Spreadsheets

Can you identify two types of data your students could collect as part of a lesson?

Pretty much any data can be collected during a lesson and entered into a spreadsheet.  Two examples are as follows:

Students might collect numerical data for a math class and use spreadsheets and built in formulas to solve problems or filters to create patterns and collect data.

Students can also collect information such as home recycling items and could then discuss how often the community recycles and determine how many trees might be saved due to the amount of paper recycled.

Voting patterns could be collected and students could discuss the changes these patterns have caused in the state over the last 10 years.

The list could go on and on.  Collection of data can be used in most lesson plans and students can learn to use spreadsheets and graphs to assist in all of the this data collection.

How could your students manipulate the data to discover relationships or trends?

Through the creation of databases we are able to collect information into personalized, individualized, organized fields and then pull queries based on this information.  This information could be pretty much anything, from numbers to names and address, etc.  For example, you might have your students study non-profit business plans and have them pull queries on donations given to the organizations.  Students could break the information down into age of donors, demographic information, location, who donated the most each year, etc.  With this same database, students could practice mail merges and follow up letters to donors and create an end of the year report showing graphs and charts demonstrating overall donations, etc.  On a more simplistic approach to discovering relationships and trends, you can enter information into a spreadsheet and by highlighting/selecting specific cells, you can sort data, alphabetically, numerically, or by font or cell color.  If the information is entered correctly, you can break down your information any way you'd like.  Using filter functions, you can use a spreadsheet in place of a database to select specific information.  By entering calculations and formulas into your spreadsheets, you can perform calculations and increase productivity by calculating an entire page of information all at once vs. doing so one entry at a time.  Spreadsheets are useful tools for creating simulations, analyzing data, and exploring number concepts and mathematical relationships.  As mentioned in our text, teachers can use spreadsheets to demonstrate many relationships and trends.  For example, when discussing gravity and the different effects of gravity on different planets, teachers can use a spreadsheet to demonstrate what students weight might be on each planet.  This allows students to conceptualize the true effects of gravity.  This study could be done with multiple items, from students to common objects and over a period or two, students could enter in the weights of these different objects to study the concept of gravity.  To take the example a step further, students could study what is needed in a trip to space and the individual weight of each item and what could or could not be taken on a voyage.  They could eliminate items based on weight by using the spreadsheet to adjust calculations and maintain the set weight limit.  By using formulas, students could manipulate the information in their spreadsheet until they come up with the right combination of items.  This example is one of simulation.  Another example of using spreadsheets to discover relationships and trends is by creating discovery spreadsheets.  Discovery spreadsheets are simulations that allow students to manipulate variables and discover rules and laws. 

     

Can you identify three graphs or charts your students could make that would help them develop a better understanding of the content?

Spreadsheets create a wide variety of ways to display your data ranging from traditional bar, line, and pie graphs to several other variations.  You can create interactive graphing with a spreadsheet that allow you to perform calculations, sort data, or select data. 

This is a sample of a bar graph illustrating student's favorite colors.  This would be a great graph to use in 1st or 2nd grade when discussing numbers or even demonstrating graphs and charts.   

Below is another example of a bar chart showing the number of kids in a class, how many have pets and what type of pets they have. 

For grades k-8, the pie chart below illustrates whether or not school uniforms make kids more or less competitive.  The pie charts take into consideration age and grade and may be a great study for students to do.

Another example of a pie chart is shown below and may really get kids attention because it discusses a topic kids love, game boxes.  This is a comparison study illustrating what is more popular, Play Stations, Wii, or Xbox.  This could be a great lesson in math, using percentages.

To illustrate a pie chart with a few more details, the chart below shows not only the pie chart itself describing how many pets are on a street, but also a color coded chart of what type of animals have been found and the percentages of each.  This just illustrates how you can get as simple or elaborate as you'd like when creating charts and graphs.

The next example shown is of a line graph, also describing the number of animals found in a street.  Like the pie chart shows above, the line chart illustrates how many pets are found, what type, and the percentages.  The same information can be shown in multiple forms of graphs and charts and students should have practice creating all of these.

Pie charts can be shown in 3D as well for more graphic appeal.

