Vernier Software & Technology has partnered with SAM Labs to teach middle school students coding and computational thinking skills through data-collection STEAM activities. Students can use a variety of Go Direct sensors with SAM Labs STEAM Kits and the Google Workbench programming canvas to collect real-time experiment data and bring their SAM Labs projects to life.
SAM Labs STEAM Kits are available in three versions based on class size and provide all the materials teachers need, including teacher-created lesson plans, step-by-step activities, and comprehensive technical support. Once students build their projects using the kits’ programmable SAM Blocks, they can connect the Go Direct sensors using Bluetooth® wireless technology in Google Workbench and build Blockly programs that make the hardware interact.
Teachers will be able to access a new series of free Blockly coding activities in Google Workbench that interact with Vernier sensors. These activities are designed to engage students in science, develop coding skills, and practice peer collaboration. In an introductory activity, students integrate Vernier sensors with Google Sheets and SAM Labs blocks to design an experiment to explore the factors that affect electromagnetic strength. Each of these activities comes with complete teacher resources and materials to help them get started teaching these important skills.
Vernier Go Direct sensors that are compatible with the SAM Labs STEAM kits include the Motion Detector, Force and Acceleration Sensor, Sound Sensor, 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor, and Temperature Probe.
To learn more about the Vernier and SAM Labs partnership, visit www.vernier.com/sam-labs.
