53301_Briscoe_lesson2_Blog2

53301 Briscoe Lesson 2 Blog Entry

One of the more interesting concepts I found was the motivation students receive from EXCEL.  They talk a lot about this in the webpage, “Excel in the Classroom: What’s the Hype?”

http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/excel/.  I can relate that if a teacher comes at a student with the same, dry teaching techniques it will be hard to retain.  As opposed to the teacher that starts up the smartboard, turns on the computer and has a graph, chart, etc. to demonstrate the teaching.  We know students learn better visually and what better way than though the computer with graphs and charts.  The webpage, “EXCEL-lent Middle School Math Lessons” http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech079.shtml, talks about how easily and relevant spreadsheets can be used in math.   I very much like Ms. Halls’ idea to relate it to the housing market because we have seen such fluctuations.  Also, how interesting to do predictions and watch what happens.  This is the excitement and progressive learning that so many of us miss until college and sometimes not even then.   

This leads to one of the more surprising things I found in the reading and that is how much more students will learn with EXCEL.  I had not actually considered the next level learning EXCEL allows for but now understand how beneficial it is for students and faculty.  The website talks about how students really learn to interpret the data and I can appreciate that EXCEL can do this for us.  They are not simply in a classroom writing down numbers and trying to memorize something.  This is real world learning that will actually pertain and be retained.  How 21st century of our educators and administrators, I want to be a member of that school system. 

Personally I have not used spreadsheets very often but did find them very useful as a real estate agent in another life.  I would input all my clients, customers, contacts and business associates addresses into a spreadsheet and group them.  I could then print address labels off very quickly without any writing and in certain groups for whatever marketing letter I was sending.  It was a tremendous time saver and looked very professional.  As far as using it in the classroom, I could quickly advance my special education students up levels with spreadsheets with graphs and charts.  That simple concept could be what makes the difference between a student remaining in special education and continuing on with their class.