SOURCE: PASCO scientific
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March 24, 2008 07:00 ET
PASCO scientific Announces Breakthrough New Discovery-Based Science Learning Environment
The SPARK Science Learning System Fully Integrates 21st Century Technology and Inquiry-Based Content, Making Authentic Science Experiences Accessible in Any Classroom
ROSEVILLE, CA--(Marketwire - March 24, 2008) - School administrators struggling to develop
students' 21st century science skills in the face of a dwindling pool of
dedicated science teachers have good reason to be optimistic. PASCO
scientific today announces the SPARK Science Learning System™, an
all-in-one discovery-learning environment that seamlessly integrates the
power of probeware with inquiry-based content and assessment. With its
large full color display, finger-touch navigation and completely intuitive
data collection and analysis capabilities, the SPARK™ system redefines
the concept of easy-to-use -- keeping the focus on learning science.
"The SPARK system is unique in concept, design and application," said Wayne
Grant, Ph.D., chief education officer at PASCO. "With a strong belief that
technology should be invisible to the user, we conceived a device so simple
to use and so intuitive that teachers and students can use it once and pick
it up a week later without missing a beat. It also had to be lightweight,
mobile and rugged so students could move about the classroom or in the
field while conducting experiments. And finally, it had to be easy to
collect and view data alone or in collaboration with others."
With the SPARK system, students can explore the world around them and make
their own scientific discoveries. They can ask significant questions,
gather data, reflect on data, and interpret their findings. SPARK, which
stands for sense, perceive, analyze, reflect and know, builds on a science
learning process that empowers teachers and energizes students.
"PASCO's SPARK Science Learning System is a terrific environment designed
to put scientific exploration in the hands of students where it belongs,"
said David Thornburg, Ph.D., Executive Director at the Thornburg Center and
world-renowned visionary. "At a time when we are concerned with the
development of skills in the STEM areas (science, technology, engineering
and mathematics), the SPARK system brings concrete measurement to students
in a way that stimulates their creativity and interest in pursuing science
as an activity, not as sterile writings in a musty textbook."
The SPARK Science Learning System was designed to become the center of a
school's discovery-based science learning environment, providing both
teacher and student embedded support for exploring scientific concepts. The
system includes more than 60 pre-installed SPARKlabs™, standards-based
guided inquiry labs in a unique electronic notebook format. These SPARKlabs
completely integrate background content, data collection and analysis, even
assessment -- all within the same environment. Students need no longer
navigate to a separate file for instructions or even refer to paper
manuals. Everything they need to support inquiry is right there in context.
The SPARK system builds on a student-friendly, rugged mobile device with
just two buttons -- supporting one-handed start and stop of data collection
for either left or right-handers. The System includes two sensors --
temperature and voltage -- and students can connect up to two additional
PASPORT® sensors, including PASCO's unique line of MultiMeasure
Sensors™. The full color, high-resolution screen provides ample room for
multiple representations of data -- show graphs, digits and meters in the
same view. The System is powered by a LINUX mobile operating system,
encapsulated to make it invisible to the user.
PASCO will publicly unveil the SPARK Science Learning System to educators
attending the National Science Teachers Association's national conference
that runs Thursday through Sunday at the Boston Convention & Exposition
Center. The product will be shown in PASCO Booth 1563.
The SPARK Science Learning System has an introductory, pre-shipping price
of $299 through Aug. 31. It will ship this fall. For information on The
SPARK Science Learning System call 800-772-8700 or visit
www.pasco.com/SPARK.
About PASCO scientific
PASCO scientific is a leading developer of innovative, technology-based
solutions for hands-on science. PASCO's team of over 165 includes former
and current teachers, educational researchers, engineers and many more.
Throughout its more than 40-year history, PASCO has focused exclusively on
science education -- designing, developing and supporting better ways of
teaching and learning science. Today, teachers and students in more than 60
countries throughout the world use PASCO solutions.
The SPARK Science Learning System, SPARK, SPARKlabs, SPARKbooks, SPARKvue
and MultiMeasure Sensors are trademarks of PASCO scientific. PASPORT is a
registered trademark of PASCO scientific.
EDITOR'S NOTE: SPARK will be unveiled at the National Science Teachers
Association's national conference to be held Thursday through Sunday at the
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. If you would like to see it, come to
Booth 63. For interviews Wayne Grant, Ph.D., chief education officer at
PASCO, please call me at 408-623-6372.