Coach Software for TI-CBL and LabPro

Works with TI-CBL, TI-CBL2, TI-CBR, and Vernier LabPro

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Modes of Operation (Data Logger vs. Real Time)

• Examples of Coach for CBL in Action

• Partial List of Activities Already on the CD-ROM

• CMA Sensors and CBL/LabPro

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Download Free Demonstration Software

• To Learn More...

• Subscribe to our Free Newsletter

• Give use feedback, rank this page

• Return to the main CoachLab website

The only software available that lets you work with the original TI-CBL and a computer

Introduction

If you are an educator that already uses probeware from Texas Instruments or Vernier Software Inc. such as the TI-CBL, CBL2, CBR, or LabPro then Coach software can add new educational abilities to these systems.  Some of the added benefits include:

• Drag and Drop simplicity of operation.

• Ability to use CBL, CBL2, CBR or LabPro with or without a calculator

• The only software that works with the original CBL thus making it continue to be useful in your science lab

• Ability to control the output ports on CBL and LabPro (for manipulating variables or for robotics)

• 100% compatible with Vernier and TI probes and sensors

• Never calibrate most sensors again, built in profiles make your sensors more accurate

• All of the features and benefits of Coach software

• More educational data analysis capabilities for your probeware system

• Over 290 activities already on the Coach CD-ROM for all science disciplines and grade levels.

• Ability to modify existing lessons or create your own multimedia lessons including  instructions, images, even video clips that correlate to the materials, apparatus, textbooks, and standards that you use.

• Unique educational features such as "predict" that can put the hypothesis back into science lessons.

• Saves you time in the classroom.

• Software is easy to learn and easy to use for both educators and students.

• Lets students cut and paste data and graphs into other documents like lab reports.

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Modes of Operation (Data Logger vs. Real Time)

Coach software can setup and control CBL and LabPro probeware interfaces to allow two modes of data collection.  Data may be collected and observed graphically in real time by plugging the CBL, CBL2, CBR, or LabPro into your computer using an interface cable (TI-Graphlink or the included cable with the LabPro).  Data may also be collected in "offline measurement mode" where the CBL, CBL2, CBR, or LabPro is used as a portable data logger.  To collect data in this way simply plug the data logger interface into your PC, click on the "send settings to data logger" button on the Coach screen, unplug the data logger and go record your data, then come back to the computer, plug the data logger back in, and click on the "get results from data logger" button on the Coach screen.  You can then replay and analyze the data you have recorded. 

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Examples of Coach for CBL in Action

Click on each thumbnail image below to open as a full screenshot.

1. Measuring Sound with CBL as a Data Logger
2. Measuring Position and Velocity with CBL as a Data Logger. (Off Line Measurement)
3. Measuring Temperature in Real Time (On Line Measurement)
4. Measuring EKG in Real Time (On Line Measurement)
5. Measuring Discharge of a Capacitor as a Data Logger (Off Line Measurement)
6. Measuring Pulses of Light from a Computer Monitor (Off Line Measurement)

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Partial List of Activities Already on the CD-ROM

Coach 5 Author software as well as Coach 5 for CBL and LabPro are authoring environments in which educators and curriculum designers can create their own custom activities including images, video clips, links to websites, instructions, measurement settings, graph settings, and more.  In addition the CD-ROM contains over 290 activities that were designed by educators to meet a wide variety of science disciplines and grade levels.  With the author software it is possible to modify any activity, or to use any activity with any hardware platform (i.e. CBL, CBL2, LabPro, CoachLab, ULAB, etc).  The following is a partial list of activities on the CD that are designed specifically for CBL and/or LabPro. 

CMA Sensors and CBL/LabPro

Just as it is possible to use any TI or Vernier brand sensors on CBL or LabPro it is also possible to use any sensors manufactured by CMA with TI-CBL, TI-CBL2, and Vernier LabPro. Sensor Information for all CMA sensors is built into Coach software and so no calibration or special steps need to be taken to use CMA sensors along with TI or Vernier data loggers when using this software. Information is also provided in the sensor manuals to help you quickly and easily set up and calibrate CMA sensors if used with TI or Vernier data loggers along with Graphing Calculators.

Click here for a full list of sensors manufactured by CMA that will work with CBL, CBL2, and LabPro. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Does Coach software work with CBL2 or just the original CBL(1)?

Answer: Coach Software will work with CBL 2 as well as CBL 1, CBR, and LabPro from Vernier

Question: What does CBL stand for?

