Excelets: A Discovery LearningTool for Revitalizing

College Algebra

Scott A. SinexDept. of Physical Sciences &

EngineeringPrince George’s Community College

Presented at MMATYC 2008 at Howard Community College

Why Excel?

• Ready off-the-shelf software• Found in the work-place• Found on home computers too• Easy to use by students

• Can it be an interactive learning tool?

(no marcos or VBA programming, just computation via formulas)

...as a tool in math and science

• Great for handling, graphing, and analyzing data

• Easy transforming of data such as taking the log

• Regression and goodness-of-fit

• So a great tool for mathematical modeling of data and presenting graphs

Using Excel for... Scientific Data

Pre-set calculations & graphs – just add

data

...so now to Excelets!

• Excelets are interactive Excel spreadsheets

• A Java-like “Javaless” applet!• A simulation of a mathematical model or an

illustration of a simple concept• A tool for higher-order thinking and

illustrating science process

• and a tool that is easy to construct!!!!!

…so how do you use Excelets in college algebra?

• Create an exploratory learning environment

• The mode of questioning guides the student

• Mathematical modeling of data• Investigate the behavior of functions

…and with constant use of numerical, visual, symbolic, and verbal perspectives!

Is stack height proportional to the number of cookies?

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/cookies_stack.xls

Can you learn linear regression in 5 minutes or less?

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/regression.xls

How are the temperature scales on a thermometer related?

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/temperature_scales.xls

Is sea level changing? Will this cause any problems?

http://mvhs.shodor.org/CAST2008/earth/inundator.xls

How does that variable influence the quadratic function?

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/quadratics.xls

…and some periodic functions as well

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/periodic_data.xls

As a learning tool...

• Active engagement of students• Numerical experimentation• Derive the ideal mathematical model• “What if” scenarios • Science processes

– predictions– graphical interpretation– conclusions– random and systematic error (ideal to real)

See Investigating Types of Errors

Model Simulation

science

excelets

Some final thoughts…• Engages students in higher-order thinking

– Interpretation/Analysis/Synthesis

• Engages students in algebraic thinking– Variables/Patterns/Representations

• Engages students in science process– Hypotheses /Predictions/Conclusions

• Reeks of meeting national standards in mathematics, the sciences, and technology– AMATYC/MAA/NCTM/NAS/NSTA/ISTE

The “How to” resources...

Developer's Guide to Excelets: Dynamic and Interactive Visualization with "

Javaless" Applets or Interactive Excel Spreadsheets

<http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets>

Tutorial, instructions, and a variety of interactive Excel spreadsheet

examples

Resource list for mathematics and science

More info...

• Scott Sinex – ssinex@pgcc.edu• See course webpages and

publications http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex

• Webpages embedded in PowerPoint – get LiveWeb (http://skp.mvps.org/liveweb.htm)

Thanks for coming today too!!!