STEM challenge! River West Park Middle School, 30 Stack Street Winnipeg, MB

PASCO Products

  • Sparkvue Software PS-2400
  • Water Quality Sensor PS-2230

STEM Learning Must Go Beyond Memorizing Facts and Theories

Read Steven Korte’s article ‘STEM Learning Must Go Beyond Memorizing Facts and Theories‘ recently posted in ‘The Edvocate‘.  In this article, Steven Korte – PASCO Scientific’s CEO – offers 9 points to consider when a school or district implements a STEM program.

STEM

Access the full article here: http://www.theedadvocate.org/stem-learning-must-go-beyond-memorizing-facts-theories/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=email_this&utm_source=email

PASCO Wireless Sensors & SPARKVue – Changing the Way Teachers Teach Science

Capture“For science teachers who are looking to change their classroom practices and give their students more hands on experience, you need to consider using the latest wireless temperature sensors from PASCO. Using the PASCO Wireless Sensor technology will change the way you teach ….”

Read the entire review blog by Brian Friedlander from Assistive Tek LLC here: http://assistivetek.blogspot.com/2016/06/pasco-scientific-wireless-sensors.html

Innovative Science Curriculum in 300 Nova Scotia Schools with PASCO

Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) Chooses PASCO Science Solutions to Support an Innovative Curriculum in Grades 4–6
EECD will provide the SPARKvue science learning application and PASPORT sensors to nearly 300 elementary schools for hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

 

May 7, 2016

In 2015, the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development launched an Action Plan for Education to renew, refocus, and rebuild the education system for the first time in a generation. As part of its efforts to create an innovative and streamlined curriculum in grades 4–6, EECD has purchased PASCO® Scientific science solutions for nearly 300 elementary schools from PASCO Canada/AYVA Educational Solutions Ltd.  The PASCO science solutions will be part of the Department of Education’s curriculum resource kit for grades 4–6. It will include SPARKvue®, a powerful yet easy to use science application that delivers data collection, visualization, and analysis tools in a content-rich, standards-based science learning and sharing environment. It will also include the PASPORT General Science Sensor, Weather Sensor, and Weather/Anemometer Sensor, as well as the AirLink interface, which will allow students to wirelessly connect the PASPORT sensors to Chromebooks or iPads.

NovaScotiaCollage

Professional development began in May and the new streamlined curriculum resource kit s will be introduced to students in the fall. “Sensor-based investigations support inquiry-based learning and help students develop scientific literacy and technological literacy,” said Eric Therrien, information, communication and technology (ICT) mathematics and sciences consultant at the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. “The SPARKvue software and PASPORT sensors will allow students to collect, visualize, analyze, record, and assess data in and out of the classroom — all with the touch of a finger. Using these tools for data logging, students will have the opportunity to think and act like scientists, which will improve their learning and retention of core scientific concepts as well as their higher order cognitive skill development.”

Click here to read the complete article.

PASCO Wireless Smart Cart

PASCO has recently released their latest video featuring the new Wireless Smart Cart. This video shows off some of the new cool features which are built directly into the cart itself. It is now capable of measuring force, position, velocity and 6 degrees of freedom in acceleration.

The Wireless Smart Cart will be the last sensor before the Phase 2 wireless sensors are released in July 2016. These sensor will include: Wireless Conductivity, Wireless Light Sensor, Wireless Voltage and Wireless Current. Click here for more details.

Check out the video below along with other How Do I? videos

2016 Global Partners Conference at PASCO

Once again, the AYVA Team had the opportunity to network with PASCO distributors from around the world. This year’s theme was Re-Imagine the Science Classroom and we were excited to share stories of how PASCO’s new wireless sensors and dataloggers are fostering STEM education and engaging more students.

During the Awards Ceremony, AYVA was honoured to have our efforts recognized by PASCO’s Management Team. We want to thank everyone at PASCO for their hospitality and we can’t wait until next time.

Ayva Sales Meeting Collage
AYVA Sales Meeting Collage

 

 

 

 

 

NSTA Reviews PASCO’s Wireless Temperature Sensor

Wireless Temperature Sensor
Wireless Temperature Sensor

PASCO’s new Wireless Temperature Sensor was put to the test by NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) Blog author Martin Horejsi.

He touched base on many aspects of the temperature sensor from; cost, battery life (and how easily it can be replaced), to ease of use and signal distance. Overall the results were great and you can check it out here.

You can find more details about the Wireless Temperature Sensor on our PASCO Wireless page.

PASCO Launches New Wireless Sensors at BETT 2016 in the UK

AYVA had the pleasure of joining PASCO to take part in their exhibit at BETT 2016. The trip to London England featured PASCO’s new Wireless Sensor line including Temperature, pH, Pressure, Force and Smart Cart Sensors.

Check them out in action: PASCO Wireless

The biggest hit was by far the Wireless Smart Cart. Chris Butlin from Physics Education wrote; “We liked your new range of wifi sensors, particularly the Smart Cart which we feel will be a best seller for you.”

Wireless Smart Cart Features
Wireless Smart Cart Features
Bett 2016
BETT 2016
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