A place for insight, inspiration, and experiments.
Vernier Connections™: Empowering Educators to Implement 3D Learning
With the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the National Research Council put forward a new vision for what it means to be proficient in science. You’ve undoubtedly heard of three-dimensional learning, the framework upon which the NGSS are based, but you may be unclear about what they mean and how to apply them in your classroom. In this blog post, we will unpack the three dimensions of learning as well as explain how Vernier Science Education is designing Connections lessons to be three-dimensional.
Back-to-School Experiments to Kick-Start Your School Year
As we gear up to welcome students back to the classroom, it’s the perfect time to strategically introduce (or reintroduce) the fundamental principles of data collection. No matter the subject, understanding how to collect, analyze, and interpret data is not only key to fostering good inquiry, it’s also a fun way to spark engagement in students as they come back to class from summer break.
We’re sharing our favorite back-to-school science experiments that use some of our most popular sensors, including the Go Direct® Temperature Probe, the Go Direct Conductivity Probe, and the Go Direct Motion Detector. Give these a try to get your students moving, mixing, measuring, and observing in the classroom this fall!
An Experiment to Help You Transform Your Chemistry Class into a Forensic Lab
Want a way to make chemistry class more exciting for your students? One approach is to use make-believe crimes to provide real-world learning opportunities with forensic chemistry experiments.
Three Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of the Go Direct Motion Detector
One of the most versatile ways for students to measure motion—a key scientific concept—is the
Go Direct® Motion Detector.
Supporting GEAR UP Schools with Science and Math Instruction and Technology Implementation: A Q&A with Linda Antinone
Linda Antinone’s overarching goal is simple: help more underrepresented students be successful, especially when it comes to STEM. Linda is an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, educational specialist, coach, trainer, and author with extensive experience teaching advanced mathematics and science courses in urban high schools, creating STEM education curricula, and developing legislation on education, poverty, science, and technology.
Three Experiments that Highlight How Vernier Graphical Analysis® Pro Can Elevate Physics Learning
Energy, acceleration, and simple harmonic motion are just a few important physics principles for students to learn—and using the Graphical Analysis Pro app with our Go Direct® sensors can help bring these abstract scientific concepts to life.
Everything You Need to Know about Summer Sensor Storage
Proper storage over the summer is key to extending the useful life of your laboratory’s sensors. Before you enjoy your well-deserved summer break, it’s a great idea to take stock of your Vernier probeware and make sure it’s correctly stored for the next few months.
Five Common Household Items You Can Use to Teach Your Students Key Chemistry Concepts
It can be challenging for students to wrap their minds around key chemistry concepts, such as pH, Beer’s law, and gas conversions. You can help demystify these abstract scientific ideas with hands-on learning that incorporates common household items.
Six Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Go Direct® Weather System
Want a way to easily monitor a variety of environmental factors with just one sensor? The Go Direct Weather System gives students the tools to measure ambient temperature, humidity, wind chill, dew point, barometric pressure, and more.
Three Experiments for Exploring Physics with the Go Direct® Force and Acceleration Sensor
Understanding key physics concepts, such as Newton’s laws of motion, gives students a solid foundation for exploring real-world physics applications—and the Go Direct Force and Acceleration Sensor is a great tool for laying that groundwork and building on it.
Canoes, Conchs, and CO2 Gas Sensors: Hands-On Environmental Science Learning in the Florida Wetlands
Monitoring water quality is a great way to engage students in hands-on environmental science learning. For Louise Chapman’s students, it has also provided opportunities to make a positive impact on their local community and environment.
How to Choose the Right Spectrometer for You
Spectrometers are a great tool for helping your students explore important scientific concepts across a range of biology, chemistry, and physics courses—and Vernier offers a suite of spectrometers that are fast, compact, and easy to use.
Four Experiments to Help Your Students Explore the Science Behind Climate Change
Climate change is a complex, long-term process, so it can be challenging to conduct classroom experiments that show the phenomenon.
Five Ways to Take Physics Learning on the Go with the Go Direct® Acceleration Sensor
With the right tools, your students can explore important physics concepts in the real world—even when they’re traveling.
Empowering Students and Extending STEM Curriculum with a Classroom Aquarium
In middle school science classes, data-collection technology is a great tool for promoting hands-on learning. This school year, Jeff Branchaud and his students are using an additional tool: a 55-gallon classroom aquarium.
