Spreadsheets in the Classroom

I have had the chance to create a couple of spreadsheets for one of my current classes. I found the projects to be interesting and fun to do. This also provided me the opportunity to reflect on how I would use this type of project in a classroom when I begin teaching. One of the projects dealt with M&M candies and I know I can apply this in my subject area of mathematics. I think the students will find it fun and provide them with some hands-on math applications. If I have enough computers available, I could have the students create the spreadsheets themselves. This would serve the purpose of letting them develop formulas and interpreting the data that is entered.

In math, the use of spreadsheet software is a valuable asset and one to be used as a supplement to class discussion and practical exercises. I use the term supplement because the students must be able to understand the underlying principles of the formulas they are using. Just because they can use the 'maximum' function, doesn't mean they know what a maximum is. Using spreadsheets will also improve a students problem-solving techniques. I feel that have to pull information from a pile of data is valuable learning process. The students must figure out how to ask the right questions (formulas) to get the information they need.

I believe that we must develop both the manual and digital skills of each student. Keeping things simple; students should be able to count back change versus plunking out whatever the cash register tells them. I am trying to make a point about simple math skills, not that students are only capable of working in the service industry.

Moving along

We were able to put together a WebQuest for our class. I enjoyed doing the project and hopefully will be able to use it once I start teaching. I wanted to get back to this blog and continue to add comments, so here it is.

Creating Webquests can take some time upfront, but once the format is figured out I think the time gained in classroom prep will pay for itself. The students will be able to use the project and work anywhere from one to a few days on it. Having the students work in a collaborative manner will enhance the social and education skills.

The first post

I get to step off into the world of blogs. I have participated in some, but have never had my own. I am starting this as part of my Edtech class on my way to a Mathematics in Secondary Education degree.

One of my goals is to teach math at either the middle school or high school level. I want to ultimately teach geometry, so I will probably need to look at high school. Obviously I need to complete by degree and get certified first. After that it will be a matter of getting hired by one of the local school districts. I'm just getting started in the degree portion of the process and will be placing my focus there. If all goes well I should start teaching in the Fall of 2011. That seems like a long time from now, but I am sure the clock will tick faster than I expect.

As part of this assignment I get to provide a little bit of my educational philosophy. I made this statement before, but it rings true; "Successful education is successful communication." To me this is a concise but all encompassing statement (how's that for double-speak?). In order to educate students, we as educators, must be able to communicate the lesson in such a way that they get it. We can't be vague about expectations, we can't waffle on standards, and we can't be confusing. We must use all forms of communication, whether it be written, oral, visual, or virtual to get the message across. We must also be able to receive communication back from our students. Did they understand the message (lesson)? This communication is not limited to teachers and students, but includes the parents. By keeping open lines of communication, we can keep parents involved, and with involved parents, students have an improved chance of being successfully educated.

Another part of my educational philosophy is "Responsibility." I know this gets overused sometimes, but it is very basic. Each of us has responsibility in one form or another to educate the youth of this country. The student must take personal responsibility, the educator must be prepared properly, the parents need to be a parents, the administrators need to remove education distractors, the legislation must focus on the current not the past, and the taxpayer has the responsibility to support this great nation. I guess I should end this before I get into another subject.