Ideas for Using Spreadsheets in the Classroom
Use the power of spreadsheets to teach Mathematics. Spreadsheets are a powerful learning tool for primary, elementary and middle school students.
Spreadsheet assignments offer concrete ways to explore abstract concepts in
mathematics and other subjects. Mathematical ideas are conveyed in several different
ways--using pictures, colored squares, and number lines. Counting on a number
line or a number chart, or using pictures to count in a pictograph helps make
the process of counting with numbers more meaningful.
A spreadsheet is a helpful tool for visual learners. Students use color and
pattern to shade areas of the grid to visualize addition and subtraction. The
use of borders and colors helps to organize and highlight data in unique ways.
The formatting of font, size, color and pattern fill of cells and borders helps
focus student attention on key elements of an assignment. A spreadsheet helps
convey the meaning of Decimal numbers as students arrange them in ascending
order on a number line.
Using spreadsheets promotes higher order thinking skills. Several assignments
use formulas, which are then generalized, so that students can see how the outcome
is changed when one of the variables in the formula is altered. The spreadsheet
tool promotes the development of problem solving skills and supports "What
if..." type questions. Some templates have formulas inserted so that students
focus on problem solving, while the computer makes the calculations for them.
Students use ready-made formulas or they make up their own formulas to manipulate
numbers. They explore how and why formulas are used, and how changing a variable
affects the outcome. Students test how they can generalize formulas, using the
Fill down and Fill Right functions. Students feel the power of spreadsheets
as they fill numbers into the cells in a spreadsheet with the click of a mouse.
They use formulas to generalize a rule, to make conversions, to calculate budget
totals and to calculate ratios.
Students make charts and graphs from spreadsheet records, learning to organize
their ideas and present information to an audience. Charts add meaning to information,
helping students to analyze and interpret data, as they identify the maximum
and minimum, mean, median and mode of a data set.. The computer can generate
bar graphs, line graphs and pie charts. Pie charts reinforce the idea of percentages
as these are represented visually, and help students compare ratios. Students
make their own Bar Graphs by filling cells with color, and Clip Art is used
to make Pictographs.
Students love to play on computer and are motivated to complete tasks in a Risk
Free Environment, where errors can be easily corrected or edited. Color and
pattern are strong motivators and students love to change font and size, add
borders, and add Clip Art to their work. Students take pride in the pleasing
presentation of their work: lines are straight, writing is clear, pictures are
perfect for all students, not only the very best.
Using templates where print range, margins, row and column height, and borders
have been formatted can improve presentation and speed up the completion of
the task. Children as young as kindergartners can use the spreadsheet tool very
successfully, as Templates allow them to learn to use the Spreadsheet tool without
knowledge of all the Spreadsheet skills.