A great lesson plan focusing on the environment and being conscious of its well being could be a school wide trash pick up day.  To turn this into a lesson in creating charts, students can break down their findings and chart them.  This exercise could be tied into a discussion in science about recycling and biodegrading materials.  You could discuss what items out of your findings would still be present in 100 years and how your findings effect the environment and the life found in that area.

Is it possible to create an interactive simulation or model with a spreadsheet?

Yes it is possible to create an interactive simulation or model with a spreadsheet.  For example, when discussing conversion between temperatures represented in Celsius and Fahrenheit, you could use a spreadsheet with a built in formula calculating the differences.  Students could then enter in various temperatures into either the Celsius or Fahrenheit cells and because the formula is already entered, the calculation will appear immediately.

Converting Temperature Scales

•Celsius to Fahrenheit

•F= (9/5 x C) + 32

•Fahrenheit to Celsius

•C = 5/9(F-32)

By entering these calculations, your students would get the correct conversions.

Word Processing

Doesn't word processing make the writing process too easy?

The disadvantages and benefits of having students write a paper using word processing vs. a pen and paper should be explored and addressed as our society begins to rely more and more on technology.  As teachers we want to be sure to teach both writing and word processing skills and even though word processing may be more efficient, it is important not to let writing with a pen and paper fall by the waist side. 

While debating this topic and exploring both sides through research I came across varying opinions and studies.

Through Eric, Education Resources Information Center, a comparison study was performed by comparing compositions written by 19 sixth graders using paper and pen with those written by 19 sixth graders using word processors.  The outcome found that though the quality of writing, accuracy of grammar, and reading ease did not differ much between the two approaches, students using computers wrote more words and sentences.
 http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ537988&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ537988

In a blog entry I found on the internet, pen and paper seemed to be an aspiring novelist best strength because no matter where she was she could write down her ideas as they flowed and the ease tended to allow her to brainstorm more freely.

http://elisamichelle.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/how-do-you-write-word-processors-vs-pen-and-paper/

Although there are differing opinions on this subject I believe you really need to master both writing with a word processor and with a pen and paper.  It is important to have neat, legible handwriting and there is some strength in writing letters for business and personal use that have a personal twist to them with pen and paper.  You may not always have a word processor with you and a pen and paper are almost always handy.  When brainstorming and or writing a rough draft a pen and paper are necessary or at least very helpful.   



How can word processing be used to engage students in higher-level thinking?

Word processing can be used to engage students in a higher-level of thinking by not only focusing on basic functions such as entering and editing text, organizing information in a simple and easy manner, and inserting objects and hyperlinks, but also to enhance learning and information that can be paraphrased, organized in meaningful ways, and illustrated and expanded with links to related material.  You can add tables and graphic organizers to more thoroughly organize and explain your content.  Students can be easily engaged in 3 types of generative strategies, intergration, organization and elaboration. Once students have specified a problem, they can research and analyze how the information needed to solve it.  Word processing plays an integral part in all of this.  Word processing is almost fool proof when it comes to spelling and grammar also, which gives the writer the opportunity to tune in on the details, or at times tune out and just write and worry about the details at the end.  Words that are spelled incorrectly or sentences that are fragmented, run-on, etc automatically become highlighted when using word processing to bring attention to what needs to be corrected.  Additionally, word processing can further engage students in a higher level of thinking by allowing easy access and integration to the Internet and it's tools to communicate with others through email and research and gather information through the web.  Students can also use word processing to express their creativity by using fonts, sizes, and styles of text, graphics, diagrams and color to further illustrate thoughts. Despite a students handwriting, all students can produce a professional-looking final product with word processing. 

In what ways are the individual needs of students met when their work is completed with a word processor?

All students strengths and weaknesses are different.  Some students may have trouble with spelling or grammar, while others may have an issue with forming well organized paragraphs and papers.  Some students may have terrible hand writing, while others may be such perfectionist that they get lost in the details and have trouble with content. Word processing can support all of these areas by allowing students tools to get around their weaknesses.  Spell check helps with spelling and grammar.  With the ability to cut and paste and insert sentences anywhere in the paper or move content around as needed, students can organize their thoughts and perfect them as they go, as many times as needed in a quick and efficient way.   With this freedom and by showing necessary corrections, students can improve their writing skills and hopefully decrease their mistakes in the future.