By Tech Powered Dad | March 12, 2011
Texas Instruments didn’t stop with the announcement of the TI-Nspire CX. Now comes the announcement that users will have access to upgraded science tools for all TI-Nspire handhelds running OS 3.0. When the Nspire CX was announced a few weeks back, sharp eyed readers may have noticed a new icon at the bottom of the Nspire CX’s display, an Erlenmeyer flask. That addition is another new key feature, a fully dedicated app known as Vernier DataQuest, which allows users to collect data using a variety of scientific data collection devices.
Ten years ago, as a new teacher, I often taught lessons involving the relationship between distance vs. time graphs and velocity vs. time graphs for my calculus students as an introduction to the relationship between the graph of a function and it’s derivative. My trusty CBR and TI-84 plus allowed me to accomplish this. Dynamic data collection can provide powerful connections for students between real world situations and mathematical and scientific theory.
While using a cradle for their TI-Nspire CX –or any other TI-Nspire running OS 3.0–Vernier DataQuest allows students and teachers to use any of 55 scientific sensors, including up to 5 running simultaneously. In the future, I hope to have a more in-depth review of Vernier DataQuest for Tech Powered Math readers, but for now, check out the official press release from Texas Instruments.