I learned some important things today:

1. Before purchasing an app, we need to consider the capabilities, the cost, potential time saving, and the value of the learning experience.

2. We also need to consider if there are alternative ways of doing the same thing for free.

Video analysis is a $4.99 app by Vernier available for the iPad. I used my iPad today to record a ping pong ball rolling across the carpet in my living room and coming to a stop.

Below you see the screen shot of the Graphical Analysis on the iPad:

Below you see the screen shots of the Logger Pro analysis on the computer:

It only took a few moments to connect the iPad to my computer and then do the video analysis on Logger Pro.

The analysis capabilities in Logger Pro are far more robust than Graphical Analysis on the iPad. You may not agree, but I think it also delivers more educational value.

Everyone has a different situation, but for me I could not justify the cost of the Graphical Analysis package for the iPad (even with Vernier's wonderful educational discount package) because we already have Logger Pro installed on all of my students' computers and on all of the analysis computers at our school.

I learned some important things today:

1. Before purchasing an app, we need to consider the capabilities, the cost, potential time saving, and the value of the learning experience.

2. We also need to consider if there are alternative ways of doing the same thing for free.
Tomorrow I want to develop this theme a little more.

So long for now.