Datalogging
I have listened to Audio Boo in which Alan Cross talking through the data logger and its functions.
I have downloaded the datalogger from here.
It has a bright and appealing appearance and it is self explanatory with the go and stop buttons and up and down buttons.
This logger can be connected to the computer so results can be fed through onto a chart and recorded. Additionally a digital thermometer can be attached so that it can be placed into a beaker of water and the temperature of the water measured accurately.
The data logger is a brilliant resource for getting accurate results however it is often hard to get a definitive reading as it is constantly self correcting itself. The principle behind is great and from collecting the results children can create bar charts and graphs depicting their results which brings in the cross curricular elements of Mathematics.
In FPP I will borrow one of these to use with my Year 5 class to show a different technique of how to collect data. I would do this as a whole class and I am unsure as to whether I would give it to the children to use independently as it is hard to get an accurate reading.
It has a bright and appealing appearance and it is self explanatory with the go and stop buttons and up and down buttons.
This logger can be connected to the computer so results can be fed through onto a chart and recorded. Additionally a digital thermometer can be attached so that it can be placed into a beaker of water and the temperature of the water measured accurately.
The data logger is a brilliant resource for getting accurate results however it is often hard to get a definitive reading as it is constantly self correcting itself. The principle behind is great and from collecting the results children can create bar charts and graphs depicting their results which brings in the cross curricular elements of Mathematics.
In FPP I will borrow one of these to use with my Year 5 class to show a different technique of how to collect data. I would do this as a whole class and I am unsure as to whether I would give it to the children to use independently as it is hard to get an accurate reading.
Pros:
- It is compact and not cumbersome.
- It measures lots of different variables- light, sound and temperature are the main 3 and so means that it can be used for a wide range of science experiments.
- The buttons are easy to use
Cons:
- At times it can be difficult to collect a definitive recording as it is constantly changing. To combat this problem there is an option which will take a reading regularly and records it so that it can be put into a graph.
- I would shy aware from using this with Lower Key Stage 2 but I think Year 5 and 6 would be fine using this to practise recording. From any difficulties they experience, conversations about fair testing (taking 3 sets of results) would follow for example.