Sparkvue HD includes 61 free Sparklab interactive learning activities that integrate
content with live data collection and analysis.
If you plan to add several AirLink2 interfaces, factor in some time to get students familiar with Bluetooth settings.
The buttons within Sparkvue’s
graphic interface are somewhat difficult to decipher, but this should not
be an issue with a little practice using
them. Although the app is easy to use
once you get acquainted with it, it
would not be intuitive for many students. Plan some class time to show
your students how to navigate the
software.
Overall, the combination of the
AirLink2 and Sparkvue HD app is
a promising entry into the mobile science arena. We were pleased to finally
see a product that offers students a
one-stop shop for data measurement,
collection, reporting, and analysis, all
while allowing for the integration of
personal devices and text narratives.
readouts, graphs, tables, or analog
style meters—and a number of labs
are available for download, which we
felt was a great addition.
Strengths and Weaknesses
One of the strengths of the app is the
lab journal feature. Students can take
pictures with a mobile device’s camera or choose images from its photo
library. They can add and annotate
graphs with data and type in text
overlays to explain trends or patterns
in the data they collected. They can
then export the journal and view it in
a web browser on any PC or Mac.
The AirLink2 has great range and
eliminates the need to tether cables
to a mobile device. The data analysis
tools are outstanding and as com-
prehensive as DataStudio software,
Pasco’s big brother to Sparkvue.
Pasco
www.pasco.com
Sparkvue HD: $9.99
AirLink2: $159
Ben Smith is a physics teacher at Red Lion Area School Dis- trict in Pennsylvania, USA. He also serves as secretary on the ISTE Board of Directors.
