Day 5 - Thursday 8th May

What I learnt today

It has been fascinating to see data loggers at work. I’ve had lots of thoughts through the morning about how these could be used at school, and I know the staff will feel just as inspired.

I have learnt how to record light, sound and temperature over time, both in the classroom and remotely. I have discovered how to use external thermometers for testing temperature of liquids over a period of time and how to show such results in a graph. With sound measurements, I have learnt to smooth the graph so that insignificant sound changes are not shown.  It has also been good to see a heart monitor at work. I have also enjoyed seeing how an AST has incorporated data-logging into Science lessons, and how children are able to record their findings.

It was also really good to find out how Control boxes work - this de-mystified things for me. I learnt to use Flowol programming and control boxes / mimics.

Helpful too to have lots of websites to use to keep in touch with future developments.

What has hindered my learning.

No hindrances - it’s been a really helpful day. I think it would have been helpful to have time to use flowol programming ourselves.

How might you progress with today’s learning?

1. I would like to buy a couple of Easy Sense data loggers, run some training with the staff, build use into the Science / ICT curriculum, and use with my class.

2. Explore use of Flowol at school. We need to find some money to buy the software ( I will see what is available espeically with Tesco vouchers). I would really like to run some sessions with Year 5 and 6 to teach the children and staff.

3. Explore Focus on Bee Bot software, especially for use with Year 2 and as an introduction to Year 4 Logo.

How could you help your children learn better?

I think the Data Logger will really help children understand how sound, temperature and light vary through a period of time, and to see a practical application of graphing. I will use this in Year 4 to teach how ice and boiling water eventually return to room temperature, to see how traffic noise varies in the course of a day, and if a heart monitor is available, how our heart rate changes as a result of exercise.

The Bee Bot technology will be really helpful as a different way to help children understand instructions and as preparation for Logo.

Teaching control will help children’s logic and sequencing skills further.

And Finally…

 Thank you to Philip - a really useful course, I shall be looking back at my course notes for many years I think!

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