While spreadsheets don’t have the appeal of other instructional software, they still have a lot of potential value to add to the teaching and learning process. “Teachers use them primarily to keep budgets and grade books and to help teach mathematical topics (pg. 122).” However, such tools as Excel and Google Spreadsheets are not confined to accomplishing simple managerial tasks alone.
Spreadsheets can “help people visualize the impact of changes in numbers (pg. 122).” For instance, teachers and students can input data for a given trend and manipulate variables to observe resulting changes. This application is effective in showing how the average of a range of numbers might change when a new outlier is introduced into the data set.
Additionally, “Teachers can use spreadsheets to help them prepare classroom materials...that they would otherwise have to do by hand (pg. 125).” Examples of this include self-grading assessments and inventories enable by Google Drive, student-created reading logs, and school-home communication requiring parental input and feedback. In addition to providing for a more efficient manner of creating materials, cloud-based spreadsheet software also creates a safe and accessible place for data and information to be stored.
In various classrooms, teachers and students are finding incredibly innovative ways to utilize spreadsheet software for improved learning and demonstrations of mastery. Students are now using spreadsheets to “create neat timelines, charts, and graphs, as well as products that require them to store and calculate numbers (pg. 125).” In other words, these active participants in the learning process are identifying ways to use spreadsheets to meet their own learning needs.
As with any other technology tool, the value for teaching and learning is created in the ways that it is applied by the user. No single tool has a relative advantage for student achievement in and of itself. The same can be said for spreadsheet software. However, often, we overlook valuable educational technology because it does not brandish bells and whistles. For educational purposes, spreadsheet software has a lot to offer to students and teachers. Its relative advantage might just be dependent on whether or not we are willing to accept that.
Resources:
Roblyer, M.D., & Doering, A.H. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching. Boston:
Pearson/Allyn and Bacon Publishers.
I really like your last paragraph where you make the point that it isn't the tool itself, but what we do with it that gives something a real relative advantage. That is extremely important to keep in mind; too many educators and administrators think they can solve significant problems in education simply by throwing technology at the issue. You are also absolutely right that spreadsheets are not the sexiest of software, but that doesn't mean they don't have a lot to offer in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Marta that your last paragraph really drives the point home. I also think that as we get further into the digital edge, that we expect all of our tools to have a certain flash and pizazz about them. Certainly not so with the spreadsheet, but while it may not look and perform like a sports car, it's got the rugged dependability of the old farm truck. I know I'm guilty of looking for other methods of implementation in my teaching, but I use spreadsheets all the time for my own organization and benefit.