what is an excel spreadsheet?
Microsoft Excel is a
spreadsheet program which allows one to enter numerical values or data into the
rows or columns of a spreadsheet, and to use these numerical entries for such
things as calculations, graphs, and statistical analysis.
Spreadsheets (like Microsoft Excel) can be very useful for
student interactive activities, interactive lectures, and instructor use for
developing materials for class. Example aspects of spreadsheets that are
relevant to science education are:
·
Using Excel as a calculator
to explore what mathematical equations can tell us about how the real world
works for specific input conditions or for a range of possible values.
o The calculator can be pre-constructed with a focus on student
exploration or students can be guided to construct their own calculators and
then explore. The first option saves time but the second option prepares
students to use Excel for their own projects and future activities.
·
Graphically displaying
equations (analytical models) and real data.
·
Obtaining numerical
solutions to more mathematically complex models.
·
Graphically comparing
results from a model and observations.
·
Statistical analysis
including mean, standard deviation, error bars on graphs, linear and polynomial
fits, multivariate analysis, etc.
·
Spectral analysis (Fast
Fourier Transforms).
·
Displaying histograms of
students results or student response to exams or questions.
what is spreadsheet modelling?
A spreadsheet model uses a spreadsheet to explore different
possible answers. These models are usually financial, mathematical or
scientific. This is sometimes called “what if” modeling and shows what will
happen to the results if you change some of the data within a spreadsheet. It
can also be used to discover simple rules within the model. In the context of
the examination, you may be asked to build a simple spreadsheet model and
change data within the model, or even the model itself, to produce different
results.
