FAQs

einstein™Learning Platform

What is the einstein™Learning Platform?

The einstein™Learning Platform leverages our einstein™ data loggers and wide array of sensors to create a comprehensive K-12 science learning solution through exploration and analysis apps, interactive Activities, comprehensive experiment books, and expert training for teachers and students for ease of classroom integration.  Our unique learning platform is designed to be customizable for every grade. We’ve made sure it is stimulating enough for young children while retaining the sophistication to challenge older students

There are several integral parts to the  einstein™Learning Platform - the MiLAB and einstein™World apps, MiLAB Desktop, the einstein™ Activity Maker the einstein™Activity Store and the wide array of over 60 einstein™-brand sensors all of which come together to create a comprehensive K-12 science learning solution for students K-12.

What is a digital science classroom and what is it good for?

A digital classroom incorporates digital devices such as desktop computers, tablets and even smart phones. A digital science classroom incorporates sensor data and methods to learn from that data. There are numerous reasons for educational systems to adopt digital science classrooms. Modern pedagogy, encourages students to think independently, develop their questions and research the answers to those questions. Research shows that hands-on learning is the most effective method to reach these goals. Digital science learning is the most effective method to implement hands-on science programs allowing students and teachers to focus on the science and not on the setup. Extra time is freed up for students independent investigations and thinking.

In this digital setting students are exposed to the types of technologies used in modern labs. Just think how strange it must seem for students, who spend much of their day exposed to and using sophisticated hi-tech devices to walk into their science classroom only to be greeted by outdated equipment.  Imagine instead a lab where students are engaged in real-world experiments, experiencing science for themselves.

Okay, my school bought einstein™devices, what next?

For high school teachers you’ll want to start by downloading the MiLAB app for tablets or MiLAB Desktop for desktop computers. The go to our Experiments page and download our experiment collections -  Experiments in Biology, Experiments in Physics, Experiments in Chemistry. There you’ll find over a hundred experiments to introduce into your curriculum.

For middle and elementary school teachers the best place to start planning your lessons is by downloading the einstein™World to your iOS or Android tablet. Next stop is the einstein™Activity Store, where you can download dozens of lesson plans or Activities designed for all ages many of them for free. Use the einstein™World app to go through a few of these Activities to see how our pedagogic team has incorporated text, video, animations and sensor-based information to construct a lesson plan and then try a few out  your class. After that you’ll be ready to use the einstein™Activity Maker to design your own Activities.

Of course our experiments page also contains a number of experiments suitable for middle and elementary school for use with the MiLAB app.

We still feel like we’re not getting the most out of our einstein™equipment. What else can we do?

For schools and districts having difficulty implementing a digital sceicne curriculum, Fourier Education, makers of einstein™brand products, offers special training sessions. These training sessions are designed to train teachers in cutting-edge pedagogical techniques allowing them to get the most out of the hi-tech classroom.  

What is the difference between MiLAB and einstein™World?

einstein™World is an app designed to run Activities created in the einstein™Activity Maker. Each Activity is  a self-contained lesson plan, allowing students to work independently with a pre-determined experimental setup. MiLAB is set up as an open digital lab where students set up their own experiments. In MiLAB students are able to perform more complex equations and experiments.  Fourier has developed hundreds of curriculum-based experiments for this environment (downloadable here) as direction for how MiLAB can be used.  However, since it is open, you can make up your own activities or simply just explore!

Does the einstein™Learning Platform require a device for each student?

The einstein™Learning Platform is flexible enough to work in many different environments from one-to-one (one device per student) to one device in a classroom. The system, in fact, excels as a team building device. Working as a team students can help one another conduct experiments; taking turns at executing different tasks. They can even prepare lab reports as a team using the einstein™Activity Maker. When used in this way, we recommend teams of no more than 4 students per device.

Do I need an einstein™Tablet to use the einstein™Learning Platform?

No. The einstein™Learning Platform can be used on a wide range of devices including Android and iOS tablets and desktop PCs, Macs and Linux computers. To conduct experiments with these platforms all that is required is an einstein™LabMate.

Are einstein™World Activities relevant for Project-based learning?

Not only can Activities in the einstein™World platform be suitable for Project-based learning, they are ideal for Project-based learning. One of the key elements of Project-based learning is hands-on experimentation and engineering. einstein™World Activities are designed to encourage and to simplify hands-on projects. Another important aspect of Project-based learning is challenging students with a “Big Question”. Using the einstein™Activity Maker teachers can create their own custom “Big Questions” to challenge their class in their own way. In addition, Project-based learning encourages student-initiated collaborative work. The einstein™Activity Maker is an ideal tool for students to collaborate and work on projects together.

einstein™World

Do I need an einstein™Tablet to use einstein™World?

No. einstein™World is an app that can run on both Android and iOS devices. To run the sensor-based portion of an Activity all that is required is an einstein™LabMate and any required sensors.

How do I install einstein™World on an Android device?

Click here for the YouTube video (Android)

1. From the Main Menu tap Play Store

2. Search for einstein™ World

3. Tap einstein™ World

4. Tap Install

5. Tap Accept

6. Tap Open

7. Tap Join einstein™

8. Follow the instructions on the page

How do I update einstein™World?

Once you’ve installed einstein™World these apps will automatically update if you are connected to the Internet. 

How do I add Activities to einstein™World?

You can acquire new Activities in two ways.

From a desktop computer:

1. Go to the einstein™Activity Store

2. Make sure you are logged in

3. Find the Activity you’re looking for

4. Click on the Activity

5. Click “Download”

From your tablet:

1. Tap the icon on the upper right of the Activity Bar (In Android  then , in iOS  )

2. Choose “Get More Activities” from the dropdown menu

3. Find the Activity you’re looking for

4. Click on the Activity

5. Click “Download”

Why are YouTube videos not playing in einstein™World?

In order to play YouTube videos in an einstein™World Activity you must have to YouTube app installed. You must also be connected to the Internet.

Can I edit existing einstein™World Activities?

Currently you cannot edit existing Activities, however in the next version of einstein™World (scheduled for release in2016) users will be able to import Activities from the einstein™Activity Store into their Activity Maker Accounts and edit the Activities using the einstein™Activity Maker.