Spreadsheet Assignment.

Here are three spreadsheet-based activities I reviewed:

1.  Fast Food Fun- http://www.wmburgweb.com/Resources/Lesson/index.htm

This website gives the instructions for a lesson assignment that would have a variety of valuable teaching tools and knowledge for the students.  It outlines an assignment in which the students research the nutritional data of a particular meal from a fast food restaurant and create an Excel spreadsheet featuring statistics based on the data.  The students would then look at the information collected and test it against healthy eating guidelines.  After testing their information against the guidelines, they would then analyze their own eating habits and come up with some possible solutions to perhaps change their food consumption.

I think that this activity would be very interesting in a Social Studies class, particularly in the area of sustainable food development and media literacy.  Most students have likely not investigated the nutritional facts of their favourite fast food restaurants before, so it may be an eye-opening experience for them to realize how unhealthy some of these foods can be.  You could tie this discovery in with discussing ways to eat more healthy- and one way can be looking into organic, local foods. That topic can also spread to a variety of other discussions, such as food production and the environmental impacts that accompany it.  This assignment would also be beneficial in terms of ICT skills, as the student would be working with Excel and developing their spreadsheet skills.

I am actually creating a unit plan at the moment on GMFs (Genetically-Modified Foods), so I think this could be another creative activity to add into the lesson; it would give the students a chance to examine their own eating habits and apply the knowledge given about food processing/production to their own lives.

2. Excel Workbook Files- http://www.internet4classrooms.com/technology_tutorials/excel_workbook_files_excel_topics_technology_tutorials.htm

 This website has a multitude of Excel lesson ideas to use in the classroom, as well as some practical tools for teachers- such as spreadsheets to use as sign-ins for attendance.  One tool I particularly enjoyed was a Review Bingo Template.  Following this template, teachers would enter short answers in 30 blocks and then print 32 bingo cards (4 to a sheet on 8 sheets).  The teacher would then distribute the bingo cards to the class and begin the review. 

This would be a fantastic review technique for any subject, because the teacher would simply enter the information into the template and create the review. It would also be a fun way to go over the study material as opposed to the traditional format of simply handing out study sheets and asking students if they have any questions.  Another way you could use the Bingo template would be to get the students to create the Bingo sheets; this would get the students to think about what they believe is the most important information they need to know.  You could also get the students to create a description/definition to go along with the words they choose for the Bingo sheets so they demonstrate a clear understanding of the concepts.

3. Spreadsheet Crossword Puzzles- http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/pages/sites/edwebsites/computerskills/quizzes/spreadsheetcc.htm

This template would be a very fun activity to do in many subject areas, but I think it could be applied very effectively to an English class for essentially any topic within the curriculum. The teacher could get the students to create their own crossword, the questions for it, and the crossword itself using Excel.  For example: If the students were working on the Short Story Unit, one of their assignments could be to create a crossword using the definitions/terms they need to know.  After creating them, the students could exchange with their classmates, or even use the crosswords as a study tool.  The crossword could serve as both a chance for the students to practice their spreadsheet skills, as well as review and test their subject knowledge.

Some Food for Thought on a Saturday Night...

I wanted to post an idea my Social Studies prof discussed on Friday in class, mostly because I found it so incredibly interesting!

Before we launched into presentations, he gave a quick talk about the hypocrisy of using candy and grades to motivate students in the classroom.  He asked us to consider this: is that kind of material motivation really needed? Here is the one point he said that really stuck in my head:

“The idea that we have to lure people to learn suggests that learning isn’t a natural state.”

   He suggested that rather than motivation in material form, we should be recognizing and celebrating the good in all of our students- and that recognition will have an even greater effect on their desire and self-motivation to do well.  This idea has really intrigued me because I can certainly see his point of view: By recognizing all student achievement- even if it is something as simple as that student having a postive attitude in class- we can continue to make that student want to be in the classroom and want to keep learning.

   On the other hand, isn’t a huge part of development (at least in an educational aspect) based on positive/negative reinforcement that in turn teaches effective behavior? (Wow, I sound like our psychology textbook...)  And if we don’t have material means (such as grades) to motivate, how do we hold onto certain students who just dont have any self-motivation or desire to learn (at least in high school)?

Those are just a couple points for each side, I know there are more...so feel free to add your thoughts on the subject!