Spreadsheets act as a powerful medium for keeping me both sane and organized. As a teacher, coach of two sports, newspaper advisor, and graduate student I must utilize any platform that can positively help to keep my life in order and limit the chaos. Thus, I use Google Sheets, Numbers, Excel, and other spreadsheet resources constantly. I organize uniform distribution for nearly 150 of our track athletes, analyze student work, and keep track of “to do” lists all through spreadhseets. Yet, this week I was deeply challenged as to how to best use spreadsheets as a tool in the classroom. It seems my approach to using spreadsheets has been limited to organizational purposes, and in analyzing various sources by initial thoughts have only been affirmed. There are several ways to which spreadsheets can positively contribute to student learning, including the following:
- Data Collection- spreadsheets can be used to collect a variety of data. This could range from surveys to evaluations to monitoring the progress of something. The primary benefit is that feedback is almost instantaneous making it more meaningful for students.
- Easy Collaboration- teachers, faculty, and students all can use spreadsheets to work together. Whether it be to finish an assignment, organizing schedules, or offer feedback, spreadsheets enhance the ability of partners and groups to collaborate (Wojicki, 2007).
- 21st century skill- The workforce mandates some knowledge of using spreadsheets. It is a universal skill that can be applied in nearly any profession.
In an article published by Education.com, Robley and Doering highlight three aditional advantages to using spreadsheets:
- Save time — Using the formula features allows for mathematical features to be calculated at a much quicker speed. Moreover, spreadsheets like Google Sheets save automatically and can be shared quickly via email or with a link.
- Organize displays of information — This can be used to record student information such as demographics, test scores, and other helpful information that would allow an instructor to assess student needs.
- Support asking "what if" questions — The visual layout and display of a spreadsheet simplifies the viewers means of analyzing and evaluating. It creates a distinct picture of any type of change that occurs (2010).
Wojicki, E. (Director) (2007, June 25). Docs & Spreadsheets in the Classroom. Lecture
conducted from Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto
Roblyer, M., & Doering, A. (2010, July 20). The Impact of Spreadsheets in Education.
Retrieved February 22, 2015, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/impact- spreadsheets-education/
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