Week 2 Excel in the Classroom

What I have learned for this week is how useful a tool excel can be for any subject. A lot of the reading that dealt with Microsoft Excel and spreadsheets dealt mostly with math and all the forms of it. I read the article Using Spreadsheets in Mathematics Education. Another thing I have learned about spreadsheets and other programs that are similar is the many options that are available. I never knew Google had a spreadsheet program you could use. The link below has a lot of valuable information from this website: http://www.trumbull.k12.oh.us/teachers/resources/usingss.htm

 Spreadsheets often seem to be more of a fit for Mathematics and Science than any other subject. They are great for calculations, information storage, and performing other actions that are suitable for organizing and calculating information. Spreadsheets have a place in education and how you use them is how they can fit what you are teaching in your class.

 The way that I can implement Spread Sheets for Middle School Social Studies is to use the format for organizational purposes. I can do things such as make a table of the Amendments of the Constitution, Geographic labels and names, or Names of Battles in early world civilization and match them up with the time and period and site/city. The biggest attribute that any Database/spreadsheet can offer me as a Middle School Social Studies Teacher is the organizational aspect, the ability to make information available on a spreadsheet for the sole purpose of providing organization and an easy to read format for students to follow.

Spreadsheets are also excellent for helping students make their own spreadsheets. Students can easily make their own spreadsheets for studying purposes. If students are provided with the necessary instructions, Excel or any other Database can be easy to use.   

I did though know Microsoft Works has the same programs available. I typically find Microsoft Works to be more helpful than anything in their spread sheets. Most people do not realize that every computer that has Microsoft Windows comes with Microsoft Works. My biggest issue is that with Microsoft Works, it has spread sheets that are used for a variety of task. They have a format for calendars, schedules; the conventional format in which can be used for math problems. It has all the same command buttons as Microsoft Office Excel, has all the capability that Office has. The biggest issue is not which one is more capable, but rather which one is more compatible.