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Ozgun-Koca, S. Asli

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Using Spreadsheets in Mathematics Education. ERIC Digest.

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*Computer Uses in Education; Elementary Secondary Education;

DESCRIPTORS

Mathematics Education; *Spreadsheets

ERIC Digests

IDENTIFIERS

ABSTRACT

This digest discusses to using spreadsheets in mathematics

education. The case is made that being able to manage spreadsheets is an

important skill in the technologically enhanced new millennium. An annotated

list of World Wide Web resources is included. ( MM)

r

Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made

from the original document.

Using Spreadsheets in

Mathematics Education

ERIC Digest

S. Asli Ozgun-Koca

EDO-SE-00-08

December 2000

ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and

Environmental Education

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Oflice of Educational Research and Improvement

EDUCATIONALRESOURCES INFORMATION

CENTER (ERIC)

0 This document has been reproducedas

2 received from the person or organization

originating it.

0 Minor changes have been made to

improve reproduction quality.

Points 01 view or opinions stated in this

document do not necessarily represent

official OERl position or policy.

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U sing Spreadsheets in Mathematics Education

Digest S . Asli Ozgiin-Koca

December 2000

I

I EDO-SE-00-08

ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education

S E064316

bility to shift between a wider range of representations using

Spreadsheets build an ideal bridge between arithmetic

the modeling approach embedded in computer environments

and algebra and allow the student free movetnent

such as a spreadsheet (p.1). D udgale (1994) reports a proj-

between the two worlds. Students look for patterns,

ect that involved experienced K- 12 teachers in mathematical

construct algebraic expressions, generalize concepts,

modeling and problem solving using spreadsheets and c on-

justify conjectures, and establish the equivalence of

cludes that teachers developed models that exhibited a w ide

two models as intrinsic and meaningful needs rather

variety of mathematics topics and approaches in different

than as arbitrary requirements posed by the teacher-

grade levels.

(Friedlandel; 1998,p . 383)

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTh4,

Electronic spreadsheets have been created and used

2000) suggests that students in grades 3-5 s hould also

mainly as tools for mathematical and statistical calculations,

become familiar with technological tools such as dynamic

as numerical or textual data can be inserted into their col-

geometry software and spreadsheets. They should learn to

umns and rows (http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/-kissanel

set up a simple spreadsheet and use it to p ose and solve

spreadsheets.htm). So, being able to manage spreadsheets

problems, examine data, and investigate patterns (p. 207).

has become one of the skills sought for anybody in this tech-

T he use of spreadsheets for higher grade levels is a lso advo-

nologically enhanced millennium. Therefore, spreadsheets

cated by NCTM (2000): The expanded class of f unctions

have become an important part of many different cumcu-

available to high school students for mathematical modeling

lums at different levels of education. Moreover, they have

should provide them with a versatile and powerful means

been used in education, especially mathematics education,

for analyzing and describing their world. With utilities for

as a tool i n helping students understand mathematical con-

symbol manipulation, graphing, and curve fitting and with

cepts such as plotting and exploring functions and patterns,

programmable software and spreadsheets to represent itera-

exploring probability and statistics, mathematical modeling,

tive processes, students can model and analyze a wide range

and geometric transformations (http:Nwww.freshpond.net/

of phenomena (p. 297). N CTM published two books on the

treasures/math/spreadsheet/default.htm). Relationships

use of spreadsheets:

among different types of representations such as tables,

How To Use the Spreadsheet as a Tool in the Secondary School

equations and graphs are more easily comprehendible when

Mathematics Classroom. [Second Edition (for Windows

all representations are visible at once (see Figure 1 ) a nd

and Macintosh Operating Systems)] by William J Masal-

linked to each other, i.e. when one m akes a change i n o ne

ski.

representation, corresponding changes in other representa-

tions are offered by the program. Moreover, spreadsheets T his book and accompanying two computer disks,

allow students to focus on the mathematical reasoning one for Windows and one f or Macintosh Operating

by freeing them from the Systems, presents 30 activ-

burden of calculations and ities illustrating how com-

algebraic manipulations. puter spreadsheets can be

Educational research used in the secondary school

supports the use of spread- mathematics classroom.

sheets both in K-12 a nd

Spreadsheet Activities in

teacher education and in

Middle School Mathematics

professional development.

by John Russell.

Abramovich and Nabors

This book creates a

(1997) describe how using

problem-solving environ-

spreadsheets helped sev-

ment for middle grade stu-

enth grade algebra students

dents using the computerized

develop problem-solving

spreadsheet. It offers instruc-

skills. Molyneux-Hodgson

tional ideas and activities on

. -- .,

et. a1 (1999) states that .

n umber patterns, basic arith-

the results of their study

metic, word problems, per-

suggest the possibility of

cents and probability.

