Author: Ciderhouse
PASCO Python Library
PASCO is pleased to announce that our new PASCO Python Library is now available. By now you are familiar with Blockly coding available in PASCO software and included as an important component of our STEM Sense solutions. Blockly is a fantastic way to teach coding concepts, especially to new learners.
Unlike Blockly, Python is a text-based programming language that is independent of PASCO software and is commonly used by coding beginners and experts in schools and universities around the world. This newly created library lets you bring Python into the PASCO ecosystem for complete control of your data. With Python, users control all aspects of sensor data collection, from sensor connections and sampling rates to data displays and custom analytics.
To learn more please visit the library at: https://www.pasco.com/downloads/python
Google will retire its Chrome Apps. Here’s what you need to know.
In January 2020, Google announced that the company would stop supporting Chrome Packaged Apps (Chrome Apps) on the ChromeOS (Chromebook) platform as of June 2022. The existing Chrome App experience will be replaced by a new type of app, known as a Progressive Web App or PWA.
What’s a PWA?
Progressive Web Apps are browser-based apps, meaning they are accessed by visiting a specific URL, rather than downloading and opening an app. Because they are opened within a web browser, Progressive Web Apps will offer enhanced capabilities that are not possible with Google’s existing Chrome Packaged Apps (Chrome Apps).
What PASCO apps will be affected?
Google had originally planned to cease support for Chrome Packaged Apps by June 2021. This has since changed to a phased approach that will enable Chromebook users to continue using and updating the Chrome App version of SPARKvue without interruption through June 2022. After this date, users will need to transition to the PWA version of SPARKvue to continue using it on ChromeOS platforms.
The Progressive Web App version of SPARKvue is currently under development and will be available to all users well before the June 2022 cutoff date.
Note: PASCO’s Spectrometry and MatchGraph! apps are not Chrome Packaged Apps, and will not be affected by these changes.
VCE Science Student Photo Competition 2021
*Competition extended until 10 October 2021*
What can I win? Your science-related picture, printed in a Heinemann Science textbook!
The two winning Chemistry images will win a place in the next edition of Heinemann Chemistry 6th edition.; The two winning Physics images will win a place in the next edition of Heinemann Physics 5th edition!; Winners will be contacted by email by 24 October 2021.
Computation Modeling in Physics and Physical Science
This recorded PASCO LIVE session shows how you can take the Science Lab to another level by using Coding and Computational Modelling. This is an exciting way to compare theoretical data to actual data.
Searching for activities that bridge the gap between science and computer science? Join us for an exciting look at three computational modeling activities designed for hands-on, minds-on learning in middle and high school science courses.
For middle school, we’ll present a simple, computational approach to physical science by measuring the force of a cart’s impact. Then we’ll increase the complexity for high school as we apply computational modeling to more difficult concepts, including projectile motion with air drag and simple pendulums without small angle approximations.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/0WuXaYKkb6M?t=859
Free PASCO Data Streamer App
Stream data from PASCO Wireless Sensors directly to Microsoft Excel with the PASCO Data Streamer app.
The PASCO Data Streamer app enables Windows® 10 users to stream real-time data from PASCO Wireless Sensors into Microsoft® Excel. All that’s required is a compatible PASCO Wireless Sensor, the PASCO Data Streamer App, and the Office 365 Excel® Data Streamer Add-in.
To find out more visit: https://www.pasco.com/downloads/datastreamer
Which virtual classroom is best for language teachers?
Students around the world have been familiar with acquiring a language online using solutions such as Duolingo®, Babbel® or Memrise® since a long time ago. However, when Covid-19 outbreak started and affected us all, giving language classes online did not appear to be as easy a transition as one might think as most generalist virtual classroom solutions miss many critical features required by language teachers. Fortunately, new virtual classroom solutions that are dedicated for language teaching make online language teaching easier than ever!
