Wireless Thermometers

 The @pascoscientific thermometers are probably one of the most useful items of kit that we have. Used virtually every day in one experiment or another, they are more unbreakable than the glass analogue ones, and the students can read the values. What is there not to like.

Solving Quadratics

 Solving Quadratics using the formula on paper as a surd and then converting the answer to a decimal in the calculator, using the formula typed into the calculator, or using the polynomial solver. I teach all three and let the students decide the most appropriate to use when needed.

Eclipse

Using a Tellurium to demonstrate an eclipse. Why doesn't an eclipse happen every month, and how the moon's phases work. Being able to see the moon's orbit and then the size to scale dispels many of the preconceived ideas the students have of space.

Translation

 Translation of RNA to Proteins is one of the hardest concepts and mechanisms for students to understand. Using the @Molymod molecules, the students can visualise and play with the models to improve their understanding.

Keyword Variables

Dependent variable is the variable of which the value is measured for each and every change in the independent variable. 

Independent variable is the variable for which values are changed or selected by the investigator

Adder

 Computing understanding Boolean logic gates. We created an adder using some logic software and turning tumbles, as well as creating the circuit using a BBC Microbit controlling physical chips to light LEDs - at this scale, a computer chip would be miles across.

Burning Candles

Which candle will go out first when we put the beaker on top? Is it the volume of the stacking candles making the flame go out, or is it the height?  Height made a difference. The high candle always went out first with the same volume used up. Why might that be? All big problems for year 8 chemistry.

 

Drop Counter

Using the @Pascoscientific drop counter with the Chemistry sensor, the pH sensor, and the temperature sensor to determine the changes when an Acid reacts with an Alkali.

 

Maths Practice

 Getting in plenty of Maths Practice. The best way to improve at Maths is to do lots of practice. I have many papers that go back over 40 years, although some of my A-level students struggle with the oldest O-level papers.

Laplace Apparartus

 

The Laplace apparatus is an excellent start to electromagnetism. Plug in, and the rod moves. Why is the question? The answer is to motivate students to look up and learn about a topic as we get started. And it always seems to work even for the reluctant.

Learning Aseptic Technique

The students are learning to sterilise, make and pour their own plates, ready to pour a culture of bacteria that they can then test with different concentrations of natural antiseptics such as mint and garlic.

First Network

My first Network was at British Shipbuilders teaching on BBC B computers with an Econet Network. Controlling screens and all controlled by a Second Processor Unit on the Master computer.

All the computers had word processor and spreadsheet chips which I had to burn onto EEPROMS using a EEPROM controller.

The BBC computers were linked to a couple of printers , a dot matrix and a daisy wheel printer.

We even had a modem to access Prestel and the early internet. In the days before the web and the browser, we used email and IRC to chat and FTP to access files.

 

Student Set up

 The student set up. A good faster computer i7 with 32Gb RAM, a large disk, a Wacom Tablet screen with Pen, and a monitor. A couple of calculators, one graphic, the other a standard calculator, and access to hundreds of experiments and scientific equipment.

Electrolysis

 Electrolysis is a complex subject, and it is important to understand working out which substance will appear at which electrode and why. Relating reactivity series and electronegativity to real-world examples.

Wireless pH Sensor

The @pascoscientific wireless pH sensor is great for both Biology and chemistry. The sensor can easily be used out in the field measuring river samples connected to an iPad with Sparkvue.
 

Careless Work

 Long gone are the days of penalising careless and untidy work - until you get into business.

Wave speed

Determining the velocity of waves in a ripple tank using a phone to capture the wavelength and the videoing in slow-mo with a clock timer in the background to determine the number of waves passing a point per second.

 

Life Size Wooly Gut

Looking at the gut makes the students squeamish, but playing with the life-sized knitted woolly gut is fun, and they're amazed at the diameter and length of the small intestines.

 

Moments made easy

 Moments made easy using Balance Me from Phet. So many useful simulations for the students to learn with.

Old and the New

 Using the USB to 3 1/2 Floppy Disk. I haven't found a 5 1/4 equivalent yet, But I can use some very old PC's to still use them.

Potable Water

Making water safe to drink in the lab. Starting with River water and rainwater, we looked at how dirty they were. then put them through a water filter of gravel sand and activated charcoal. Clean but was it safe to drink - no. Next to see what bacteria is in tap, bottled distilled water and compare them to sea water, rainwater and river water.

 

Radioactivity

 Using the @Pascoscientific Wireless Geiger Counter with the sample holder and using different numbers of metal sheets to reduce the count.

Further Maths

 Playing with 3-D Vectors and comparing this to working with CAD. Rotating objects around, measuring distances to see real-life applications of the Maths.

Inside a plug

 Gone are the days when students learnt to wire a plug, but it is still helpful to look inside and look at a home wiring diagram to see that the sockets and lights are all in parallel.

World Population Growth

World Population Growth in Two Graphs. Over my lifetime is nearly a straight line and none of the students were bothered until we looked at the population size over the past 7000 years

 

Computer Storage

 Some computer history shows students the 5 1/4 Floppy disk, The 720K 31/2 floppy Disk, and the 1.44K 3 1/2 floppy disk onto the Single density CD to the DVD and Hard Disk. I also have a 1980s 300Mb Winchester exchangeable platter, giving the students something to consider.

Online Teaching Success

 Online lessons work well for some subjects like maths - but how about science? After 7 years of online teaching, we know online teaching works well with science, but it also depends upon the students' setup, and if they can manage some half-decent, online works really well.

Ore Extraction

Ore extraction is done by adding some crushed calcium carbonate to a wooden spill and dipping it in copper or iron oxide. Heat fiercely, and with some practice, tiny balls of metal are formed.