How fast is technology changing and is the change useful at all....?
Well this is a question which is nowadays in everybody's mind and between the juggle that goes on sometimes the winner is probably the side which tries to go with the system that has been existent for so many years. But the mind needs to accept that expertise in explaining a concept seems to be slowly moving from the voice of the teacher in the classroom to the gadgets in use with the advanced technology. I have worked with sensors and interfaces in my previous schools , but in my current school I got the chance to get my hands on the new interface on sensors, Labquest 2 and a first rendezvous with it was just a WOW....
In IBDP Physics use of ICT in labs is mandatory and it is split into 5 catagories :
- Data logging
- Spreadsheets
- Graph Plotting software
- Database
- Computer model or simulations
All these requirements have to be fulfilled atleast once and hence teachers have to use sensors as a part of data logging. Sensors are a useful method of collecting data with precision and accuracy and a direct data analysis can be obtained by connecting the sensor to the laptop. We use a logger pro software for handling the data and graphs. What I found new was these Logger Pro installation CDs had a special version for Mac laptops. The Labquest Interface helps to connect the sensor to the laptop.
The revolutionary change made in this interface is that it is wifi enabled. Hence data collection and analysis is not limited to the one interface but can be obtained in all the laptops and hangon....also on all the ANDROID and APPLE phones in class. The sole requirement is that all of them need to be connected to the same Wi Fi. The interface generates a unique URL with an IP. address, which helps everyone to connect to the page on data collection. So when you press the keep button on the interface everyone can get the data in their device. And being available on the mobile phones makes it so easy for data collection outside labs. So now technology makes data accesible and available to everyone at the same instant.
Thus as technology is changing rapidly, so are the manufacturers, who understand the need for the change. The way this new interface has been developed, data collection happens so instantly in the classroom, whatever be the student strength.
As the students in my present school have a variety of supplementary gadgets starting from tablets to mobile phones, they really get more engaged and enthralled when they see their tiny devices getting converted to data logging instruments. So those who have not tried it, I advice , go ahead and try it and feel the change in the physics classroom.