Determining the Best Light Source for Photosynthesis
One of the fundamental concepts in biology is photosynthesis, the process by which plants use carbon dioxide, light, and water to make their own food. Sunlight contains a broad spectrum of wavelengths, both visible and invisible—but plants use only specific parts of the visible spectrum for photosynthesis.
Getting a Taste for Food Chemistry with Three of Our Favorite Experiments
When you think about tools for teaching chemistry, potato chips, grape Kool-Aid®, and Gatorade® might not be the first things that come to mind. However, these items can be integral to food chemistry experiments—which are a great way to engage high school and college students in hands-on science learning with real-world applications.
Hands-On Physics Learning with Water Rockets, Mousetrap Race Cars, Bridges, and Wind Turbines
All students benefit when they can apply physics principles and concepts by building something. Having that real-world connection can help make physics easier to understand. As an added bonus, it can also increase student engagement.
Giving High School Students Real-World Experience with Modern Agriculture
Over the 30 years that Joel Rudderow has been teaching agricultural science, the agricultural industry has changed a great deal. With advances in everything from machinery to irrigation, the work that farmers do today looks a lot different from what their predecessors did.
Latino STEM Alliance: Sparking Interest in Science Exploration for Underserved Youth with Robotics and Project-Based Learning
Hispanic workers represent just 8 percent of the STEM workforce, according to the Pew Research Center. The Latino STEM Alliance (LSA) seeks to increase that number.
Celebrating Darwin Day with Vernier Technology
Looking for an innovative way to teach your students about Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution? Comparative physiology experiments are a great approach to explore this central concept in biology.
Answers to the Top Five Questions about pH Sensor Care
Whether you teach college chemistry, high school biology, or middle school science, a pH sensor is a great tool to help your students explore the fundamental scientific concept of pH.
Five Tips for Collecting High-Quality Video to Analyze in Vernier Video Analysis®
Motion is an important concept that can be challenging for students to comprehend. However, Vernier Video Analysis makes studying motion easy and accessible.
Three Steps to Help You Prepare to Write a Successful Grant Proposal to Fund Your STEM Learning Projects
Applying for a grant to fund your STEM education initiatives might feel daunting. However, this process doesn’t have to be overly complicated or time-consuming—and if you’re successful, it can be a huge benefit for your students and your school.
What’s New at Vernier: May 2022
Want to know the latest goings-on at Vernier? Check out this roundup of product announcements, upcoming events, academic journal and media mentions, and other news.
For Educators, By Educators: Creating Content for Vernier Connections™
Educators are at the heart of Vernier. The company was founded by a physics teacher, many of us are former educators, and all of us are dedicated to setting current educators up for success.
STEM Education Innovation: Inspiring Physics Students Through Gaming
Note: A version of this story was originally posted on the Vernier website in August 2020.
K–12 Experiments of the Month: Elevate Hands-On STEM Learning
Vernier offers more than 1,000 experiments in biology, chemistry, engineering/robotics, and physics that can help you inspire students and integrate data-collection technology into your STEM classes.
All three of this month’s featured experiments involve our spectrometers. To further explore the use of spectrometers, check out our Illuminate Spectroscopy webinar.What’s New at Vernier: May 2022
Want to know the latest goings-on at Vernier? Check out this roundup of product announcements, upcoming events, academic journal and media mentions, and other news.
K–12 Experiments of the Month: Elevate Hands-On STEM Learning
Vernier offers more than 1,000 experiments in biology, chemistry, engineering/robotics, and physics that can help you inspire students and integrate data-collection technology into your STEM classes. We will be featuring at least one of our experiments in each edition of The Caliper.
STEM Education Innovation: Using Data Collection to Prepare Students for the Agricultural Workforce
Note: A version of this story was originally posted on the Vernier website in October 2019.
Technology plays a significant role in making modern agricultural practices more efficient and profitable. Sensors monitor environmental conditions and analyze the soil, robots assist in weed control and during harvest, and drones provide aerial imagery to monitor crop growth.
Spark Scientific Curiosity with These Award-Winning Apps
To help educators reignite students’ love of learning science this spring, Vernier is providing
What’s New at Vernier: April 2022
Want to know the latest goings-on at Vernier? Check out the newest edition of The Caliper for a roundup of product announcements, academic journal and media mentions, upcoming events, and other news.
