Animated Interactive Spreadsheets: It’s Dynamic Graphical Storytelling Time!
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Transcript of Animated Interactive Spreadsheets: It’s Dynamic Graphical Storytelling Time!
Animated Interactive Spreadsheets: It’s Dynamic Graphical Storytelling Time!
Scott A. SinexDept. of Physical Sciences & Engineering
Prince George’s Community College
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Why interactive spreadsheets?
• Easy access for students and useful for them to know
• Easy for instructors to develop – see Developer’s Guide to Excelets
• Creates an engaging pedagogy
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…more why?
• Addresses topics conceptually, while camouflaging mathematics– Students have to think:
predict - test - analyze
• Allows for mathematical modeling and studying errors– More science process– Mathematics resurfaces!!!!
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…and every graph tells a story!
Why is pizza cut in even number of slices?
5http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/fractions.xls
Here we use spinner from the Forms toolbar. The Forms Tools operate on both PC and Mac platforms.
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How does a burning candle behave?
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/burning_candles.xls
Here we collect the data by clicking the up arrow on the spinner.
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…adding error to the data
Scatter is added to the data by increasing random error.
=E6+$K$7*RANDBETWEEN(-10,10)/10+$G$10
The circled scroll bar controls the size of random variation.
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Burning candle…
• The activity including notes to the instructors–
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/burning_candles_act.pdf
• The Excelet –http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/
excelets/burning_candles.xls
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Viewing data of tidal gauge stations
Option buttons allow which data set is viewed.
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/inundator.xls
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Just add data…
When data is added, mathematical model appears.
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/stacking_cups.xls
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…physical and mathematical models
Look under the graphs for how they were constructed!!!
The rim height controls the slope and the base height controls the y-intercept.
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…and more Excelets• Learn linear regressionhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/regression.xls
• Interpolation and extrapolationhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/interpol_extrapol.xls
• x- and y-intercpetshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/intercepts.xls
• Rate of change explorerhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/
Rate_of_Change_Explorer.xls
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Remember…
• It is all done computationally – formulas, logical statements (no programming!!!)
• Look under the graphs for construction help.
• See the Developer’s Guide for instructions!!!!
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Which do you prefer: Spring 07 Spring 09
static graphs in textbook 21% (6) 7%(2)dynamic graphs in Excel 76% (22) 89% (25)both 3% (1) 4% (1)
Using Excelets does not require that you be familiar with Excel.
most definitely 7% (2) 25% (7)I think so 38% (11) 36% (10)just barely 34% (10) 32% (9)not at all 14% (4) 7% (2)don’t know 7% (2)
Student feedback…
All Student Survey resultshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htm
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Excelets offer a more visual experience with graphs instead of using just the mathematical equations.
most definitely 66% (19) 75% (21)I think so 24% (7) 14% (4)just barely 10% (3) 11% (3)
not at all don’t know
Excelets make it easier to grasp or learn a concept.
most definitely 55% (16) 43% (12)I think so 31% (9) 54% (15)just barely 14% (4) 4% (1)not at all don’t know
more feedback…
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The “How to” resources...
Developer's Guide to Excelets: Dynamic and Interactive Visualization with "
Javaless" Applets or Interactive Excel Spreadsheets
<http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets>
Tutorial, instructions, and over 150 interactive Excel spreadsheet
examples
Resource list for mathematics and science
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More info...
Scott Sinex
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex
…and thanks for coming today too!!!
Partial support for this work was provided by the Howard/Hopkins/PGCC Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM), funded by NSF Grant No. DMR-0611595
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excelets