Figure 1 Snapshot of a spreadsheet

3

enhancing students capa-

I

I ERICICSMEE 1929 Kenny Road a Columbus, Ohio 43210-1080 abp9pa@r.postjobfree.com * www.ericse.org

I ERlClCSMEE Using Spreadsheets in Mathematics Education Page 2

World Wide Web Resources on Spreadsheets in Math- ents problem sets for elementary, middle, and high school

ematics Education mathematics.

The Use of Spreadsheets in Mathematics Teaching

Spreadsheets, Mathematics, Science, and Statistics Educa-

http://www.geocities.com/teddy-mutadi/essay_EME717.html

tion by Erich Neuwirth

This essay discusses the possible application of spreadsheets

http://sunsite.univie.ac.at/Spreadsite/spreaded. tml

h

in an Indonesian curriculum setting. It also highlights the

Presents information about spreadsheets with an emphasis

advantages and disadvantages of utilizing spreadsheets in

on mathematics and statistics education. Includes spread-

school mathematics.

sheets in education; recommended books; papers about

spreadsheets in scientific journals and books; example Spreadsheet-Based Tool Kit For Modeling Concepts In Ele-

spreadsheets and projects (mostly excel 5.0); and further mentary Number Theory by Sergei Abramovich and Andrew

resources for spreadsheets in education on the Internet. Brantlinger

http://forum.swarthmore.edu/clime/96 tml1. h

Spreadsheets in the Math Class

This paper presents pedagogical ideas concerning the use of

http://www.math. by~.edu/-lfrancis/readings302/

a spreadsheet-based tool kit for modeling several structures

Spreadsheets.html#TOC

and concepts in elementary number theory such as Pythago-

Discusses NCTh4 s position statements on technology, the

rean triples, sums of perfect powers, multiple representa-

definition of and benefits of using a spreadsheet, data

tions of integers, the Euclidean algorithm, and the Euler

analysis ideas from the real world, and sample activities to

phi-function.

introduce spreadsheets to students.

References

Spreadsheet Projects for the Middle School Math Curricu-

lum Abramovich, S. and Nabors, W. ( 1 997). Spreadsheets as gen-

erators of new meanings i n middle school algebra. Com-

http://www.parktudor.pvt.kl2.in.us/Sosenke/nctm2OOO.htm

puters in the Schools, 13(1-2), 13-25.

L ists the advantages of t he spreadsheets and stages i n work-

Dugdale, S.(1994). K-12teachers use of spreadsheet for math-

ing with spreadsheets. Presents a seventh grade spreadsheet

ematical modeling and problem solving. Journal of Com-

unit, independent short projects, interdisciplinary projects,

puters in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 13(1), 43-68.

and references on the use of spreadsheets in the mathematics

Friedlander, Alex (1998). An EXCELlent bridge to algebra.

classroom.

Mathematics Teacher,91(50), 382-383 .

Resources for Mathematics Educators: Spreadsheets in Molyneux-Hodgson, S.;Rojano, T.; Sutherland, R.; and Ursini,

Mathematics S.(1999). Mathematical modelling: The interaction of cul-

http://www.freshpond.net/treasures/math/spreadsheet/ ture and practice. Educational Studies in Mathematics,

default.htm 39(1-3), 167-183.

Discusses the benefits of using spreadsheets in mathematics National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2000). Prin-

teaching and some of the particular areas in which spread- ciples and standardsfor school mathematics. Reston, VA:

sheets can be useful i n teaching and learning math. Provides Author.

a list of w eb sites that provide information on using spread-

Finding More Resources

sheets in mathematics classrooms.

To find more resources on this topic, search the ERIC

Introduction to Math arid Spreadsheets database online (http://ericir.syr.edu/Eric/)and use various

http://forum.swarthmore.edu/sum95/math_and/spreadsheets/ combinations of the following descriptors;

intro.html Set 1: spreadsheets, tables (data)

Provides a variety of math exercises utilizing spreadsheets. Set 2: mathematics, mathematics activities, mathemat-

ics education, mathematics instruction, teaching

Spreadsheets in Mathematics

methods

http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/Allison/Spreadsheet%20home%2Opage

Set 3: elementary education, secondary education,

Discusses the reasons for using spreadsheets in math class-

elementary secondary education, postsecondary

rooms. Provides information on h ow to create a spread-

education, adult education

sheet, enter data, copy cells and formulas, and graph. Pres-

SE 064 316 EDO-SE-00-08

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