Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are a valuable tool to all educators and students. They provide a way for gathering and viewing data and help lists of numbers and information to make sense. Students who created their own spreadsheets will be doing a majority of the work themselves. They will gather data, organize it, and find answers to questions. This style of learning has been referred to as inquiry-based learning. It is the seeking of knowledge. The process of inquiring begins with gathering information and data through applying the human senses. Children need this style of hands-on learning to be successful in their education. When children learn things first hand, they grasp and retain the information much better.
A few questions I would use to guide my students in creating their own spreadsheets are:

1. By what means will you gather the needed information?

2. How much information will you decide to use and how much is really needed to get a good understanding?

3. Which Excel tools will you use to present this information?

These types of questions will help students think about what they are doing. They will have to consider what information they want to use and how much they need to use in order to create a viable spreadsheet and an understandable presentation.