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Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are computerized, numerical record keeping systems that were designed originally to replace paper-based, ledger accounting systems. Essentially, a spreadsheet is a grid or matrix of empty cells with columns identified by letters and rows identified by numbers. Each cell is a placeholder for values, formulas relating values in other cells, or functions that mathematically or logically manipulate values in other cells. Functions are small programmed sequences that may, for instance, match values in cells with other cells, look up a variable in a table of values, or create an index of values to be compared with other cells.
Spreadsheets were originally developed and are most commonly used to support business decision making and accounting operations. They are especially useful for answering ?what if? questions, for instance, what if interest rates increased by one percent? Changes made in one cell automatically recalculate all of the affected values in other cells. Spreadsheets are also commonly used for personal accounting and budgeting.[i]
From the article by David H. Jonassen,-Chad Carr,-Hsiu-Ping Yueh I am trying to support the following key point. Technologies should not support learning by attempting to instruct the learners, but rather should be used as knowledge construction tools that students learn with, not from. In this way, learners function as designers, and the computers function as Mind tools for interpreting and organizing their personal knowledge.
Mind tools are computer applications that, when used by learners to represent what they know, necessarily engage them in critical thinking about the content they are studying (Jonassen, 1996). Mind tools scaffold different forms of reasoning about content. That is, they require students to think about what they know in different, meaningful ways. For instance, using databases to organize students? understanding of content organization necessarily engages them in analytical reasoning, where creating an expert system rule base requires them to think about the causal relationships between ideas. Students can not use Mind tools as learning strategies without thinking deeply about what they are studying.
I am trying to provide students with real life experiences instead of just doing spreadsheet worksheets that were traditionally used to teach spreadsheet and spreadsheet formulas usage. I believe the students get more from this kind of learning experience and retain the knowledge learned for a longer period of time. Also, the students enjoy the project as they get to research material from the internet to assist them with their learning.
For an eighth grade project I have my students create a Budget project. This project focuses on what career they will pursue in college and based on their career choice they prepare a monthly budget to support their life style. The students use
The first spreadsheet consists of their yearly salary divided by 12 months to get a monthly pay roll rate. Then they must construct a pay roll record that shows Federal, State, FICA, and Heath insurance deductions from their monthly pay. Also on the first spreadsheet they choose a automobile and finance it the loan for 60 months. The last item on the first sheet is their monthly apartment or home loan.
The second spreadsheet captures all monthly expense both fixed and flexible. The students use a basic template that I provide for them to set up their spreadsheet. The students modify the template to suit their needs and expenses. On this spreadsheet they also perform total fixed expenses, total flexible expenses, total expenses, and net monthly income.
On the third spreadsheet the students set up a checkbook register. The students must write a check for each expense from spreadsheet two and balance their checkbook. The students are required to show a positive balance at the end of the month and this must match their net income from spreadsheet two.
Posted at 01:15PM Nov 29, 2006 by LASKIN, RICHARD in General | Comments[0]