- Every Observe activity is a self-contained, browser-based page that includes a Khan Academy–style instructional video, an interactive Desmos workspace for live data collection and graphing, and a linked Student Activity Worksheet (Google Doc) for recording answers.
- To begin any activity, open the Activities menu on the main page and choose the activity you want to use. Each activity page will walk you through everything you need: what to watch, how to connect your sensor, how to collect data, and what to answer on the worksheet.
- When you are ready to start the worksheet, click the link provided on the activity page. Select Make a copy to save your own editable version to Google Drive. Complete the worksheet as directed by your teacher and submit it according to their instructions.
- No additional setup is required. The Desmos workspace and worksheet are already built into each activity page — there is nothing to create, copy, or configure in advance.
- You can assign any Observe activity through Google Classroom, Canvas, or any other LMS by sharing the activity page link. Students open the link, follow the on-screen directions, and submit their completed worksheet however you prefer.
- Observe sensors connect to a computer through USB-C or Bluetooth, depending on the sensor model. Each activity page includes a Connect button and on-screen prompts that guide you through the pairing process.
- Chrome on a Chromebook or desktop computer is required. Observe sensors use the Web Serial API (USB) and Web Bluetooth API, which are only supported in the Chrome browser. Safari, Firefox, and iOS devices are not supported.
- Visit the Observe™ Notebook YouTube channel for video tutorials on connecting sensors and completing activities.
- If the Connect button does not show a device, make sure the sensor is plugged in (USB) or powered on (Bluetooth) and that you are using Chrome. Try a different USB-C port or cable if the sensor is not recognized.
- If you see a connection error or the sensor pairs but no data appears, your school's security software or network policy may be blocking the required browser APIs. See the important note below.
Important — School Network & Device Security
Observe sensors communicate with the browser through the Web Serial API (USB-C sensors) and the Web Bluetooth API (Bluetooth sensors). These are secure, industry-standard browser APIs — they do not install software, access the school network, or transmit data off the device. All data stays in the browser on the student's computer.
However, many school-managed Chromebooks and laptops ship with policies that disable USB or Bluetooth access in Chrome by default. If students cannot see or connect to a sensor, your school's IT administrator will need to allow the Web Serial and/or Web Bluetooth APIs on the devices used for Observe activities.
Please share the following with your IT team:
Observe sensors communicate with the browser through the Web Serial API (USB-C sensors) and the Web Bluetooth API (Bluetooth sensors). These are secure, industry-standard browser APIs — they do not install software, access the school network, or transmit data off the device. All data stays in the browser on the student's computer.
However, many school-managed Chromebooks and laptops ship with policies that disable USB or Bluetooth access in Chrome by default. If students cannot see or connect to a sensor, your school's IT administrator will need to allow the Web Serial and/or Web Bluetooth APIs on the devices used for Observe activities.
Please share the following with your IT team:
- Web Serial API — used by USB-C sensors. The Chrome enterprise policy DefaultSerialGuardSetting must be set to allow serial port access, or the Observe site can be added to the SerialAskForUrls allowlist.
- Web Bluetooth API — used by Bluetooth sensors. The Chrome enterprise policy DefaultWebBluetoothGuardSetting must permit Bluetooth access, or the site can be added to the WebBluetoothAskForUrls allowlist.