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SPREADSHEETS
What
is a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet is a table which displays numbers in rows and columns. Spreadsheets
can be used for a variety of purposes (accounting, budgeting, charting/graphing,
financial analysis, scientific applications). Spreadsheets can exist in
paper format but the electronic spreadsheets are able perform automatic
calculations on changing data. For example, a teacher who uses a spreadsheet
to record student marks is able to determine student averages and class
means in real-time - that means the minute one number in the spreadsheet
is changed, the calculations are up-to-date everywhere within the spreadsheet.
This can save users drastic amounts of time.
Why
use it?
Spreadsheet
programs help you manage data in various formats and, as mentioned above,
they can increase your productivity when dealing with various types of
data. Computerized spreadsheets offer students and teachers with a way
to view data in various formats (pie charts, line graphs, bar graphs,
and the like). When students and teachers are able to view data in various
formats, they are able to make important visual discoveries about their
data.
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As
you can see from the illustration below, the data is entered into cells
and is organized in rows and columns.
Example:
Second graders count how many people are in a particular room and divide
them into groups: men, women, and children. This raw data is then entered
into a spreadsheet.
Raw
Data
Students
can then select the chart wizard 
to have their raw data automatically put into various types of charts.
By transferring the raw data into colorful visuals, students are able
to answer questions about this data very quickly and they learn that
certain charts/graphs better suit their needs than others - depending
on their data and the answers they are seeking. As you can see from
the two sample charts below, a quick glance at the charts can reveal
answers to questions they may be asked about the data.
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When the data is put into a pie chart (or circle graph) is is difficult
to tell if there are more women or more men in the room. However, the
students can create a different type of chart quickly that better suits
this data by switching to a bar graph. |
In the bar
graph, it is easy to tell that there are more women in the room because
the dark pink bar is taller than any other bar.
This is just
one simplified example of how the spreadsheet might be used in a classroom.
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Other
examples of spreadsheet use:
Students
may analysis election results, science experiment data, survey results,
math calculations and so forth. Teachers may use spreadsheets to keep
track of grades, create charts (images) for use in instruction, and
to analyze various types of data they may collect in the classroom.
To have a look at other ways teachers and students can use spreadsheets,
visit Everyday
Spreadsheets in the Classroom.
It
is also important to mention that any graphs/charts created in a spreadsheet
(like Excel) can easily be imported into other types of documents like
Word or PowerPoint.
Okay,
I see the value in this technology, how do I begin?
1. You will
need spreadsheet software. There are various kinds on the market including,
Lotus, Quattro Pro, Excel, and Calc. Tutorials and information on these
software packages is included below.
2. You will
need a purpose for using the spreadsheet. Spreadsheets lend themselves
readily to mathematics but there are other ways to use them as well. Here
is a list of possible project ideas you may consider before using spreadsheets
in your classroom.
Sample
Timeline From Above Site
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Raw
Data Sites -
visit these sites to get data that can be used for a particular spreadsheet
project.
3. Go! Consider
the various ways you may access computers. Sometimes a visit to a lab
environment is the quickest way to get all students through the
project. However, one computer classrooms can still use
spreadsheets by setting the computer up as a Centre or a station that
students rotate through. If you are going to take the centre approach,
you must have other centre/stations for the kids to rotate through as
well. Depending on your project, these other stations may include: background
reading on the topic of study, creating illustrations to go with the project
data, writing a report about the data analysis, comparing data collected
or analyzed with others, completing an assignment from a text book or
other resource, and so forth. You may also hook your computer up to a
digital projector and have students enter their data
throughout a class period while others work on different aspect of a project.
Once the data is ready to be put into charts/graphs, this demonstration
can be done to the entire class.
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Tutorials
and Software Information:
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Resources:
- Classrooms
that EXCEL Resources: This site features heaps of links that can
be used when teaching with Excel including, guides, tutorials, applications
and lesson plans. If you are looking for data to input into spreadsheets,
you can find various links to statistic sites here too!
- Pie
Chart Maker: Great for classroom demonstrations (using a projector)!
Data can be entered and then the pie chart is drawn - as numbers change
the pie chart changes. Great for the younger kids or as an introduction
to charts and data management. (Look around this site while you are
there - full of great interactive activities).
- Boise
High School Excel Lessons - contains projects for students to complete
using Excel.
- Technology
Article, EXCEL-lent
Middle School Math Lessons - discusses projects and applications.
Provides examples and information about how using technology in the
classroom can increase student learning.
- Everyday
Spreadsheets in the Classroom - A comprehensive listing of what
teachers and students can do with spreadsheets. Contains DOWNLOADABLE
Excel files. A really good teacher resource.
- Exploring
Data - for teachers
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