FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • 1. What is Data-logging?
    Data Logging is method to use some sort of sensors to collect and transmit the data to an interface or a computing device. These interface or a computing device collects, assimilates and makes the data available in different presentable formats for analysis / understanding.
  • 2. What is Sensor Based Science Lab?
    Sensor based Science Labs use various sensors for measuring the physical parameters and transmits the data to an interface / computing device. These are different from a traditional Science Lab in the sense that in a traditional Science Lab, the students are expected to note down individual data points vide a measuring device and then they need to use these data to graph / table the same to analyse. Using sensors these can be done in a shorter time and provides more time for Data Analysis / understanding

    Further, there are some studies which are not possible without using the sensors – example measuring the acceleration due to gravity of a place or photosynthesis process in a plant. These studies can easily be achieved using the relevant sensors and data collection.

  • 3. Why Sensors for Science Experiments?
    Sensors in Science experiments makes many of the invisible parameters in a traditional lab to become more visible and that makes the students to understand and retain the concepts much better. Further, the data collection application represents the data immediately as the experiments are carried out making the realisation of data instantaneous and enables students to relate the observations to the data trends easily.
  • 4. What age groups can use the Sensors?
    The sensors can be used from any grades upwards of Class 1. The more the students are given visual help with the physical parameters around them, more will they be able to relate to them and understand their importance. Pasco does have various sensors that can be used from Grade 1 onwards.
  • 5. Which curriculums use - Sensor Based Science Experiments?
    All curriculums can use the Sensor based experiments. Pasco is used across 150 countries in various country curriculums and the sensors and experiments are curriculum independent.
  • 6. Is it too Expensive to use the Sensors for Experiments?
    No, it is not. The Schools are completely given the choice to invest in the kind of setups they want to realise – possible for a demonstration setup or a hands on setup for a groups of students.

    Further, Pasco provides 5 years of warranty on the Sensors and this way the investment is protected for a minimum of 5 years.

  • 7. How can I decide if the sensors are useful for my School / College?
    There is no doubt the sensors are useful for any School or a College. The best way to decide is to give us a call and arrange for a demo / workshop of the experiments you would like to carry out. We will be able to visit your School and provide your Science faculty with a demo of the experiment with sensors and show the various advantages of carrying out the experiments with the sensors.
  • 8. Is the Software to be purchased for School?
    Yes, the Software Sparkvue has to be purchased for Schools. The Sparkvue is available as a single User version and as a Site Licence. The Site Licence would be most preferred as it provides an unlimited number of installations within the campus. The software is a one-time purchase and you own the software.
  • 9. How does the new updates of Software get delivered to School?
    The School gets a username and password. If the computer installed with the software is connected to the internet, the software automatically checks for the updates and the same gets downloaded and installed as and when the new updates become available.
  • 10. How do I decide between Sparkvue or Capstone?
    Sparkvue is useful for most School experiments and also if the Schools are using the mobile devices like IPAD or Tabs for Science Experiments Data Collection. The sparkvue works across all sensors of different School subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environment and Earth Science.

    The Capstone is an advanced software that is installed only on a laptop or a Desktop and is used for advanced experiments – generally carried out in Colleges and Universities. Few High School Experiments carried out in IB / AP curriculum mandates the Capstone Software.

  • 11. How is remote logging in Wireless Sensors helpful?
    Remote logging in Wireless sensors are helpful in cases where Long-term data collection is required. The data collected by the sensor is stored in the senor’s memory and the same can be downloaded on to the computing device after sufficient data is collected. The data collection time will vary depending on the sampling rate that is set for data collection.
  • 12. How Wireless Sensors can be used with Smartphone?
    Wireless Sensors can be used with any Smart phones having Blue-Tooth interface and downloading the Sparkvue software from the play store or App store. The Software is free when downloaded on the mobile devices.
  • 13. Can the old Pasport sensors still be used with Sparkvue?
    Yes, the older generation Pasport (Blue) sensors can still be used with Sparkvue software. Also, if these old Pasport sensors are to be used with wireless devices, the same can be connected to Wireless links made available from Pasco.
  • 14. Does the Sensors require periodic Calibrations?
    Generally, the sensors do not require periodic calibrations except the pH sensors. However, there is a calibration facility provided for most of the sensors including pH sensors.
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