Vernier Software and Technology Tapetress Ford ITEC 7445

Vernier Software and Technology Tapetress Ford ITEC 7445 Dr. Beeland Fall 2016 Emerging Technology

Vernier Software and Technology �What is Vernier? ◦ Vernier technology, founded by a science teacher, provide software sensors and devices that allows scientific data to be collected during experiential learning. ◦ The sensors allows students to collect real time data and the software allows the students to analyze and interpret scientific data.

How does Vernier software support the technology vision of the district? �In Rockdale County Public Schools all students in grades 3 -12 have received a school issued laptop providing equitable access. �RCPS 1: 1 initiative will empower students to become producers and evaluators of information. �Students will engage and collaborate with others in creating meaningful products.

How does Vernier software support the technology vision of the district? cont. d �Provide successful interaction with technology �The teacher’s role will change from the traditional approach to being a facilitator �Aid students in obtaining skills that will allow them to compete in a technology driven society.

Vernier Software and Equipment: �Logger Pro ◦ Software programs that allows students to collect data or import data from an interface. ◦ Provides student guided tutorials ◦ Auto-ID Vernier sensors ◦ Draw prediction graph before experimentation ◦ Print graphs and data tables �Sensors ◦ Over 80 sensors that can be used across biology( CO 2 gas sensor, chemistry (p. H meter), physical science and physics( motion detector).

Vernier Software and Equipment: �Lab. Quest 2 - ◦ Rechargeable, wireless, hand held, stand alone interface that translates information from the sensor to the graphing software ◦ It also allows the data to be shared among collaborators �Go!Link- ◦ Single USB interface that comes with logger lite that connects to directly to sensor for immediate data collection.

Available technical support Vernier provides support in a variety of ways. �National Workshops ◦ Data Collection Conferences �Located at the Vernier Laboratories �Participants receive 4 hours of training on the latest sensors and data collection technologies �Attendees can be beginners or individuals who need a refresher course. ◦ Summer Institutes �Full day training on the integration and implementation of data collection technologies ◦ Conferences �Information, demonstrations and products can be provided at national and state science education conferences

Available technical support cont. Online Training �Video Training Library ◦ Free online library featuring experiments and demonstrations �Personalized Webinars ◦ Free customized webinars based on content specific needs ◦ Sessions can be scheduled online at your convenience .

Available technical support cont. Personalized Training �Workshops at your school and at Vernier ◦ On-site professional development using the schools own equipment. This service is not free and cost $1700 ◦ Workshops at Vernier Laboratories are free and can be scheduled online.

Possible limitations of this technology �The data collected can not synced automatically to their laptop without Go!Link. The data collected must be downloaded to each students device. �The Logger Pro software can be placed on the schools server for teachers to access but it may prove to be too costly and difficult to add the program to every students laptop.

Cost of the technology �Vernier technology is expensive and purchasing the basics can burn through a science departments entire budget and you’ve only purchased 3 devices. �The sensors and probes vary in price from $30 – $500 �The Lab. Quest 2 interface are $329 each �Logger Pro disc is $249 each

Cost cont. �Go!Link USB interface is $61 each. �Lab. Quest Charging Station is $119. It can only charge four at a time. �Lab. Quest 2 Armor protective covering is $15 each �It will be wise to outfit the science department rather than supply each individual teacher with Vernier technology.

Potential Funding Vernier is committed to education and has partnered with several national organizations to provide grants for teachers. �Grants ◦ Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards ◦ Vernier and NABT Ecology/Environmental Science Teaching Award ◦ Vernier Engineering Contest

Funding cont’d �Vernier also provides a grant writing guide to help teacher write a successful grant proposal. �Throughout the school year local Partners in Education present opportunities for teachers to write a grant proposal to receive funding that can be used to purchase. �UNC of Wilmington’s Technology Loan Program may be a great program to implement in the greater Atlanta area. ◦ The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CESTEM) has a share the wealth program �It loans Vernier technology out to the regional teachers and schools and provides training to improve STEM education

How will the technology be used? �The Georgia Performance states that a content standard is not met unless applicable characteristics of science are addressed at the same time. �The Characteristics of science also known as the Habits of Mind are co-requisite standards that are not to be taught in isolation but must be embedded within the science curriculum and repeatedly revisited throughout instruction.

How will the technology be used? cont’d � Teachers will use Vernier lab books and probes that cover the important concepts based on the standards being covered in their classroom. � The lab books come in various levels. They consist of regular, advanced and advanced placement (AP) based activities. � The lab documents may be printed or uploaded the platform being used by the district so that students may access them � Teachers will provide students with hands on experiential learning that allows them to collect, organize and interpret data that will help them to: ◦ Work with their peers to formulate a hypothesis and make prediction before engaging in the experiment.

How will the technology be used? cont’d ◦ Collaborate and compare data to recognize trends and come to a conclusion. ◦ Use technology to create tables and graphs. ◦ Develop and test experimental models. ◦ Use data to support and justify claims with evidence. ◦ Create discussions over current science issues or investigation thereby deepen science knowledge and increasing the usage of science terminology.

