energize, engage, empower student thinking & learning with spreadsheet simulations scott a....
TRANSCRIPT
Energize, Engage, EmpowerStudent Thinking & Learningwith Spreadsheet Simulations
Scott A. SinexPhysical Sciences & Engineering
Prince George’s Community College
13 April 2012
Let’s roll the die… dice…
die… dice…
What does the distribution of face numbers look like?
How long would it take if rolling by hand?
So let’s roll in a spreadsheet…
=RANDBETWEEN(1,6)
Calculation for each roll of a die
face number
freq
uen
cy
Predict what the graph would look
like!
To die for: What are the chances?
We can investigate variability!
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/dice_roll.xls
Why interactive spreadsheets?
• Easy access for students and teachers and useful for them to know
• Easy for instructors to develop – see Developer’s Guide to Excelets
• Creates an engaging pedagogy in math and the sciences
“Excel to Engage”
…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– More multivariable approach (more real
world)
– Mathematics resurfaces!!!!
…and explain!!!
Yes it returns!!!(Even more)
Data
Mathematical model
Numerical simulation
Do some big time science…
…and use some math
Fine print: Never remove experiments for simulations, add simulations to extend your experiments!
Go AMATYC!
…and address important human interest questions such as:
Why is pizza cut in even number of slices?
Do you want pepperoni?
http://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.
A simple interactive visual
and for even slices, a straight
cut!
Construct complicated models
Is there a relationship between the height of the cookie stack and number of cookies?
“Just add data” Excelet
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/cookies_stack.xls
data
mathematical model
Do reverse science processbackwards
How does the height of the candle vary over time?
Use the simulation to get the modelideal ^
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.
animation
…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.
coastalcare.org
October 2010 – Collapsed house on Holland Island (?) in Chesapeake Bay!
island?
Is sea level changing?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Island
October 2009 - Last house on Holland Island in Chesapeake Bay
island
What does tide gauge data tell us?
Option buttons allow which data set is viewed.
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/inundator.xls
But can just anyone do this?
YES!!!
Building a simulation
• Let’s construct a model for the behavior of the quadratic equation
• Our multivariable equation y = ax2 + bx + c
• How does the graph behave when we vary a, b, and c?
Set-up screen
Simulation of Quadratic Equation Behaviorhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/NC/Simulation_QuadraticEqn_NC.pdf
Baseball pop-up and quadratic…
Multivariableand a practical
application
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/quadratics.xls
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 a variety of interactive Excel spreadsheet
examples
Resource list for mathematics and science
In the end…
• Easy access technology both in & out of class
• An engaging pedagogy
• More scientific and algebraic thinking
• More multivariable (real world) approach
• Can venture into some more complicated concepts (keep math camouflaged)
More info…
• Scott Sinex [email protected]
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex
• Google or Bing: excelets
…and THANKS for attending!!!
More resources…
• Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center Computation and Science Teachers (CAST) Professional Development Modules (uses Excel, Vensim, and NetLogo)
http://www.psc.edu/eot/k12/2011yr.php
• Modules 2A, 5A, and 6 – use Excel