Energize, Engage, EmpowerStudent Thinking & Learningwith Spreadsheet Simulations

Scott A. SinexPhysical Sciences & Engineering

Prince George’s Community College

13 April 2012

Let’s roll the die… dice…

die… dice…

What does the distribution of face numbers look like?

How long would it take if rolling by hand?

So let’s roll in a spreadsheet…

=RANDBETWEEN(1,6)

Calculation for each roll of a die

face number

freq

uen

cy

Predict what the graph would look

like!

To die for: What are the chances?

We can investigate variability!

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/dice_roll.xls

Why interactive spreadsheets?

• Easy access for students and teachers and useful for them to know

• Easy for instructors to develop – see Developer’s Guide to Excelets

• Creates an engaging pedagogy in math and the sciences

“Excel to Engage”

…more why?

• Addresses topics conceptually, while camouflaging mathematics– Students have to think:

predict - test - analyze

• Allows for mathematical modeling and studying errors– More science process– More multivariable approach (more real

world)

– Mathematics resurfaces!!!!

…and explain!!!

Yes it returns!!!(Even more)

Data

Mathematical model

Numerical simulation

Do some big time science…

…and use some math

Fine print: Never remove experiments for simulations, add simulations to extend your experiments!

Go AMATYC!

…and address important human interest questions such as:

Why is pizza cut in even number of slices?

Do you want pepperoni?

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/fractions.xls

Here we use spinner from the Forms toolbar. The Forms Tools operate on both PC and Mac platforms.

A simple interactive visual

and for even slices, a straight

cut!

Construct complicated models

Is there a relationship between the height of the cookie stack and number of cookies?

“Just add data” Excelet

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/cookies_stack.xls

data

mathematical model

Do reverse science processbackwards

How does the height of the candle vary over time?

Use the simulation to get the modelideal ^

How does a burning candle behave?

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/burning_candles.xls

Here we collect the data by clicking the up arrow on the spinner.

animation

…adding error to the data

Scatter is added to the data by increasing random error.

=E6+$K$7*RANDBETWEEN(-10,10)/10+$G$10

The circled scroll bar controls the size of random variation.

coastalcare.org

October 2010 – Collapsed house on Holland Island (?) in Chesapeake Bay!

island?

Is sea level changing?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Island

October 2009 - Last house on Holland Island in Chesapeake Bay

island

What does tide gauge data tell us?

Option buttons allow which data set is viewed.

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/inundator.xls

But can just anyone do this?

YES!!!

Building a simulation

• Let’s construct a model for the behavior of the quadratic equation

• Our multivariable equation y = ax2 + bx + c

• How does the graph behave when we vary a, b, and c?

Set-up screen

Simulation of Quadratic Equation Behaviorhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/NC/Simulation_QuadraticEqn_NC.pdf

Baseball pop-up and quadratic…

Multivariableand a practical

application

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/quadratics.xls

The “How to” resources...

Developer's Guide to Excelets: Dynamic and Interactive Visualization with "Javaless" Applets or Interactive Excel Spreadsheets

<http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets>

Tutorial, instructions, and a variety of interactive Excel spreadsheet

examples

Resource list for mathematics and science

In the end…

• Easy access technology both in & out of class

• An engaging pedagogy

• More scientific and algebraic thinking

• More multivariable (real world) approach

• Can venture into some more complicated concepts (keep math camouflaged)

More info…

• Scott Sinex ssinex@pgcc.edu

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex

• Google or Bing: excelets

…and THANKS for attending!!!

More resources…

• Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center Computation and Science Teachers (CAST) Professional Development Modules (uses Excel, Vensim, and NetLogo)

http://www.psc.edu/eot/k12/2011yr.php

• Modules 2A, 5A, and 6 – use Excel