Spreadsheets in the Classroom?

Is there a place for spreadsheets in the classroom? Absolutely! If we are trying to educate a technologically savvy generation, then we must include spreadsheets! Some people automatically associate numbers with math, and assume spreadsheets can only be used for math. Josette Longoria's spreadsheet shows us a great example of using a spreadsheet in science. In fact, we can use spreadsheets in just about any subject area.

When using spreadsheets in the classroom, I will begin by showing several examples of how they are used. I will ask questions of the students, such as asking them to explain to me what they see, and how they can read the spreadsheet. Some guiding questions might include:

(1) How can spreadsheets give us information in very little space?
(2) Would graphs be a good idea to expand and/or condense the information?
(3) In what subjects can we use spreadsheets?

These questions would encourage students to investigate spreadsheets, and to open their minds to more ideas that are outside the box. For example, a spreadsheet can be used to compare information about several subjects, such as in Josette's spreadsheet. I can see that being very useful in Social Studies units.

I think spreadsheets would be too much for young students, but I can definitely see older elementary students using them. Here is my example of the Wedding Budget from this week's assignments.

The Magic of Movies

Creating a movie is one of the most creative ways to express an idea. It is easy to put a movie together when following the 7 elements of digital storytelling we learned earlier. The fun is in the filming, and the mechanics is in the editing.

When I was a child, it seemed each year we had to be in a play. Now that we have video editing software, it would be great to film the play, then mix in some sound effects and/or music. The students would have a ball learning how to do this. Or in the case of younger students, the teacher could do it, then post the video online for the students and their parents to enjoy. The best part would be having the video available for family and friends around the country (or the world) to enjoy. Grandparents may never miss out on their grandchild’s achievements ever again!

These tools would also be useful to me as a teacher. I’m sure there will be science experiments that would be perfect, except they may be too time consuming and/or too dangerous for younger students. I could conduct the experiments at home and video them. That would give me an opportunity to present the experiment to the class, without all the hands-on mess that sometimes occurs. Here is my first video, designed as part of a lesson on natural forces.