PASCO is an international brand that makes simple to use equipment to help in science and engineering disciplines. All of their tools aka sensors, are wireless and can connect to their free app on your smart phone or tablet (Shakur and Connor, 2018).
From a simple thermometer, through to a force sensor and spectrometer; a teacher could easily implement one of these sensors into a lesson for an immediate visual and hands on experience for the students.
Examples for sensors could be:
- year 7 students testing their water filtrate from a filter they made in the turbidity sensor
- year 9 students learning about pH can test different substances with the pH sensor
- engineering students can test their bridges with a force sensor
- mathematics and physics students could utilise a speed measurement through a velocity sensor
- biology students can use a oxygen and carbon dioxide sensor to measure photosynthesis within a biosphere
Although there is a limitless potential to the application of these sensors to various disciplines and lessons, unfortunately these sensors aren't cheap and can come at a price. Having a technology that the students can use instantly and see results, enables them to participate in the active learning (Ratto et al., 2003). The free app means that all the students can easily download and observe the results as they are happening.
Curriculum links:
Choose appropriate units of measurement for length, area, volume, capacity and mass (VCMMG195)
Investigate, interpret and analyse graphs from real life data, including consideration of domain and range (VCMNA257)
Investigate the role of hardware and software in managing, controlling and securing the movement of and access to data in networked digital systems (VCDTDS045)
Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables, identifying inconsistencies in data and sources of uncertainty, and drawing conclusions that are consistent with evidence (VCSIS138)
Construct and use a range of representations, including graphs, keys, models and formulas, to record and summarise data from students’ own investigations and secondary sources, to represent qualitative and quantitative patterns or relationships, and distinguish between discrete and continuous data (VCSIS137)
Forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance (VCSSU064)
RATTO, M., SHAPIRO, R. B., TRUONG, T. M. & GRISWOLD, W. G. 2003. The activeclass project: Experiments in encouraging classroom participation. Designing for change in networked learning environments. Springer.
SHAKUR, A. & CONNOR, R. J. T. P. T. 2018. The PASCO Wireless Smart Cart: A game changer in the undergraduate physics laboratory. 56, 152-154.
Images are from: https://www.pasco.com/