Why Implement Spreadsheets? • Increased calculation power. • More user friendly • Ideal STEM Platform • Colleges assume a level of computer literacy • Business and Industry has shown a critical need. “Not only is a spreadsheet easy to use, but it can also provoke student-centered, discovery-centered learning. In the course of utilizing [the] spreadsheet, the interaction between fellow students, teacher and student, and computer and student becomes active and as students are enabled to design and manipulate more dynamic and visual spreadsheet models they are also able to explore diverse aspects of a phenomenon ”
Transcript
Why Implement Spreadsheets?
• Increased calculation power.• More user friendly• Ideal STEM Platform• Colleges assume a level of computer literacy• Business and Industry has shown a critical need.
“Not only is a spreadsheet easy to use, but it can also provoke student-centered, discovery-centered learning. In the course of utilizing [the] spreadsheet, the interaction between fellow students, teacher and student, and computer and student becomes active and as students are enabled to design and manipulate more dynamic and visual spreadsheet models they are also able to explore diverse aspects of a phenomenon ”
STEM at a Glance
• Integrates Science, Engineering, and Math • Emphasis on use of technology’s role in
shaping education• Goal is to create students that incorporate
technology into all aspects of the math and science curriculum for the rapidly changing technological world.
“The vision is to foster greater innovation and creativity and the development of a deep understanding of scientific and mathematical principles, as well as an enhanced appreciation for science, technology, engineering and mathematics that will engage a broader base of citizens and may ultimately inspire more students to pursue STEM-related careers.”
Prepping for The Big Unknown!
21st Century Jobs
Why Implement Spreadsheets? Excel vs. TI 83
• Formulas can be modified• Visual Layout is more
convenient• More calculating power• Required in standards• Used in colleges• Used in business• Output is a finished product• Leads to higher worker
productivity
• Formulas cannot be modified• Grayscale output screen.• Already obsolete• Limited calculating power• Outputs must be transferred to
• Educational Specific Software– Not likely to be of use in
the future– Not as versatile– Expensive Licenses– Software updates are
costly and will come from Science budget.
Why Implement Spreadsheets
• It is a college requirement in science.– Professors must keep their students up to speed…
Why? To stay competitive.– All data analysis is done on spreadsheets
Former CHS student Brian Makinson:“We have to do graphs on Excel in Physics and nobody has any clue what to do.”
With a solid background going into college…
• Your students will have an advantage working for a professor in research.– They will be more comfortable with data analysis
and organization.– This will free up the professor’s time to teach
them richer objectives• Will have a valuable skill place on a resume
when pursuing internships.• Their required course work will be easier.
Job areas that use spreadsheets• Engineering• Lab Technicians• Finance• Accounting• Analysts• Actuaries • Business Management• Data Management• Law Enforcment• Project Management• Small Business
Why Implement Spreadsheets?
“After about 5 years working at jobs where I use Excel, I think a lot of points you make are very true. People at my job who know Excel very well are usually very productive and do not make many mistakes. The people who don't, for the most part are slow and make more mistakes.”
-Ed McConnell (My brother) Chemical Engineer and analyst at Boeing Former Analyst at Market Rx
Ask anyone in business
• “We had to learn to use Excel for everything. Not only that they want us to use the keyboard for all of the commands. It is so much faster than anything you could do by hand. You can change percentages to project a growth of 5 percent quarterly and then redo the same thing at 6 percent quarterly by just changing a percentage up top.”
Doug Schiz Financial Analyst
The Government is Going Digital
• Health and government records will be transferred to electronic media.– Excel is a good starting point to make learning
more complex database programs easier.– Analyzing large quantities of data using a small
number of commands is a skill that can be taught.
Who will get these jobs in the future?
A Data Driven World
• Spreadsheets are ubiquitous, data is everywhere.• They are fast and user friendly.• Education is substantially lacking in spreadsheets
forcing individuals to teach themselves on the job wasting time and resources.
• Modern problems can be extremely complex and require sophisticated problem solving skills with tools such as spreadsheets.
So What do they Do?
Evaluating and Plotting FunctionsOn a Spreadsheet.
• These can replace the need to create graphs by hand.
