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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)
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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 ******@***.*** * 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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