School Pilots

The Nova5000 has been adopted for a number of sizable science data logging programs worldwide, including state-wide implementations, as well as the key tool in upgrading science laboratories. The Nova5000 provides a true 21st Century solution for Science and Math as well as bundling a broad range of leading software covering schools’ entire curriculum scope. Educators are very impressed how quickly students can pick up a Nova5000 and immediately start to use it. Nova5000 research and development revolves around making the Nova5000 100% compliant with school needs‚ and the educators recognize that fact.

Jackson R-2 School District
Situation: 4,600 students enrolled in K-12 grade programs, offering early intervention programs for children aged birth to five with high academic achievement a priority.
Grade Level(s): PS & HS
Purpose: To computerize the schools science labs
Why Fourier: The scientific focus of the Nova5000, with immediate data results displayed for analysis

Andrew Helle, a science teacher at Jackson Senior High School
“We really needed a computer lab solution - one that could be mobile and available for multiple uses. We saw the potential of the Nova5000 across applications and activities. For instance, I was out of the country and did not want my students to miss out on a learning opportunity while I was gone. I was able to record my lesson via pod cast and create slides to accompany the audio recording. My students used the Nova5000s during class to listen to the lecture and follow along with the presentation at their own pace. Then they were asked to complete a quiz, which I could assess even though I was thousands of miles away.”

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South Washington County Schools
Situation: Suburban district encompasses four communities and 84 square miles. The district's Strategic Plan, Focus on the Future, includes the primary goal of being in the top 10 percent of all Minnesota School Districts in MCA tests and ranked #1 among districts of comparable size and demographics.
Grade Level(s): High School
Purpose: To provide an enriched learning environment focus on science with student mobile learning devices.
Why Fourier: Innovative technology that teachers can apply as a relevant 21st Century tool

Rick Light, Science Teacher Woodbury High School
“In attending courses to teach AP Physics, I learned about new technology that can be used in the classroom. I felt we were doing our students a disservice by teaching labs without technology," said Light. "We are now using the Nova5000s one hundred percent of the time, utilizing probeware, the built-in graphing calculator and the Internet for accessing daily lesson plans and downloading worksheets. Students are spending time now analyzing data - connecting the experiment with the concept - instead of taking so much time to graph data.”

Light explained that his students enjoy using the technology during class. He has found that there also is much less loose paper, as the students working in pairs use one Nova5000 to conduct the lab and the other to download the PDF of the lab instructions. In addition, Light appreciates that his students no longer have to bring a graphing calculator to class. No longer dealing with the challenge of students being distracted by their own devices, he can monitor each Nova5000 from his own computer, sending a quick message to any student if needed.

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Hatboro-Horsham School District, Montgomery County, PA, USA
Sittuation: Fifth grade students in the School District of Hatboro-Horsham in Montgomery County, Pa., are leveraging the benefits of technology while studying nature.
Grade Level(s): Elementary School
Purpose: To master 21st Century digital literacy skills. In addition to develop lessons that encourage scientific, inquiry-based learning
Why Fourier: A data logging device that allows students to solve multi-disciplinary real-life problems as well as master the skills necessary to use spreadsheets to present, analyze and graph data

Carmela Curatola-Knowles, Elementary Technology Teacher for Hatboro-Horsham.
“The Nova5000 gave us the opportunity to bring the equipment directly to a Nature Center and use it to record observations and draw pictures of items identified for further research and use later in the computer lab, library, and classroom. The fifth grade students used Inspiration and NovaPaint, software programs bundled on the Nova5000, to take field notes and re-create items they observed in the Nature Center using the device’s stylus. This provided for better use of student time at the Nature Center as they were focused on observing rather than keeping track of paper and pencil to write. The Nova5000 facilitated the transparent use of technology to aid student learning.”

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Yolo County, CA, USA
Situation: Small county office outside Sacramento
Grade Level(s): MS & HS math and science teachers
Purpose: PD program to enhance math and science skills of teachers via Math and Science Partnership Grant
Why Fourier: Science and math programs bundled with applications familiar

Bob Bachmeier, Yolo County Office of Education
“The capability of the NOVA 5000 to display onto a screen or larger monitor has been more powerful than we anticipated. The portability lends itself to quick set-up and use almost anywhere in the classrooms – It is so much easier than setting up a lap-top next to the projector. Our teachers found that the software is powerful, friendly to learn and use, and is not intimidating (Portrait 4 and MultilogPRO). Our grant (No Child Left Behind funded) had an emphasis on increasing the content knowledge of teachers in math and science. We found that the NOVA5000s are educational tools for both, teachers and students. Our teachers are finding how easy it is to have students collect data, then they find out how their students feel like they own that data and are much more willing to do something with it. They get excited manipulating and analyzing information they relate to and own. Teachers found it to be almost transparent moving from Microsoft Office and the NOVA’s productivity tools (Textmaker and Planmaker) and vise-versa. This increased their ‘technology confidence’ immediately.”

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Cromer Primary School, New South Wales, Australia
Situation: 6 Science Groups using Nova5000
Grade Level(s): PS & MS math and science
Purpose: To explore hands-on Science with latest technology tools.
Why Fourier: Excellent tool for science and math but also spelling activities, drawing and word processing in lab reporting.

Cromer Primary School Science Teacher
“The students became adept at managing the Nova’s within our classroom. They set up recharge stations and a team made sure they were recharged after every use and then put away. Others were responsible in copying data from the Nova’s to the computer. We connected the Nova to our interactive white board. This was excellent for demonstration purposes and to explain to the students how to use the MultiLab software. In regards to using the other software on the Nova’s and to manage the files they created they pretty much were able to work that out for themselves or asked their peers to show them.”

Cromer Primary School Science Teacher
“A few weeks ago our teacher was given 6 Nova 5000 to work with in science. We had to explore battery operated devices and work out how each of these worked. We had to record our findings in our science journals. We then had to draw cut-away diagrams of a torch. After sketching them in our science journals first, we then used the paint program on the Novas to draw the diagrams. We had a lot of fun doing this. Drawing the diagrams using the Novas helped us to get used to using the Nova’s and the stylus.”
The use of the Nova 5000 during our It’s electrifying science unit was a resounding success. The students loved using the sensors to record and analyze information. I initially introduced the sensors in a ‘play’ situation. This was a huge success in engaging the students. They held light sensors to everything they could find that gave off light. They were fascinated by the graphing process and initiated their own comparisons of the graphs and discussed various theories to explain the differences.”

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