Answer: Calculator Based Lab, designed by Texas Instruments, it is a data logger that connects to a graphing calculator in order to record and observe data for science education.  Coach Software can also work with these devices to add a computer interface along with the calculator interface.

Question: What do I need in order to use my CBL, CBL2, or CBR with a Computer?

Answer: A version of Coach Software that supports these interfaces, and a TI-Graph Link Cable.

Question: I have the older "Gray" Graph Link Cable instead of the newer "Black" cable.  Will that work with Coach and CBL?

Answer: Yes, Coach software supports the original Gray cable and the newer Black Cable.

Question: Do I need a special cable to use Vernier LabPro with Coach software?

Answer: No, the Vernier LabPro comes from Vernier with a cable to connect it to a PC.

Question: What grade levels does Coach Software support with CBL or LabPro?

Answer: Grades 4 through 12 and College are supported.  It will work with younger children (such as home schoolers) if guided one on one by an instructor.

Question: What does "Author Software" mean?

Answer: Author Software is a version of Coach Software that allows teachers or curriculum designers to modify existing activities or create their own using simple tools.  No special training or third party software is required.

Question: Will Coach Software support control activities (like robotics) with the LabPro?

Answer: Yes, Coach's programming language and control capabilities do support the LabPro.  Vernier's external breakout box called the DCU is required.

Question: I have some older CBL's (the original unit with the LCD display) will Coach Software work with them?

Answer: Yes, in fact Coach software is the only software that will work with the original CBL.

Question: Which version of the software is right for me?

Answer:  It depends on what grade level you teach and what your needs are... see table below

ALL author versions of Coach Software support the CBL, CBL2, CBR, and LabPro and allow you to modify or create your own lessons.  Coach 5 Junior for CBL DOES NOT support authoring (so if you need to modify or create activities at middle or elementary level you should pick Coach 5 Junior Author instead)  Coach 5 for CBL and LabPro does not support video analysis and modeling (so if you teach physics you might want to get the full Coach 5 Software package instead of Coach 5 for CBL and LabPro)

Question: How is Coach Software sold?

Answer: Coach software is sold by license.  There are two licenses available, one is a 2-seat license that will let you install Coach on up to two computers (two in the school or one at school and one at home), the second is a full site license that will let you install Coach on EVERY computer within your school (or department in the case of a university).  There is also an upgrade option should you have the 2-seat license and wish to expand onto more computers.  See our recommended retail prices page for more information.

Question: Can Coach software be installed on a network?

Answer: Yes, however you must purchase the full site license in order to install Coach software on a network.

Question: What do I need to know in order to create my own activity with Coach?

Answer: How the activity would work with normal analog measuring equipment, which sensors you will use (brand and type), how you want to represent data to students (Graph, Table, Value, Meter), and measurement settings (how long you will record data, and how often during that time that the data logger actually records a data point.) 

Question: Is Coach Software easy to use?

Answer: It is, in fact it won the World Didac award in 1998 for its ease of use.

Ask us your questions!  Click here to e-mail us a question about Coach Software for CBL/LabPro

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Download free demonstration software

If you wish to sample Coach software for CBL and LabPro you can download a demonstration version of the software from our downloads page.  The demonstration version will not work with actual hardware, but instead will let you simulate measurements by dragging slider controls on sensor icons.  The demonstration is designed to give you an overview of the software, what it looks like, and generally how it functions. 

Download a demonstration version of the Coach for CBL/LabPro software from our downloads page

Please note:  All Coach software looks and behaves in the same way no matter which interface you use to connect sensors to a computer.  For that reason you may download any of the demonstration packages to get an idea of how Coach functions.

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To Learn More...

Since all Coach software looks and behaves the same you can learn more by...

Visit the software and hardware tour pages

Visit the discipline pages on the main Coach webpage for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Technology Education.

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Subscribe to our free newsletter

Harris Educational provides a free bi-monthly e-mail  newsletter to educators and individuals interested in learning more about probeware and data logging for education.  The newsletter will include information about TI-CBL, and LabPro as well as other interfaces, sensors, and software.  You may unsubscribe to the newsletter at any time. 

If you are interested in joining the newsletter please click here to learn more and to sign up.

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In order to improve our website, and the content we provide to educators we seek your feedback.  Please take a moment to fill out this anonymous form so that we may better serve your needs in the future.

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Check back often for new information!

Contact us if you need more information about using Coach software with CBL, CBL2, or LabPro

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