In-Class Exercise for Class 1: Understanding and Creating Spreadsheets

In this in-class exercise, we will explore the use of spreadsheets in K-12 classrooms by looking at sample graphs generated by students and familiarizing ourselves with some of the numerous online resources available to teachers for using spreadsheets effectively in their classrooms.

Since students learn better when they are actively involved in the learning process, we will gather real-world data to create our first set of spreadsheets. Since geocaching will be an important part of this class, we will gather data about the number of geocaches hidden in various places around the country. Once we have gathered this data, we will use Excel™ to record and create graphs that display the data in meaningful ways. Finally, we will display all graphs created in class on the geocaching and spreadsheet portions of this Web site.

• Using Spreadsheets in K-12 Classrooms
  
  
• Creating Geocaching.com Accounts
  • Go to geocaching.com and create an account
  • Record your username and password for future use
    
    
• Gathering Data
  • Choose a city or town in the United States and do a search for geocaches in that area. As a group, we will try to choose locations in as many different states as there are students in the class.
  • Once you have chosen your location, click on View Map, then click on Google Map. I have found this to be the most helpful map as:
    • it shows a clear scale,
    • users can easily zoom in and out using the zoom tool, and
    • users can choose three different views of any area (map, satellite, and hybrid)
  • Before gathering actual data, predict some general trends about the data you expect to find.
  • Record how many geocaches are hidden within 500 feet of the location you have chosen
  • Record how many geocaches are hidden within 1000 feet of the location you have chosen
  • Record how many geocaches are hidden within 2000 feet of the location you have chosen
  • Record how many geocaches are hidden within one mile of the location you have chosen
  • Record how many geocaches are hidden within two miles of the location you have chosen
  • Record how many geocaches are hidden within five miles of the location you have chosen
  • Sample spreadsheet for Flagstaff, AZ (download of Excel™ file)

• Graphing Data

• Open Excel™
• Create a spreadsheet and record your data
• Be sure to use text appropriately so it will display well in your graph
• Graph your data using at least three different types of graphs
• Decide which graph displays your data in the most visually meaningful way
• Save your file using your first initial and last name
• Share your graph with classmates
• Contribute to the class-wide graph we will create together
• Email your file to Dr. Christie, who will then add all graphs to her Web site.
  
  
• Use this model in your classroom with your students!
  
  
• Final Treat for the Day!