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Liz Hunt, Primary Hands On Support (HOS) Consultant, shares some innovative ideas for using data loggers in school
Many schools now have a datalogger amongst their ICT kit but is it being used to its full potential?
The ICT curriculum requires pupils to have an opportunity to monitor and record environmental changes and conditions also to understand that technology can record results over time. The Science curriculum suggests the use of sensors to detect and compare sound at KS1 and 2 as well as to record temperature changes at KS2.
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EasySenseQ |
There are two dataloggers that we recommend for use in the primary curriculum: The LogIT Explorer and the EasySenseQ. Both have built in temperature, sound and light sensors and can be used attached to the PC or remotely and the data retrieved at a later stage. |
LogIT Explorer |
Consider using them for the following experiments:
A class demonstration for ‘changing state’: Boil water and use the temperature probe to measure the exact temperature throughout. Before you start, ask the children to make their predictions – what will happen to the water as it gets hot? When will this happen? Write these onto your IWB if you have one. Begin to boil the water and project the image of the live graphing as the data logger records the temperature changes. This is also a good way to experiment with the temperature of water at boiling point.
How does friction affect the speed of cars down a ramp? This can easily be assessed with a LogIT Explorer. The EasySenseQ requires extra light gates to be purchased. Set the LogIT up on one side of a ramp with a torch shining at it from the other side. In the software use the timing option and set the length of the car to equal the car you will test. The datalogger will determine the speed at which the car travels past the beam of light. You can alter ramp surfaces during this experiment but not change the car. For this you would have to begin a new experiment.
Test the insulation of material by cooking porridge and seeing how long it takes to cool. You will need a temperature probe to plunge into the hot porridge. Use vessels made from or wrapped in different materials or the same material but different size or shaped vessels.
Pupils can test different kinds of materials that could be used for blackout blinds and link to their history unit on the 2nd World War. They can also observe these materials under the digital microscope to explain why they block out the light as much or as little as they do.
Pupils always enjoy using the data loggers remotely. They can be used to test light, sound and temperature levels around the school or grounds. Use them to test different environments in which to grow plants or determine at what time the light comes around to the windows in certain classrooms and whether this affects the temperature.
If anyone at your school would like help with using a datalogger then consider using your Hands On Support allocation this year. This will give you a demonstration lesson using the equipment with your pupils in your classroom. If you would like to discuss this further then please call Liz Hunt 01865 428034 or e-mail lhunt2@sds.theocn.net
If you haven’t got any dataloggers in school then you could book a traded service package. This will give you a half a day with a consultant or advisory teacher demonstrating a lesson in your classroom. You will then be left with a set of 10 EasySenseQ dataloggers for use in school over a two-week period. If you would like further details then please call Christine on 01865 428034.
