Transcript Interactive Excel Spreadsheets: A Computational and Conceptual Learning Tool for Mathematics and Science

Interactive Excel Spreadsheets:
A Computational and Conceptual
Learning Tool
for Mathematics and Science
Scott A. Sinex
Department of Physical Sciences and Engineering
Prince George’s Community College
Presented at the Computation and Science for
Teachers Workshop held at the Pittsburgh
Supercomputing Center, Pittsburgh, PA
on 19-23 June 2006
Why Excel?
•
•
•
•
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
… a mathematical model
Cookies stack
The modeling process…
...so now to Excelets!
• Excelets are interactive
Excel spreadsheets
• A “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 let’s take a tour of
the interactive
features available in
Excel
Start tour !
Click on links at the bottom of the next five slides to
get the interactive spreadsheets
Interactive features
heads
Flipping pennies
tails
Find it in
Regression
Derivative
Created by Charlotte Trout
Circuits
Now let’s construct
a simple Excelet!
We will explore the equation of a
straight line, y = mx +b.
So let’s go into Excel
Tutorial for a quadratic equation – click here
As a learning tool...
•
•
•
•
•
Active engagement of students
Numerical experimentation
Derive the ideal mathematical model
“What if” scenarios
science
Science processes
–
–
–
–
predictions
Model
Simulation
graphical interpretation
excelets
conclusions
random and systematic error (ideal to
real) See Investigating Types of Errors
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)