• Can be done to express functions or present scientific data
• Generates student appreciation for the calculating power of a spreadsheet
• Allows student to focus on “the big picture” (not just the mechanical steps)
Curve Fitting
• Math models can be extracted from science data• Relates a function to a particular shape of graph.• Can produce the equation of a line• Can eliminate a potential model
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Data Organization
• Create tables with correct sig figs and alignment• Present data as pie charts, bar graphs or line
graphs.• Import data from automated sampling devices
such as TI graphing calculators or other data logging programs– Other programs (especially educational programs)
present learning hurdles that provide no future advantage using software that is not used elsewhere.
Data Analysis
• More data points in less time– Better results– No repetition
• Measure more frequently– Automated sampling– Determining a time dependence/rate constant
• Do it by hand, then on the spreadsheet.– See which one the students prefer.
Other Uses
• Perform Statistical calculations• Generate Random numbers for simulations– Genetics, Probability/Statistics, Casino simulations
• Labs are based exclusively on and require nothing more than a PC with Microsoft Excel.
• Students write formulas, perform spreadsheet functions, navigate through large quantities of data, manipulate graphs.
• Most importantly, students spend time working on a spreadsheet learning their functions and uses as they go.
Why it is Valuable.
• All labs model real world physical behavior exclusively within the environment of the spreadsheet.– Students understand the physical behavior– Students recognize the significance and
complexity of the spreadsheet model but are able to interpret results with little guidance.
– Formulas are mathematical in nature, scientific in content and computed using spreadsheet technology STEM satisfied across the board.
A Unique Experience• Students construct physical models from scratch.• Students interpret graphs and attribute changes in
graphs to variables that they manipulate.– Immediate feedback allows students to focus on the
physical behavior and not on the mechanical steps of problem solving.
• Students use the analytical tools of the spreadsheet such as goal seek to perform calculations.
• Students use logical IF functions to give a cell one of two possible values depending on a logical test.
Trajectories, Rocket Science, Angular Motion in Cars, Coulomb’s Law
• AP Physics: Between this year and last.– Vector Solver, Helium Balloons, Terminal Velocity,
Comparing Trajectories, Rocket Science, Angular Motion in Cars, Coulomb’s Law
The Data: 2008-2009 School Year
• Students were surveyed as to the extent that they agreed with some statements by circling any of numbers 1 through 5 for each.– 1 – disagree– 2 – somewhat agree– 3 – agree– 4 – strongly agree– 5 – Yes, exactly
• The survey was anonymous and taken by all students in my 1st year (Honors and CP levels) and 2nd year (AP Physics C) Physics courses.
Student Survey Results
Curriculum Enrichment
Model For Implementation:PLC
Objective: Increase use of spreadsheets for STEM purposes in Science and Math.
1. Teacher Traininga. I Give Presentation on Spreadsheetsb. Teachers do brief overview of activitiesc. Teachers conduct simulations
-make each teacher an expert on one or more labs in their subject aread. All teachers map specifically where in the curriculum they will implement activities.
Model for Implementation
2. Department Head oversees initial implementation: Teachers learn together with students
3. I am kept as a contact for PLC data collection and analysis.
4. Year after year activities are improved upon and spreadsheets are implemented in other areas as staff improves.
Measureable Success
• Teacher and Student Feedback– Questionnaires, informal meetings– Provides data for PLC improvement
• Track Student Use of spreadsheets through any of the following:– Submitting lab reports/graphs/data tables having
used Excel. Require email submission!– Performing analysis of class lab data on spreadsheets– Applying the simulations in other areas– Teachers make note of any other use of Excel
Benefits to your district• Demonstrates proactive efforts for timely
compliance with state standards.• Students will gain valuable experience using
spreadsheets for technical purposes.• Teachers will learn about Excel along side
students which will foster their own abilities to further implement spreadsheets into their own activities.
• Your student and teacher progress will be monitored by me with a report submitted to you or your PLC leader for spreadsheets.
What I anticipate:
• Teachers will love the fact that there is little or no prep work required and that labs can be used year after year.
• They will find the labs “cool” and innovative.• Students will achieve similar results to what my
students have achieved• Your district will benefit in the long run with a
more technologically proficient staff geared toward further implementing spreadsheets in the future.
