Designing Dynamic Spreadsheets as Points of Departure for Learning in Science and Mathematics

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Designing Dynamic Spreadsheets asPoints of
Departure for Learning in Science and
Mathematics

• Maggie Niess
• Oregon State University
• http//oregonstate.edu/niessm/SSMA
• niessm_at_onid.orst.edu

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How long until these planes are at the same
altitude?

• A plane initially at 28,000 feet is descending at
  a rate of 1800 feet per minute, and a second
  plane initially at 1500 feet is climbing at a
  rate of 2300 feet per minute. How many minutes
  it will take for the planes to be at the same
  altitude?

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A Possible Approach

• Symbolic approach
• Plane1 28000 (-1800) ( of minutes)
• Plane2 1500 2300 ( of minutes)
• So
• 28000 (-1800)( of minutes)
• 1500 2300( of
  minutes)
• of minutes 6.46 minutes

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Another Approach

• Tabular approach

Solution between 6 and 7 minutes
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And still another approach

• Spreadsheet approach
• Dynamic_Function_Machine.xls

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Problem Solved!

• WAIT - Dont stop now!

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Extend the Problem

• Consider different altitudes and different rates
  of each of the planes
• What happens if Plane1 is descending from 41,000
  feet?
• What happens if Plane2 is ascending at a 2,000
  feet per minute?
• What does this type of exploration add to the
  learning experience?
• Exploring_dynamically.xls

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Solutions as Points of Departure

• Challenge students to think beyond the beginning
  problem.
• Encourage students to ask what if questions.
• Engage students in designing spreadsheets that
  can be used to explore many questions.

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Scaffolding Students Learning of Mathematics
Building Dynamic Spreadsheets

• Begin with basic concepts and operations of
  spreadsheets
• Problem 1
• Magic Squares

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Recall the Magic Square

• Place the numbers 1-9 in the nine cells of this
  square so that the rows, columns and diagonals
  all add to 15!

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Designing a Dynamic Magic Square

• Magic_square_template.xls

Entering formulas in a spreadsheet
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A windy problem

• Mystery_Town_Wind_Frequency_Problem.xls

Entering formulas and creating appropriate charts
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Finding Solutions to Patterns

• wand_problems.xls
• Entering and copying formulas - relative copy
  feature of spreadsheets

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Remember multiplication???
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Teach the computer to multiply
multiplication_table.xls
B9 B8 A9
But can you copy this formula and make it work?
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Generalize the multiplication table
general_multiplication_table.xls
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Now create the Dynamic Function Machine
spreadsheet

• Format and solve the dog and cat problem

Dynamic_function_template.xls
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Getting started

• Maggies website to download the spreadsheets
• http//oregonstate.edu/niessm/SSMA
• niessm_at_onid.orst.edu
• ICT4U Middle School Spreadsheets John Ley,
  Maggie Niess, Carol Rigg
• ISBN 978-0-9756925-4-7
• PO Box 132652, The Woodlands, TX 77393-2652
• http//eusesconsortium.org/edu/problems.php
  Problems that might be useful!