Zoom®, Google Meet® and Google Classroom® are among the most widely known virtual classroom solutions or online teaching platforms currently. Nonetheless, we have seen many language teachers to struggle with these solutions as they are not optimized for teaching languages. In this blog post, we will discuss how these generalist virtual classroom tools differ from a specialized online language teaching platform like Sanako Connect? Read on and find out which virtual classroom platform we think is the best for teaching languages.
Language teaching in the new normal – Examples from institutions in the UK
Date and time
Wed, September 22, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM AEST
Location
Online event
Language educators worldwide have faced unprecedented change over the last two years as the Covid-19 health emergency has transformed previously trusted teaching approaches. In response, institutions are increasingly seeking to capitalize on the flexibility offered by blended teaching models.
Such approaches typically seek to deliver a high-quality teaching and learning experience by combining face-to-face teaching time with online learning components. But how can global language teaching institutions effectively reorient their content, curriculum, and staff to this new way of teaching? And what do they need to consider when buying the technology that makes it actually work?
This webinar aims to help you answer those questions! Specifically designed to support educators and institutions to respond to the challenges of delivering efficient and effective blended teaching and learning, this webinar is packed with best practices and expert insight.
Attendees will hear from two expert speakers. David Binns, Sanako’s UK Director, will share three detailed case studies from leading K12 and higher education institutions in the UK. Each one will demonstrate how they responded to the challenge of delivering blended language teaching. You will also hear from Aleksis Juhakoski, Sanako’s language teaching technology expert. He will give out updates about the recent and upcoming development of Sanako Connect – a blended teaching platform that combines the best parts of virtual classroom solutions and language labs.
Click here for more information and to register
Sanako’s language teaching technology now available in Australia
Cider House ICT is proud to announce that we are now The Australian reseller for Sanako.
Sanako is a Finnish educational technology company that has specialised in language education tools since the early 1960’s..
Close relations with customers, partners, and their pedagogical approach have made them the global leader in teacher-led language teaching software market. Sanako provide a full range of language teaching and learning solutions from traditional classroom installations to remote teaching solutions and AI-assisted virtual language teaching platforms.
Optimise your teaching time and increase your students’ options for speaking and using the target language with Sanako’s language teaching technology.
Sanako online multi-device support solutions include:
Connect – Virtual classroom software for language teaching
Teachers use Sanako Connect to teach languages remotely and in classroom. Virtual classroom solution designed for language teaching and learning. Build your own content within the Connect platform.
Reactored – Multi-language learning materials and courses
Over 4.500 pre-built high-quality A1 and B1 digital activities for learning English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Swedish. Content module for Sanako Study and Connect products.
Pronounce – Easy solution for improving students’ speaking and pronunciation – used by over 2.5 million users worldwide.
If you would like to learn more about how we could help your school/university to make your language teaching more accessible for learners, please contact us now to arrange your free demo!
AR STEM Learning Tool Provides Immersive Learning for Young Students
The equation is simple. Combine a Purdue University-related startup with PASCO’s global reputation for delivering innovative teaching solutions and you have learning tools that teachers can use to help young students explore complex STEM concepts.
With an agreement announced last month, Explore Interactive has partnered with PASCO to distribute its award-winning MindLabs product. MindLabs: Energy & Circuits uses augmented reality technology and gamification to enable elementary-age students to explore energy and circuits in a fun, immersive way.
The classroom set’s guided engineering challenges provide step-by-step lessons that allow educators to teach energy and circuits concepts with engaging content that supports collaborative projects, that can even include the remote learner.
To truly appreciate this powerful learning tool check out the product page and the video Inspired STEM Learning. And, keep an eye out for future integrations with hands-on STEM solutions from this new partnership.
Advanced PASCO Capstone Webinar
Recording of a live PASCO webinar from March 17, 2021.
A recording is available here: https://youtu.be/8HOekjfRchs
You can download the session’s resource files from http://bit.ly/advcs21. These include a PDF with links to Capstone resources and ideas to Take It Further, along with the activity files used and created during the webinar.
