Essentials of Mathematics
10 -
Spreadsheets
This sub-organizer contains
the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources
PRESCRIBED
LEARNING OUTCOMES
It is expected that students
will design and use a spreadsheet to make and justify decisions
It is expected that students
will:
- create a spreadsheet
using various formatting options
- use a spreadsheet template
to solve problems
- create a spreadsheet
using formulas and functions
- use a spreadsheet to
answer "what-if" questions
- identify where spreadsheets
could be effectively used
SUGGESTED
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
This unit is intended to
introduce students to the "how" and "what-if" questions that spreadsheets may
be used to answer. Students should be able to use pre-existing spreadsheets
such as loan analysers. Students will also learn to create simple spreadsheets
and analyse their usefulness.
- Give students a simple
spreadsheet template, such as one that lists length and width of a rectangle
and calculates area. Have students add a column that calculates perimeter.
Show students how to make the value appear as a rounded number. Modify the
spreadsheet and demonstrate how it could be used to calculate the cost of
carpet given a unit price or baseboard quantity for a rectangular room. Ask
students how the calculations would change if hardwood flooring were installed.
Have them insert an appropriate new unit price and find the new costs.
- Ask students to brainstorm
real-life circumstances where spreadsheets would be useful (e.g., budgets,
tracking investments).
- Demonstrate how a spreadsheet
might be used in the following circumstances:
- pricing items in
a store given wholesale cost
- producing a household
budget
- tracking statistics
on a sports team
- Give students a spreadsheet
template to calculate weekly wages and EI, CPP, and taxes payable. Have them
enter the appropriate data and complete the calculations.
- Have students use a
spreadsheet to keep track of their marks for a set period of time.
SUGGESTED
ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES
Assessment in this section
should focus on students understanding of when spreadsheets are an appropriate
tool to use, as well as their understanding of how to create and apply spreadsheets.
Observe
- Watch students as they
create or use spreadsheets. Note the extent to which they are able to:
- grasp how cells
are filled using simple formulas
- insert columns or
rows
- change values of
cells
- copy information
from cell to cell
- format the spreadsheet
for better presentation
Collect
- Using selected print
copies of student generated spreadsheets have students show how the cell values
were obtained.
Peer Assessment
- Have peers access other
students’ spreadsheet solutions to individual problem. Have them share comments
such as whether the answers make sense.
Self Assessment
- Have individual students:
- describe benefits
of using spreadsheets
- brainstorm other
uses for spreadsheets
RECOMMENDED
LEARNING RESOURCES
Comprehensive learning resources
for this course are currently under development. As an interim measure, schools
are encouraged to use the teacher-developed learning resources distributed to
schools (student and teacher resources). Please note that the student materials
require photocopying for student use.
Software
- Hot Dog Stand: The Works
- Math Tools
©
2000 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Curriculum Branch.
Maintained by: Mathematics Coordinator
Revised: November 22, 2000
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