Spreadsheet+Software

= Spreadsheet Software = Paul Richards

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Description and Uses of Technology
Spreadsheets have been around for hundreds of years and are utilized as a way to organize data for professions such as accounting. Spreadsheet software or electronic spreadsheets are computerized forms of these original paper versions and are much more recent in origin. Spreadsheet software is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells often in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains an alphanumeric text, numeric value or formulas. A formula defines how the context of that cell is to be calculated from the contents of any other cell, or combination of cells, each time cells are updated. Spreadsheets are frequently used for financial information because of their ability to recalculate the entire sheet automatically after changing only a single cell. A third "pseudo" dimension to the matrix can also be applied as another layer or layers of two-dimensional data. This can be visualized as a three dimensional book made up of two dimensional pages.

The electronic spreadsheet being brought to the personal computer has been credited to Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston. (Power, 2004) These two individuals co-invented and co-created the software program VisiCalc (short for “visible calculator”), which is recognized as the first electronic software application for the personal computer. VisiCalc was manufactured in 1979 and utilized the Apple ll micro-computer as its platform. This product was in no small part responsible for Apple ll’s success. In the early 1980’s, Lotus 1-2-3 was introduced as a spreadsheet application for IBM computers, the computer hardware that was more prevalent in the business industry. Lotus 1-2-3 made using spreadsheets easier and added integrated charting, plotting, and database capabilities. Lotus 1-2-3 established itself as a spreadsheet software application and 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. The next milestone for spreadsheet advancement was Microsoft Excel. This product was originally written for the 512K Apple Macintosh in the mid-1980’s. The Excel Spreadsheet utilized a graphical user interface, making it easier for most people to use than the command line interface of PC-DOS spreadsheet products, such as Lotus 1-2-3. Starting in the mid 90’s and continuing through today, Microsoft Excel has dominated the commercial electronic spreadsheet market. (Power, 2004)

Spreadsheet programs can help students and teachers mange data in various formats and can increase productivity when dealing with various types of data. Computerized spreadsheets offer students and teachers ways to view data in various formats, like as charts and graphs. Viewing numerical data in alternative forms can provide a deeper understanding of problem solving by means of insightful and important visual discoveries. Using spreadsheets can be a powerful learning tool for primary, elementary, and middle school students. The obvious power for using spreadsheets would be in teaching mathematics. However, using spreadsheets to offer concrete ways of exploring abstract concepts could also be applied to other subject areas as well and not confined to just mathematics. (Lewis, 2003) For example, a science student could collect and analyze data and then develop a mathematical model using spreadsheets to explain the data and make predictions. (Bulion, 2001)

An advantage for using spreadsheets in the classroom is the help it could provide to visual learners. Students could use color and pattern to shade areas of a grid to visualize addition and subtraction, for example. Or, the use of borders and colors could help organize and highlight data in unique ways. The formatting of font, size, color and pattern fill of cells and borders could help focus student attention on key elements of an assignment. A spreadsheet could also be used to help convey the meaning of decimal numbers by having students arrange them in ascending order on a number line. These are just a few ways that spreadsheet technology could be utilized in the classroom. (Oldknow, Taylor, Tetlow, 2010)

Important Findings on Student Outcomes
Interestingly, the electronic spreadsheet has not changed much since being unveiled in 1979. Co-originator Dan Bricklin states, "the basic spreadsheet concept is the same: organizing rows and columns that reference each other, absolute and relative copy operations, and a grid that isn't dedicated for any particular purpose". (Bender, 2004) What has dramatically changed since the creation of computerized spreadsheets is the presentation of the output. The current spreadsheet applications provide a number of creative and visually appealing ways to represent captured numerical data for the user.

Using spreadsheets can promote higher order thinking skills. Assignments could be structured to use formulas, which are then generalized, so that students could see how the outcomes are changed when one of the variables in the formulas are altered. Using the spreadsheet as a learning tool promotes the development of problem solving abilities by supporting the “what if” type questions. Students can explore how and why formulas are used and how changing the variable affects the outcome of a given problem. Students could also use spreadsheet formulas to generate a rule, make conversions, calculate budget totals, or calculate ratios. (Lewis, 2003) For example, a class lesson could involve creating a balance and spending spreadsheet. Students may begin with a balance of $20,000 in a trust fund. Students chart $2,000 annual deposits and withdraw 25 percent of the balance each year. For this problem, students are able to analyze a real-world example using long-term forecasting with the click of a button. (Bulion, 2001) Teachers all over the country use spreadsheet instruction to excite students about the power of math in everyday life. Kelly McMahon of St. Joseph School in Libertyville, Illinois uses Microsoft Excel regularly in her math class. When beginning Algebra instruction with her students, McMahon finds that Excel is a great way to introduce the idea of variables and setting up equations. McMahon states, "When you set up an Excel spreadsheet, you are not really working with numbers but rather working with variables by referencing cells". (Bulion, 2001)

Emerging Trends and Open Issues
Spreadsheet applications are without a doubt a very powerful tool that dramatically changed the landscape of business operation. Therefore, students need to be exposed to spreadsheet uses and understanding as part of our educational system. However, spreadsheet creation does have some drawbacks. When designing a spreadsheet, students need to use an “end to beginning” approach in thinking. Adding or removing data in a spreadsheet can be a difficult process and possibly result in the need to start over. Creating a spreadsheet forces an individual to decide on the dimensionality of output during the beginning steps of construction, even though it is often most natural to make these kinds of choices after the spreadsheet model has matured. Students love to work on computers and are motivate to complete tasks using this risk free environment, where errors can be easily corrected or edited. (Lewis, 2003) However, students also love to “play” on computers as well. Students will be drawn to things like changing color, font size, borders or adding Clip Art. As an instructor, one needs to be aware that spreadsheet instruction should foster student knowledge and not merely be an exercise to create an eye pleasing presentation.

Even though spreadsheets have become an essential tool in the last 20 years, there are still some limitations. In particular, spreadsheets are designed to handle mathematical computations and are not designed to deal with logical formulas. Computer Scientists at Stanford University have developed a prototype of a logical spreadsheet using logic instead of math to help with data management in an innovative way. The U.S. Army would like to use this technology to organize troop deployment and training. Stanford University is also using this new technology to schedule classed, events, and room reservations. The next step will be to integrate this new technology on the Web to replace the forms that are routinely filled by websheets. (Piquepaile, 2007)