EDTEC 440
Sample Syllabus
Sample Lesson
Introduction
Objectives
Directions for Working Through
Document Publishing
Using Document Publishing as a Productivity Tool in the Classroom
Your Task(s): Document Publishing Assignments
Spreadsheets
Using Spreadsheets in the Classroom
Your Task(s): Spreadsheet Assignments
Unit Project: Productivity Tools

Using Spreadsheets in the Classroom

Spreadsheets were created to replace paper-based accounting systems. By inserting numbers and formulas into cells, spreadsheets will perform numerous calculations instantly. For example, a teacher could create a class grade book and decide later to change the weight of an assignment or drop a lowest grade and the spreadsheet will automatically update the final grades. Spreadsheets can help us answer "what if" questions (e.g., what if the interest rate went up by 2%?), for detecting patterns or trends (e.g., looking at this chart, do you think this stock is a good investment?), and for modeling relationships between two or more parameters (e.g., what happens to the rate of growth if we increase the carrying capacity while decreasing the food supply?).

Examples of Spreadsheet Use

                                            

Student

Teacher

Administrative

Use to determine the grade needed on a semester test to get an 'A' in the course

Electronic grade sheet to record and calculate grades

Instructional

Create a model of the relationships between gravitational constant and mass on different planets

Create a model that demonstrates compounding interest on a loan

Assessment

Create a formula that depicts the relationship between interest rate and the consumer pricing index

Chart the amount of prompting needed for a special needs student to complete a task independently

When incorporating spreadsheet activities into your classroom, begin by generating questions that can easily be answered by using a spreadsheet. For example:

    • Would you rather have $1 doubled every week for two years, or $10,000/week for two years? (For example, see the Exponential Growth spreadsheet)

    • What variables most contributed to the North winning the Civil War? If these variables were different, could the South have won?

    • What would happen if I paid my minimum balance plus $5 per month on my credit card? How much more quickly would I have it paid off? (For example, see the Financial Calculator spreadsheet)

    • How does a student's academic behavior change over time? (For example, see the Grade Book spreadsheet)

Be sure to make the best use of spreadsheets for your activities. Why would you use a spreadsheet over something else? Could you accomplish your instructional goals without using a spreadsheet? If you can't identify a good reason, you might want to reconsider your technology choice or your activity idea.

For more ideas regarding how to integrate spreadsheets into the curriculum, please review the examples from the Newby text.

Based on the applications listed above, can you think of a way you could use spreadsheets in the classroom? Below are a few Web sites that provide some examples (and downloadable spreadsheets).