Help me choose . . .
PASCO offers two distinct options for data collection and analysis software.
SPARKvue®is our easy-to-use, cross platform solution. SPARKvue is intuitive enough to use in elementary schools, but it has powerful analysis tools that are there when you need them. It’s ideal for new users or situations where probeware is used occasionally and a plug-and-play guided experience is desired.
PASCO Capstone™has more powerful & sophisticated analysis tools and customization, which means a slightly higher learning curve but greater functionality for those who need the extra tools it offers. We recommend Capstone for physics and engineering applications and for users who need its specific features.
SPARKvue
- Works on all major platforms - Windows & Mac computers, Chromebooks, iPads & iPhones, and Android tablets and phones.
- An intuitive user interface makes it easy to get started.
- Touch screen compatible.
- Includes access to over 80 free, media-rich interactive SPARKlab®activities for Elementary & Middle School Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Physical Science, and Physics.
- Student assessment is built in, and the journaling feature captures student data, notes, and responses.
- Features data-sharing, so students in the classroom have the exact same experience as distance learners.
PASCO Capstone
- Designed for use only with Mac or Windows computers.
- Built from the ground up to be the premier software for use in physics and engineering applications.
- Includes a higher degree of user controls, including start/stop conditions, error bars, and the ability to exclude or delete data points.
- Is completely customizable with a deep feature set, which gives you the flexibility and tools to design your own experiments.
- Has free downloads for classic physics experiments using PASCO equipment.
- Allows users to create custom tables, enter user data, copy and paste equations, and generate calculations quickly.
- Video capture and analysis allow users to capture and sync video to data.
So which software do we recommend for high school physics?
Either SPARKvue or Capstone can be good choices for high school physics. For schools using iPad®, Chromebook™, or Android™ tablets, SPARKvue is the answer. It may also make sense if a single software solution is desired and SPARKvue is being used in other subjects in your school.
If video analysis is important, then Capstone is the way to go. In general, for physics labs using computers, it is hard to beat the power and flexibility of Capstone.
