Excel

= ﻿Excel =

Excel is a program from Microsoft that allows users to create spread sheets of data. Excel allows users to enter data manually as well as to enter formulas and have the values generated by the computer. There are options for converting data into a variety of visual representations, including line graphs, bar graphs, and pie charts. The following file demonstrates some of the basic functions of the Excel program, specifically creating lists, using the "fill" feature, formatting spreadsheets, and creating graphs.
 * Excel Practice **

This next set of spreadsheets demonstrate how Excel's formulas and fill feature can be used for practical application, as in calculating the interest paid on loans. The first spreadsheet debunks the too-good-to-be-true advertisement "watch $10,000 of bills disappear before your eyes" with payments of only $95 per month. The next two sheets show the break down of interest paid on the same car loan, for a 2011 Hyundai Tuscon, but over different periods of time.


 * Challenge Problem Re-write **

"Consider two different arithmetic sequences:

3, 12, 21,30, 39, 48... and 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 37...

Notice that 30 is the first number in common for both. Find the next ten numbers that are common to both sequences. Look for patterns in this new sequence of numbers and its relationship to the original sequence. Explain the patterns you find and also explain the mathematical relationships and concepts at the heart of this problem. //Strive to talk about important connections and concepts."//


 * Excel in the Classroom **

My work with Excel in this class inspired me to incorporate the program into a lesson that I taught at my field placement, which is in an elementary-level resource room setting. This lesson was taught to two kindergarten students. They were working with decomposing the numbers 8 and 9 into pairs of numbers, such as 2 and 6 for 8, and 3 and 6 for 9. Using Excel helped the students to get familiar with the motor actions that go with using a computer, such as visually tracking the mouse, coordinating their hands to use the mousepad, and locating different keys on the keyboard. It also challenged me to look beyond Excel's capability with manipulating numbers and to use it for its visual capabilities. Attached is the lesson plan along with the Excel spreadsheet I created for the lesson.