Featured K–12 Experiments: March 2022
Vernier offers more than 1,000 experiments in biology, chemistry, engineering/robotics, and physics that can help you inspire students and integrate data-collection technology into your STEM classes. We will be featuring at least one of our experiments in each edition of The Caliper.
What’s New at Vernier: March 2022
Want to know the latest goings-on at Vernier? Check out the newest edition of The Caliper for a roundup of product announcements, academic journal and media mentions, upcoming events, and other news.
STEM Education Innovation: Using Water Rockets and Data-Collection Technology to Teach Physics
We’re always excited when educators share the ways they use Vernier products in their STEM classes—and we’re always so impressed by their ingenuity. We will be showcasing at least one example of STEM education innovation in each edition of The Caliper.
The Research Behind a Whole-Student Approach to STEM Education
Dr. Ashlie Denton is a senior researcher in equitable learning environments at Education Northwest, an education research nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. She is the author of a 2021 report titled “The State of STEM Learning.” Dr. Denton’s work includes evaluating research-based best practices for project-based learning and out-of-school-time STEM programming. She recently discussed with Vernier the research basis for a whole-student approach to STEM education. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Creating Culturally Representative Science Curricula: A Q&A with Dr. Catherine Quinlan
Dr. Catherine Quinlan is a science education researcher and assistant professor at Howard University, one of the premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. She recently discussed with Vernier the crucial work of creating culturally representative science curricula for both K–12 and college students. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured K–12 Experiment: "Photosynthesis and Respiration (CO2)"
Vernier offers more than 1,000 experiments in biology, chemistry, engineering/robotics, and physics that can help you inspire students and integrate data-collection technology into your STEM classes. We will be featuring at least one of our experiments in each edition of The Caliper.
What’s New at Vernier: February 2022
Want to know the latest goings-on at Vernier? Check out the newest edition of The Caliper for a roundup of product announcements, academic journal and media mentions, upcoming events, and other news.
The GEMS Camp: Empowering Girls of Color to Shine in STEM
With an emphasis on serving middle school and high school students, The GEMS Camp seeks to increase the representation of women of color in science and STEM. This Texas-based nonprofit was founded in 2010, and it offers holistic programming in five areas: academics, career, creativity, leadership, and service. According to its website, “The GEMS Camp is one of the few girl-centric organizations founded and led by a Black female STEM educator.”
Featured K–12 Experiment: “The Ink is Still Wet”
Vernier offers more than 1,000 experiments in biology, chemistry, engineering/robotics, and physics that can help you inspire students and integrate data-collection technology into your STEM classes. We will be featuring at least one of our experiments in each edition of The Caliper.
What’s New at Vernier: January 2022
Want to know the latest goings-on at Vernier? Check out the newest edition of The Caliper for a roundup of product announcements; academic journal and media mentions; upcoming conferences, webinars, and workshops; and other news.
Exploring the STEM Career Cluster
Career and technical education (CTE) “provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge, and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners,” according to the national nonprofit Advance CTE.
Career and Technical Education: A Strategy for Setting All Students Up for STEM Success
Time waits for no one when it comes to workforce readiness. Put another way, it is critical to equip today’s students with the skills they will need for tomorrow’s careers, especially in STEM fields.
The Caliper: A 37-Year Evolution and the Top Stories of 2021
In 1984, mullet haircuts were the rage, Purple Rain topped the Billboard charts, and a loaf of bread cost less than 75 cents. In addition, “just 8 percent of households had a personal computer, the World Wide Web was still five years away, and cellphones were enormous,” according to The Washington Post.
Infusing Native Culture into STEM and More: Spotlight on the Paris Gibson Education Center
The garden at the Paris Gibson Education Center, an alternative high school in Great Falls, Montana, is much more than a spot where plants grow.
How Equitable Broadband Access Supports STEM Learning in Tribal Areas
Reliable and high-speed internet connectivity is a must-have for effective online learning. However, only about 65 percent of the population in rural tribal areas has broadband access, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, compared with 99 percent of the population in urban areas.