How will the technology be used? cont’d • Students will complete a lab report and/or reflection questions. This allows students to improve their writing and communication skills in science. • To meet the diverse needs of students • Blind and Low vision students may use Talking Lab. Quest that provides audible and viewable spoken interactive menus. • Talking Lab. Quest provides language choice on the menus which allows ELL students to participate in science activities. • Sci-Voice software package can also be purchased separately to work with your current Lab. Quest to add speech.

Effectiveness of Vernier Software and Technology. �Vernier software and technology has been around for over 30 years and has been recommended for use by the NSTA, ISTE, ASTE and IB. �There are four major findings that support probeware usage in science education: ◦ ◦ Deepen students understanding of science concepts. Improve test scores. Meet national and state instructional standards. Support the Framework for K-12 Science Education.

Effectiveness of Vernier Technology cont’d Improve student understanding of science concepts �A variety of studies have shown that probeware has had a positive impact on student understanding ◦ When students engage in scientific practices, activities become the basis for learning about experiments, data and evidence, social discourse, models and tools, and mathematics and for developing the ability to evaluate knowledge claims, conduct empirical investigations, and develop explanations. (Bybee, 2011) �Students in a science class must participate in experiential learning and use current scientific equipment including technology tools that will enhance their learning outcome. �Students should not just learn science , they must do science.

Effectiveness of Vernier Technology cont’d Project based science �It has been shown that students who complete project based science curriculum incorporating probeware were able to give longer response to open ended questions and scored higher. Schneider et al. (2002) �The longer the response, the greater the depth of knowledge and understanding. ◦ When students are in charge of their own learning and it applies to the real world or past experiences that they can connect with, they will acquire a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Effectiveness of Vernier Technology cont’d � America’s Lab Report, a 2006 report commissioned by the national Science Foundation about the current status of and future directions for the role of high school science laboratories in science education, distinguished between traditional lab experiences and integrated instructional units. (National Research Council, 2006) � Typical laboratory experiences have been disconnected from the flow of classroom science lessons but integrated instructional units connect laboratory experiences with other types of science learning activities, including lectures, reading, and discussion. Students are engaged in framing research questions, making observations, designing and executing experiments, gathering and analyzing data, and constructing scientific arguments and explanations. (National Research Council, 2006, )

Effectiveness of Vernier Technology cont’d Improves test scores �The use of technology tools for data collection, analysis, and visualization—capabilities supported by Vernier probeware and software—can provide a learning advantage to students, as evidenced in student test scores in science (national Center for education Statistics, 2002, 2012; Schneider et al. , 2002 ◦ I believe when students content knowledge deepens, their test scores will improves. ◦ Students must have consistent and relevant exposure to content and technology tools.

Effectiveness of Vernier Technology cont’d Meeting National and State Instructional Standards �Student hands-on use of technology tools for data collection, analysis, and visualization is recommended in guidelines and requirements from influential national organizations and state standards. ◦ ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) �“the skills and knowledge students need to learn effectively and live productively in an increasingly global and digital world” are several that relate directly to the capabilities of probeware (ISTE, 2007).

Effectiveness of Vernier Technology cont’d �The Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE) identified real-time data collection with probeware” as one of a number of technologies that “offer science teachers new opportunities for creating learning environments that meet the needs of diverse learners” (ASTE, n. d. ). �State Standards ◦ Georgia standards do not mention sensors or probeware in instructional use of technology, however , technology is to be integrated into science content. Students are expected to use technology tools in science investigations and collect, analyze, and display data.

Vernier Software and Technology Implementation �Funding must be provided to purchase Vernier technology. �The science department must come to together to evaluate the probeware already in the department possession and survey probes that can be used across all science disciplines. �Teachers will have to receive ongoing training on proper use and implementation by Vernier technology specialist via webinar or by searching the Tutorial Library on specific probes.

Vernier Software and Technology Implementation �Training may also be provided by fellow colleagues in the district who are familiar with Vernier Technology.

Reflection �My school district received funding allocated from the budget to update and purchase probes from Vernier Software and Technology. The Vernier probe ware that was on site was outdated and in need for an upgrade. �I intend to use this technology when I complete a inquiry based lab and AP biology lab activities. I was happy to find out that many of the probes that I thought were outdated only needed a software update.

Reflections cont. �This software is very beneficial to my science department. Students will have a greater understanding of the scientific process, the collection of real time data, the interpretation of that data and how it applies to the real world. �I am requesting that each teacher incorporate a Vernier probe activity per unit topic because I do not want to have this type of technology sitting on a shelf underutilized. . We only have to coordinate our time and use of the devices.

References: Park, J. C. (2008). Probeware tools for science investigations. Technology in the secondary science classroom (pp. 33 -41) National Science Teachers Association. Vernier White Paper. (2012). What the research say about the value of probeware for science instruction Vernier. ASTE position statement on technology in science teacher education. (2016). Retrieved from https: //theaste. org/about/aste-position-statement-on-technology-in-science-teacher-education/ Bernard, S. (2010). Science shows making lessons relevant really matters. Edutopia, December The caliper (2016). (Fall ed. ) Vernier Software and Technology. Crosscutting concepts. (2016). Retrieved from http: //www. nextgenscience. org/