Spreadsheets
What is Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that is similar to a paper worksheet. Spreadsheets contain rows and columns and are used to record and store numeric and alpha numeric data. Spreadsheets can be used in accounting, budgeting, graphs, birthday lists, and charts and so on. Rows and columns that intersect in a spreadsheet are called a cell. A row is identified by a number and a column by a letter. Column is the vertical space that goes up and down in the window. A row is the horizontal space that goes across in the window. There are three types of data that can be entered in a spreadsheet, labels (text with no numerical value), constants (just a number-constant value) and formulas (a math equation used to calculate). The cell consists of both a number and a letter which identified a particular location with in the spreadsheet. The length of a spreadsheet can be indefinite. Cells can extend from A-Z and then begin with AA-AZ and so on. When using a spreadsheet the cell you are currently working on is called the active cell.
Basics tips for using a spreadsheet:
Autosum- put mouse on cell you want to put answer in, then go to the E shaped icon and click auto sum.
Format cells- located in the menu toolbars, follow the menu and can changed font, alignment and color within the cell.
Formulas- type in = sign and the equation.
Create graphs- click on the chart icon and choose the type of graph you want to use.
Making corrections- go to formula bar and click on the space you want to correct.
Save work- go to the file, save as, and name the document.
Sort- click on icon A-Z or Z-A to arrange columns in the order in which you choose. To sort two columns next to each other, highlight both columns or only one column will be organized. Gridlines- to show cell lines when printing go to page setup- sheet and click on gridlines.
These are just a few basic tips when using spreadsheets.
'History
There has been a dispute over who created the first electronic spreadsheet. It is said that Professor Robert Mattessich was the first person to create a computerized spreadsheet in 1961. In 1978 newspapers and magazines published Dan Bricklin, a Harvard student as the father of the electronic spreadsheet. After coming up with the idea of an inactive visible calculator, Bricklin and Bob Frankston, co-invented the VisiCalc software program for personal computers. The VisiCalc became a huge success and influenced many business people to purchase their own personal computers or an H-P 85 or 87 calculators from Hewlett Packard. The product VisiCalc sold more than a million copies. Mitch Kapor developed Lotus software around 1983. The Lotus 1-2-3 software made spreadsheet usage easier and it integrated charting, plotting, and database capabilities. Lotus 1-2-3 established spreadsheet software as a major data presentation package as well as a complex calculation tool. Lotus was also the first spreadsheet vendor to introduce naming cells, cell ranges and spreadsheet macros. Kapor was the VisiCalc product manager at Personal Software for about six months in 1980; he also designed and programmed Visiplot/Visitrend which he sold to Personal Software (VisiCorp)for $1 million. Part of that money along with funds from venture capitalist Ben Rosen were used to start Lotus Development Corporation in 1982. Kapor cofounded Lotus Development Corporation with Jonathan Sachs. Before he cofounded Lotus, Kapor disclosed and offered Personal Software (VisiCorp) his initial Lotus program. Supposedly VisiCorp executives declined the offer because Lotus 1-2-3's functionality was "too limited". Lotus 1-2-3 is considered to be one of the best selling software programs on the market today. The Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software was introduced around 1984-1985 by Bill Gates. It was originally written for Apple Macintosh. Excel was the first spreadsheet with the capabilities to use graphical interface and pull down menu with the point and click of a mouse. The product was easier to use by many people than the PC DOS product. Excel 2.0 was launched for MS-DOS version 3.0 in late October of 1987. Excel was one of the first application software introduce by Microsoft Corporation in 1987. Windows version 3.0 gained acceptance during 1989 in which Excel became the flagship product. Excel was the only Microsoft spreadsheet for 3 years and began receiving competition from other spreadsheet products in the summer of 1992. By the year 1995, Excel 7.0 was launched for Windows 95/NT.
'''Integrating Spreadsheet Into The Classroom
Spreadsheets offer a technology readily available among classroom technologies with the potential for supporting students in meeting higher-level content objectives in both the mathematics and science curricula. In particular, student development of dynamic spreadsheets supports them in learning important science/mathematics by exploring problems beyond their initial solution. Unfortunately, spreadsheet use is limited or even nonexistent in most science/mathematics classrooms primarily because teachers have not been prepared to integrate them as teaching and learning tools. Teachers need actual experiences in developing their own knowledge and skills of spreadsheets as tools for exploring and learning science/mathematics; they need support in identifying problems and scaffolding activities that can be integrated in their specific curricula; they need guidance and training in assessing technology-based learning among their students; and, they need support in creating spreadsheet experiences that expand avenues for their students to enhance their learning of science and mathematics.
Of all the tools discussed on this site, spreadsheets probably have the most uses in the mathematics classroom. The most common use of this tool is to organize data and create charts and graphs, but the list of other uses is quite long. However, it is up to the user to discover what these uses are. This makes the spreadsheet the ultimate tool for discovery, practice, and an excellent form of assessment.
Learning the basics of spreadsheets is a simple task. This means that their use is appropriate for many grade levels. At the most basic level, the user simply enters data into cells. That data can then be used to create a chart or graph, of which there are many choices. But the real power of spreadsheets comes from using functions. After data is entered into cells, students can then begin to write functions that will calculate the sum, mean, product, or anything else you can think up for a column or row of numbers. Imagine the possibilities!!
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-spreadsheet.htm Dianne Johnson
http://www.dssresources.com/history/sshistory.html Dianne Johnson
http://www.library.thinkquest.org/J0110054/ Dianne Johnson
here are a few helpful links on spreadsheets.
http:// www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/spreadsheet
http://www.dssresources.com/history/sshistory.html
http://www.library.thinkquest.org/J011054/
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow4/may99/spreadsheet.html posted by Veronica Lemock
Some great sites I found in doing research were:
[http://www.tcet.unt.edu/START/instruct/lp_tech.htm]
[http://www.sabinek12.la.us/class/excel_resources.htm]
[http://www.internet4classrooms.com/integ_tech_lessons.htm]
This one is especially good! [http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/vrschool/instructstratcollab.htm] posted by Tina Heindel