Transcript Excelets: A Discovery Learning Tool for Revitalizing

Excelets: A Discovery Learning
Tool for Revitalizing
College Algebra
Scott A. Sinex
Dept. of Physical Sciences & Engineering
Prince George’s Community College
Presented at MMATYC 2008 at Howard Community College
Why Excel?
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Ready off-the-shelf software
Found in the work-place
Found on home computers too
Easy to use by students
• Can it be an interactive learning tool?
(no marcos or VBA programming, just computation via formulas)
...as a tool in math and science
• Great for handling, graphing,
and analyzing data
• Easy transforming of data
such as taking the log
• Regression and goodness-of-fit
Pre-set
calculations
& graphs –
just add
data
• So a great tool for mathematical modeling of
data and presenting graphs
Using Excel for... Scientific Data
...so now to Excelets!
• Excelets are interactive
Excel spreadsheets
• A Java-like “Javaless” applet!
• A simulation of a mathematical model or an
illustration of a simple concept
• A tool for higher-order thinking and
illustrating science process
• and a tool that is easy to construct!!!!!
…so how do you use Excelets in college
algebra?
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Create an exploratory learning environment
The mode of questioning guides the student
Mathematical modeling of data
Investigate the behavior of functions
…and with constant use of numerical, visual,
symbolic, and verbal perspectives!
Is stack height proportional to the number of cookies?
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/cookies_stack.xls
Can you learn linear regression in 5 minutes or less?
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/regression.xls
How are the temperature scales on a thermometer related?
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/temperature_scales.xls
Is sea level changing? Will this cause any problems?
http://mvhs.shodor.org/CAST2008/earth/inundator.xls
How does that variable influence the quadratic function?
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/quadratics.xls
…and some periodic functions as well
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/periodic_data.xls
As a learning tool...
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Active engagement of students
Numerical experimentation
Derive the ideal mathematical model
“What if” scenarios
science
Science processes
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predictions
Model
Simulation
graphical interpretation
excelets
conclusions
random and systematic error (ideal to real) See
Investigating Types of Errors
Some final thoughts…
• Engages students in higher-order thinking
– Interpretation/Analysis/Synthesis
• Engages students in algebraic thinking
– Variables/Patterns/Representations
• Engages students in science process
– Hypotheses /Predictions/Conclusions
• Reeks of meeting national standards in
mathematics, the sciences, and technology
– AMATYC/MAA/NCTM/NAS/NSTA/ISTE
The “How to” resources...
Developer's Guide to Excelets:
Dynamic and Interactive Visualization
with "Javaless" Applets or Interactive
Excel Spreadsheets
<http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets>
Tutorial, instructions, and a variety of
interactive Excel spreadsheet examples
Resource list for mathematics and science
More info...
• Scott Sinex – [email protected]
• See course webpages and publications
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex
• Webpages embedded in PowerPoint –
get LiveWeb
(http://skp.mvps.org/liveweb.htm)
Thanks for coming today too!!!