Arduino Science Journal is replacing Google Science Journal

ICT in Science

If you’ve followed my advice in the past and installed Google Science Journal then you need to be aware that the app is about to be discontinued and replaced by Arduino Science Journal instead. This will mean your current app will stop working in December and you’ll need to download and install a different version.

Download Arduino Science Journal here.

Google has decided to no longer support the development of the Science Journal app. However, Science Journal is open source, so the code that powers the app is available for anyone to use on Github. Due to Arduino’s existing experience with Science Journal and long-standing commitment to hands-on science and open source, Google has agreed to transfer ownership of the open-source project over to Arduino, and they will be continuing to support and improve Science Journal moving forward.

If you’ve not seen it before, Arduino Science Journal is free and open-source and allows you to gather data about the world around you by harnessing the sensors in your smartphone as well as sensors connected to Arduino, or other third-party hardware. The Science Journal transforms smartphones, tablets, and Chromebooks into science notebooks that encourage students to explore their world.

Each experiment is a blank page that students can fill with notes and photos as they observe the world around you. At the heart of the app is using the built-in sensors within your device to measure real-world data. Students can add in measurements taken by the app, along with their thoughts and observations, as well any photos they’ve taken.

Sensors can record information over time, as well as make snapshot readings as they go along. As long as your tablet/phone has the appropriate hardware, students can use the app to measure light, sound and movement as well as an accelerometer, a magnetometer and a compass.

Note that Arduino’s Science Journal apps do not yet support signing in with your Google account to enable syncing with Google Drive. This will be coming in a future update of their apps.

More info here: https://www.arduino.cc/education/science-journal

To download the Arduino Science Journal click here : IOS / Android

For more information, read this update from Google.

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About Danny Nicholson

Danny Nicholson is an independent primary science consultant, trainer and author working with primary schools across the UK. He supports schools where science is a development priority — whether that is building staff confidence, developing the science lead, or improving curriculum progression across year groups. He is an accredited Professional Learning Lead for STEM Learning UK, a PSQM Hub Leader, and the author of Reach Out CPD and Science Fix: Science Made Easy for Primary Teachers. If your school has science on its improvement plan, please get in touch to discuss CPD options

2 Comments

  1. Andrea, Primary Science Teacher
    Andrea, Primary Science Teacher on 3rd February 2024 at 9:51 am

    Hi,

    I’ve found this post via the STEM community and Ogden Trust and it looks like this product would have been perfect but it doesn’t look like it is currently available.

    Do you know of something else that would use the microphone in the children’s laptops and do data logging? For free! Thanks.