Chapter 8: Spreadsheets

Can you identify two types of data your students could collect as part of a lesson?

Students can collect data in many different lesson plans.  In social studies, students can collect data on populations, birth rates, death rates, and war casualties.  The 8th grade social studies curriculum discusses American History.  Students can collect data from casualties from the Wars discussed throughout the year and they can also record the average data of the age of soldiers in each war.  This helps students understand that age was not mandated early on during the Wars in american history and also helps them see what wars had the most casualties.  Another example would be the population during these times of war.  For example during WWII you had the baby boomers.  Students have the opportunity to collect many times of data in social studies dealing with War.  A great tool to help students is the teacher to watch closely and observe their work in order to make sure students place the proper calculations for formulas of the spreadsheet.


　
　
How could your students manipulate the data to discover relationships and trends?
　
Students recording data can manipulate the relationships and trends because data is not 100% accurate when it comes to casualties of War.  Students can figure out the casualties killed in action, death from injuries, and death through illnesses.  Students can use the data to determine the life expectancy and birth rates during times in history.  This helps students acknowledge changes in social, economical, and physical advances today in medicine and well being.  Data allows students to build the trends and relationships on their own views promoting critical thinking skills.　
　
Can you identify three graphs or charts your students could make that would help them develop a better understanding of the content?

Students can use the data that they have recorded to create graphs to help their viewers understand the relationships.  One example is creating a bar graph of information.  This allows the student to create a graph in a manner to explain data through bars.  Another great example of a chart would be a creating a table with information recorded.  Tables allows students and viewers to understand the information and hits the key important facts.  Students also can use line graphs to help them show relationships between two subjects.  One example is that the line graph can show births and deaths between 1860-1865.  Charts and graphs allow visual learners to see the relationship of the data and subject.  Many students learn to draw conclusions by viewing visual aids. 
　
Is it possible to create an interactive simulation or model with a spreadsheet?

Due to the high costs of simulation software many schools can not afford to purchase the programs.  The advantage of spreadsheet is that it allows teachers and students to create simulations by students manipulating one or more variables when using a spreadsheet (Morrison, G.R. & Lowther, D.L., 2010).  This improves student participation and classroom interactions.