Using Spreadsheetsin the Classroom

Pat McCauleyRevised: September 2010

NOTE: Certain materials are included under the fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law and have been prepared according to the multimedia fair use guidelines and are restricted from further use.

What is a Spreadsheet?

Definition: A table of values arranged in rows and columns. Each value can have a predefined relationship to the other values.

www.webopedia.com

Three Primary Functions

• Storing data• Performing calculations• Presenting information

Instructional Usesof Excel

• Demonstrations• Student Products• Support for problem solving• Storing and analyzing data• Projecting grades

Productivity Uses of Excel• Recording and maintaining student

grades• Administering classroom budgets• Maintaining attendance charts• Creating charts and graphs• Demonstrating numerical,

statistical, and logical concepts and computations

• And much more

Why should spreadsheets be used in the classroom?

• Provides concrete ways to explore abstract concepts

• Effective with visual learners and younger students

• Promotes higher-order thinking skills

• Promotes collaboration

Order of Operations in Excel

1. () Parentheses2. - Negative number if used with one

operand3. % Percentage4. ^ Exponentiation5. * and / Multiplication and division6. + and - Addition and subtraction7. & Connects two text values to

produce one8. Continuous text value9. = Equal to, < Less than, <= Equal to or

less than, > Greater than, >= Equal to or greater than, <> Not equal to

Single Use Spreadsheetshttp://www.internet4classrooms.com/single_use_ss.htm

• Your students can create spreadsheets designed to accomplish a single task.

More Spreadsheet Examples

Graphing Themes

• Favorite Things – books, cereal, color, holiday, etc.

• How many? – Trees of different kinds, Games won/lost, etc.

• Measurements – Inches of rain/snow, blocks/miles to school, etc.

• Dividing things up – How money is spent, etc.

• How things change over time – Plant’s height over several weeks, length of shadows throughout the day, etc.

Internet Resources

Bibliography• Lewis, P. (2006). Spreadsheet

Magic, 2nd ed. Includes CD-ROM with Lesson Templates and Samples. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

• Mills, S.C. & Roblyer, M.D. (2006). Technology tools for teachers: A Microsoft® Office Tutorial, 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.