interactive excel spreadsheets: a computational and conceptual learning tool for mathematics and...
TRANSCRIPT
Interactive Excel Spreadsheets:A Computational and Conceptual
Learning Tool for Mathematics and Science
Scott A. SinexDepartment of Physical Sciences and
EngineeringPrince George’s Community College
Presented at the Computation and Science for Teachers Workshop held at the Pittsburgh
Supercomputing Center, Pittsburgh, PA on 19-23 June 2006
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
… a mathematical model
Cookies stack
The modeling process…
...so now to Excelets!
• Excelets are interactive Excel spreadsheets
• A “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 let’s take a tour of the interactive
features available in Excel
Start tour !
Click on links at the bottom of the next five slides to get the interactive spreadsheets
Interactive features
Flipping pennies
heads tails
Regression
Find it in
Derivative
Circuits
Created by Charlotte Trout
Now let’s construct a
simple Excelet!
So let’s go into Excel
We will explore the equation of a straight line, y = mx +b.
Tutorial for a quadratic equation – click here
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
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 – [email protected]• See course webpages and
publications http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex
• Webpages embedded in PowerPoint – get LiveWeb (http://skp.mvps.org/liveweb.htm)