Spreadsheets and databases in the classroom can be very helpful tools for both teacher productivity and student learning. As I have learned in this week's lesson, there are many ways to use these valuable technological tools.
For example, spreadsheets are a wonderful venue for mathematics lessons. Graphing and probability are just two mathematics concepts that can be featured using spreadsheets. Science presents many opportunities to use spreadsheets as well. One can chart lab time, experiment results and statistics using spreadsheet software. Spreadsheets are also useful for tracking student achievement and for setting goals.
Databases can also be very valuable in the classroom. For student use, one can record events in history, works of art, names and kinds of books which students have read in a database format. For teacher productivity, databases may serve as storage for attendance, grades, and student information.
The most surprising aspect of using databases and spreadsheets for me was to what extent that they can be used. Before, I had only thought of spreadsheet programs for accounting purposes or for office purposes. I only thought of databases in the context of the medical field. The most surprising use of either of the two was with Excel and mathematics. I had not realized to what extent that Excel could be used to teach mathematics.
In the past, I have not used a database at all. I had only used Excel for goals calculating concerning state testing. What a narrow view I had.
For more information, search for spreadsheet and database use in the classroom. Here is a URL which I feel could be helpful with using a database in the science classroom: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/examples_data.htm
Good luck with your quest for using spreadsheets and databases in your classroom!
No comments:
Post a Comment