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

ssinex@pgcc.edu

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