These are my notes from the METC presentation “The Ultimate Science Data Logger: Xplorer GLX” by Jason Carnes (an education rep for for PASCO Scientific. I’m recording this session for a later podcast.)
Sensors have auto-ID, so when you plug in the temperature, pH and ISE Voltage sensor the data logger
Data logger holds 100 sets of data or 50,000 data points
– plug it into
Lots of options in the “DataStudio” software application that is free with their tools:
Smart graph tool: follows
Slope tool tells you slope at different points on the graph
Can do line of best fit, calculate r, polynomial fit, quadratic fit, and more
Annotation tool: lets you label annotations on graphs, like if something changed during the course of an experiment
Hypothesis tool: students can draw a predicted line with the prediction tool (and it is saved), then you can compare the two
Statistics tool: min, max, mean, and std dev
Can look in table or graph form: just drag what you want from the DISPLAYS window up to the data window over the data run you want to display
Have lab manuals that come with these for extra fees
– pre-configured files with setups for experiments
LoggerPro is a competing product to this one
Next item: PowerLink
– like a hub with 3 ports for 3 types of sensors
– also runs on batteries for remote data collection
MultiMeasure Sensor sinclude
– absolute pressure and temperature
– colorimeter
– ph/ISD/ORP
– GPS sensor just came out
Explorer GLX came out after powerlink
– can come to your school and do a workshop hands-on
– has 4 ports for 4 sensors
– some sensors are already built-in
– can use it as standalone device or hook it to
– has internal memory to store up to 10 MB, or you can plug in a flash drive to store data
GLX Projector is free software from website, to use when you do demos in front of the class
– GLX simulator software is available too, has all the buttons available on the screen (does more than screen mirroring)
– GLX projector doesn’t yet show a red circle or something when you
quick demo of evaporative cooling experiment
– dip temp sensor in water
– then take it out and wave it
– press F1 to rescale the graph, can see the temp sensor cooling off as the water evaporates and cools the metal on the sensor because of the evaporative process
[THIS IS VERY COOL. I NEED TO GET SOME OF THESE DEVICES AND WORK WITH SOME TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN DOING SOME OF THESE EXPERIMENTS IN COLLABORATIVE GROUPS.]
Can directly print graphs from the Explorer GLX
For $300 the Explorer GLX is available, comes with some sensors
– USB links is $59
– with warranty, they send you a replacement unit if you are having to have yours fixed
Another example based on Boyle’s Law:
For a fixed mass of ideal gas at fixed temperature, the product of pressure and volume is a constant.
Pressure is inversely proportional to volume
– using a pressure sensor
– absolute pressure v time graph
– instead of continuous sampling mode, we are working in manual sampling mode now (indcated by flashing flag in upper right corner)
– so now you can manually take data points at desired increments
Another demo on Faraday’s law of induction, dropping a sensor through a magnet
For sound level experiments, headphones are highly recommended if you have lots of students doing these experiments!
[THESE TOOLS WOULD BE SO GREAT NOT ONLY FOR REPLICATING CANNED EXPERIMENTS, BUT ALSO CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN EXPERIMENTS AND THEN USE THEIR GROWING KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENCE TO EXPLAIN THEIR RESULTS!]
Are free WebEX training sessions available online for the GLX
– do have more in-depth professional development people from California that do fee-based PD
Can get started with USB link and temperature sensor, with software available online
– Data Studio software single user license of software is $99, $249 for class, $349 for school site license
– also have 10 pack homework pack for kids taking the software home
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