Yesterday I was getting some materials ready for my 6th grade Science classes and I noticed how much I enjoyed doing that instead of grading. Had I spent that time reading student work to give them points or a letter grade then I would have postponed replacing the batteries in our 10 LabQuest handheld probe interface devices pictured here. The backs had four teeny screws to remove to get the back off and the battery connected via an even smaller connection so it took longer than I expected!
That little connector at the end didn’t fit neatly into its slot, the slot was recessed near the edges making it tricky to snap it into place.
Then I checked through the probes to replenish needed solutions as in this pH sensor.
Some of the pH sensors needed more buffer solution after not being used since last year. I also had to rewrite the new team numbers on the boxes so that each team knew which sensor to grab each day we go down to the creek. I find my time was much better spent doing this, something that prepares my students to do Science, instead of marking up papers to put in a gradebook. Now don’t get me wrong, I do assess my students and give them feedback, but luckily when we’re doing Science like this, after the research, the kind of help they need is sensors and LabQuests organized and functioning properly as well as feedback on how they are collecting and recording their data. This is fun and it’s real Science!
Just another reason why I’m so glad I’ve given up on grading my students.
