EDTECH 541: Relative Advantage of Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are programs designed to organize and manipulate numerical data (Roblyer and Doering. p.122). This can allow learners to analyze a large amount of information by sorting it easily and completing complex and tedious calculations of numerical data. Spreadsheets are also an attractive technology because students are likely to use spreadsheets in future projects, careers, and in personal life (Pedagogy in Action, 2012). Benefits for learners in using spreadsheets can include instructional, and critical thinking advantages.

Instructional Benefits

The Pedagogy in Action (2012) website by Carleton College states the following benefits for instructional purposes.

• Complicated math models can be used easily to allows sophisticated topics to become in reach for lower-level courses.
• Allows for significant exploration of large data sets and models that would not otherwise be possible with pen and paper.

Roblyer and Doering (2012) list five ways in which spreadsheets can enhance instruction.

• A spreadsheet can make a picture out of abstract concepts and give a graphical visual for communication.
• Students can create products such as timelines, charts, and graphs.
• Spreadsheet functions can support mathematical problem solving.
• Spreadsheets allow students to store and analyze data effectively.
• Students can use spreadsheets to keep track of grades and can do their own “What if” questions.

Critical Thinking Benefits

Baker and Sudgen (2003) provide an overview of the use of spreadsheets. This paper states that:

• Building spreadsheets requires abstract reasoning by the learner.

• Spreadsheets are rule-using tools that require that users become rule-makers (Vockell and van Deusen 1989).
• Spreadsheets promote more open-ended investigations, problem-oriented activities, and active learning by students (Beare 1992).

My Use of Spreadsheets in Science

Spreadsheets have a variety of uses in my science classroom setting. The primary uses can include; organization, analysis, and graphing of data collected during scientific investigation.

There are many times during biology labs that is important to collect class data to obtain a larger sample size for more accurate statistical analysis. Spreadsheets allow for quick and easy collection and interpretation of large amounts of data. Spreadsheets allow my students and I to visualize and manage numerical data sets and information in variety of different ways. They can also increase productivity of both student centered academic tasks and teacher logistical oriented tasks. From the perspective of a teacher google forms in combination with google spreadsheets offer effective tools for productivity. In my Biology class I can assess prior knowledge, give formative and summative assessments, give pre and post assessments, have students turn in assignments, and obtain timely feedback on instruction.  All of this information is then organized in a spreadsheet that can be easily analyzed for the instructors desired outcomes. Google Forms for Educators

References:

Baker, John and Sugden, Stephen J. (2003) "Spreadsheets in Education –The First 25 Years," Spreadsheets in Education (eJSiE): Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 2. Available at: http://epublications.bond.edu.au/ejsie/vol1/iss1/2

Pedagogy in Action. (2012). Why Teach with Spreadsheets?. Retrieved on March 1, 2014 from http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/spreadsheets/why.html

Roblyer, M. D.,Doering A.H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching

(6th Edition).Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.