Join Stephen Ross, facilitator with Te Whai Toi Tangata, and the Science Learning Hub in a free online session that will introduce you to easy-to-use digital tools that can engage your students in real time data collection.
We will show you how you and your students can develop and answer their own science questions using tools such as Arduino Science Journal (free) and Micro:bit to record and present data. We will share tips for using the tools in the classroom as well as engaging activities that will kick start great science learning.
As part of the webinar Stephen will show you how learning activities that use digital tools can support the integration of the science and digital curriculums. The Nature of Science strands Investigating in science and Communicating in science are particularly well-supported by these tools and provide opportunities for students to demonstrate several of the science capabilities.
This session will be valuable for both primary and secondary school educators.
During the webinar we'll be live tweeting summarised points with the hashtags #SLH_webinar and #SLH_PLD on our Twitter feed.
Joining the webinar
Follow these simple steps to join our webinar:
- Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android by clicking on the link https://waikato.zoom.us/j/359736528 and following the instructions. You can also access Zoom on your phone, just follow the prompts.
- Find the chat box located in the toolbar at the bottom of your screen. You may need to access this by clicking on ‘More’.
- Using the chat box, introduce yourself, where you teach and, if you are in a group, how many people are there.
- Set up your screen for optimal viewing. If you’re using a mobile device, you may wish to view in landscape. We recommend selecting a thumbnail view of the presenters – this way you can easily see what is being shared on the screen.
Then you can:
- watch, listen and respond via chat to the presentation and discussion
- ask questions using the chat box at any time
- continue your learning on Slack – our online discussion forum and join #general channel.
The Science Learning Hub team will be there to support you and answer questions.
PLD certification
We currently offer recognition of teachers’ involvement in our online PLD.
To qualify for a professional learning and development certificate, teachers must:
- register for and watch the live webinar or let us know they have viewed the recorded version once it is published on the website
- register in Slack and participate in our discussions about digital tools for science learning or in the Slack learning reflections channel.
If you need any help accessing our Slack forum, please see our help info or email us.
Related content
Kiwrious Science Experience – fostering NoS in the classroom is a Curious Minds-funded project that enables students to use sensors to collect, analyse and interpret data.
In the Connected article Lighting the sky with Raspberry Pi discover how students created a digital light display for Matariki using Raspberry Pi computers.
Check out our Gaming and virtual learning Pinterest board.
Activity ideas
The activities below use micro:bits and also one Raspberry Pi :
- Micro:bit and space projects
- CubeSat and attach a micro:bit to model a sun sensor
- Water bottle rockets (The micro:bit is held in the nose cone to keep it safe!).
- Measuring humidity and temperature with a Raspberry Pi
Useful links
For more information about micro:bit and its capabilities, see the micro:bit home page and the for teachers section. The online micro:bit community features a huge range of resources for educators to explore with various STEM activities you can use or modify.
Find out more about the simple to use and easy to get started with the free Arduino Science Journal App. Install the Arduino Science Journal app for iOs systems and for Android devices.
These Fun activities use the Arduino Science Journal app that generate data for discussion.