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

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Interactive Excel SpreadsheetsA Computational
and Conceptual Learning Tool for Mathematics and
Science

• Scott A. Sinex
• Department of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Prince Georges Community College

Presented at the Computation and Science for
Teachers Workshop held at the Pittsburgh
Supercomputing Center, Pittsburgh, PA on 19-23
June 2006
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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)
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...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
• So a great tool for mathematical modeling of data
  and presenting graphs

Pre-set calculations graphs just add data
Using Excel for... Scientific Data
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a mathematical model
Cookies stack
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The modeling process
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...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!!!!!

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So lets 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
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Interactive features
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tails
heads
Flipping pennies
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Find it in
Regression
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Derivative
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Created by Charlotte Trout
Circuits
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Now lets construct a simple Excelet!
We will explore the equation of a straight line,
y mx b.
So lets go into Excel
Tutorial for a quadratic equation click here
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As a learning tool...

• Active engagement of students
• Numerical experimentation
• Derive the ideal mathematical model
• What if scenarios
• Science processes
• predictions
• graphical interpretation
• conclusions
• random and systematic error (ideal to real) See
  Investigating Types of Errors

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The How to resources...
Developer's Guide to Excelets Dynamic and
Interactive Visualization with "Javaless" Applets
or Interactive Excel Spreadsheets
lthttp//academic.pgcc.edu/ssinex/exceletsgt
Tutorial, instructions, and a variety of
interactive Excel spreadsheet examples Resource
list for mathematics and science
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More info...

• Scott Sinex ssinex_at_pgcc.edu
• See course webpages and publications
  http//academic.pgcc.edu/ssinex
• Webpages embedded in PowerPoint
• get LiveWeb (http//skp.mvps.org/liveweb.htm)