What Educators Need to Understand to Fully Support Native Students
Note: Jacqueline Keeler is a Diné/Dakota writer living in Portland, Oregon. Her writing has appeared in The Nation, NBC News, The New York Times, and many other publications. Keeler has been interviewed on PRI's The World, BBC, MSNBC, and Democracy Now.
The Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program: Developing Leaders
What if there were a way to set students up for STEM success starting in kindergarten and going all the way through graduate school?
How One Nonprofit is Increasing Indigenous Representation in STEM
A lack of diversity persists in the higher education pipeline for STEM jobs, especially in fields like computing and engineering, according to a recent report by the Pew Research Center.
Classroom Resources for Examining the Impacts of Climate Change
Teaching students about climate change can be challenging; it’s a broad, interdisciplinary topic, and it’s not always part of an established curriculum. However, teaching students about the impact of climate change can be relatively simple.
Place-Based Learning: Fighting Climate Change Where You Live
Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions, but your students don’t have to travel far to learn about ways to fight climate change, such as energy conservation. In fact, students can learn about these topics from their very own homes.
Three Must-Watch Videos about Climate Change
Although climate change is a complex topic, many free videos and documentaries are available to help educators teach students about climate change and how it impacts their everyday lives.
A Wake-Up Call and a Learning Opportunity: Teaching Students About the UN Climate Change Report
In August, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (a body of the United Nations) released a report that the UN secretary-general described as “a code red for humanity.”
Supporting Educator Diversity in Today’s Classrooms: Three Teacher Preparation Programs to Check Out
With young Latinx learners representing a large percentage of the student population, more Latinx educators are needed in today’s classrooms. The Latinx student population is expected to continue to grow, and “research shows that schools and districts with teachers that reflect the cultural, racial, and/or linguistic backgrounds of Latinx students are better equipped to support them,” according to the education policy report Paving the Way for Latinx Teachers: Recruitment and Preparation to Promote Educator Diversity from New America.
Empowering Ideas for Engaging Latinx Students in STEM
Boosting STEM exposure, opportunities, and engagement all go a long way in creating STEM-literate students and supporting the next generation of Latinx STEM leaders. But, outside of the classroom or lab, where can students go to receive STEM support? And where can they learn more about potential careers and research environments they could pursue in the field?
Celebrating Latinx Scientists and Their Work: Resources for Your Classroom
National Hispanic Heritage Month offers a great opportunity for students to learn about the many Latinx contributions to STEM.
Latinx Scientists You Should Have Learned About in School
Latinx scientists have made a measurable impact in the scientific community. With September 15 marking the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, now is a great time to introduce students to notable Latinx scientists, while offering hands-on investigations
like these that connect to their areas of research.
Transforming Science Education Post-Pandemic
If nothing else, the last 18 months during this worldwide pandemic have demonstrated the fragility and limitations of our education system. We asked more of teachers as they addressed a broadening range of student needs during an exceedingly difficult time that was amplified by gross inequities in technology for teaching and learning.
Adopting Three-Dimensional Learning with OpenSciEd: A Conversation with Jim Ryan
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) provides a powerful framework for strengthening science literacy and helping students think and act as real-world scientists. However, as OpenSciEd Executive Director Jim Ryan says, the new standards ask teachers and students to conduct themselves differently in the science classroom, which can pose challenges.
A Ready STEM Lab: Your Local, State, and National Parks
For over a year now it has been undoubtedly challenging to deliver the hands-on learning experiences that are so important to helping students make meaningful scientific connections. Even as next school year will likely begin under more normal circumstances, new challenges will need to be addressed.
Moving to Three-Dimensional Learning
What is three-dimensional learning? How do we develop and change how we teach as science educators? How do we get students to do the heavy lifting? And, how do we ensure that students become active—rather than passive—learners?
A Call to Action for Science Education
A Call to Action for Science Education, a comprehensive report published by the National Academies of Sciences, outlines the need for equitable access to quality science learning experiences that help enable students to develop the deep scientific literacy skills and understanding they need for personal and professional success.
A Guide to Choosing the Right Edtech Partner
Based on the sheer amount of marketing emails and sales calls received on a weekly—or even daily—basis, district leaders can surely attest to the seemingly countless number of technologies on the market today. But just how big is the edtech industry?
Sign Up for The Caliper
The Caliper started as a printed, biannual newsletter in 1984. See the evolution of STEM education over 39 years.