ACS 2009 MatSci Excelets Web

8/13/2019 ACS 2009 MatSci Excelets Web

1/16

Visualizing and discovering materials science

concepts: Creating an engaging pedagogy

with spreadsheets

Scott A. Sinex

Department of Physical Sciences and Engineering

Prince George's Community CollegeJoshua B. Halpern

Department of Chemistry

Howard University

Presented at the 238th ACS National Meeting, Washington, DC, August 16-20, 2009


2/16

2

Why interactive spreadsheets?

Easy access for students and useful for them

to know

Easy for instructors to developsee

Developers Guide to Excelets

Creates an engaging pedagogy
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/exceletshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets


3/16

3

more why?

Addresses topics conceptually, whilecamouflaging mathematics

Students have to think:

predict - test - analyze

Allows for mathematical modeling and

studying errors More science process

Mathematics resurfaces!!!!


4/16

4

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/thermal_expansion.xls

What is the difference between an isotropic and

anisotropic material?

Obvious to us but not to all of our students

Easy to develop background sheets
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/thermal_expansion.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/thermal_expansion.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/thermal_expansion.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/thermal_expansion.xls


5/16

5http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/radii_comparison.xls

How does the size of an atom vary

on the periodic table?

Simple data bases for studentsto discover relationships
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/radii_comparison.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/radii_comparison.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/radii_comparison.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/radii_comparison.xls


6/16

Are bond lengths constant?

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/vibration_solid.xls6

Simple animations add value
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/vibration_solid.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/vibration_solid.xlshttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/Local%20Settings/Temp/vibration_solid.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/vibration_solid.xlshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/vibration_solid.xlshttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/Local%20Settings/Temp/vibration_solid.xls


7/16


8/16

8

MatSci Excelets

Interactive concept

exploration

Supports Mathematicians'

Rule of Four

Mathematical modeling

Supports national standards in engineering,

mathematics, sciences, and technology

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/matsci_excelets.htm
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/matsci_excelets.htmhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/chem_excelets.htmhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/matsci_excelets.htmhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/chem_excelets.htm


9/16

What do students like most?

For use in general chemistry (Spring 09; n = 28 students):

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htm 9

predict - test - analyze
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htmhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htm


10/16

Which do you prefer: Spring 07 Spring 09

static graphs in textbook 21% (6) 7% (2)

dynamic graphs in Excel 76% (22) 89% (25)

both 3% (1) 4% (1)

Using Excelets does not require that you be familiar with Excel.

most definitely 7% (2) 25% (7)

I think so 38% (11) 36% (10)

just barely 34% (10) 32% (9)not at all 14% (4) 7% (2)

dont know 7% (2)

Student feedback

All Student Survey results

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htm 10
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htmhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htmhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htmhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/assess.htm


11/16

Excelets offer a more visual experience with graphs instead of

using just the mathematical equations.


I think so 24% (7) 14% (4)

just barely 10% (3) 11% (3)

not at all

dont know

Excelets make it easier to grasp or learn a concept.


I think so 31% (9) 54% (15)

just barely 14% (4) 4% (1)

not at all

dont know

more feedback

11


12/16

like least?

Make it less voluminous with fewer

questions. Less stress on brain and less timespent on it.

These activities require too much brainenergy. However, I appreciate the challenge.

Stop doing this and just lecture


13/16

13

The How to resources...

Developer's Guide to Excelets: Dynamic and

Interactive Visualization with "Javaless"

Applets or Interactive Excel Spreadsheets

Tutorial, instructions, and a variety of interactive

Excel spreadsheet examples

Resource list for mathematics and science
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/exceletshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/exceletshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/exceletshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/exceletshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/exceletshttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets


14/16

This work is supported by the

Howard/Hopkins/PGCC Partnership for Research

and Education in Materials (PREM), funded by NSF

Grant No. DMR-0611595

Contacts:

Scott Sinex

[email protected]

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex

Josh [email protected]

http://www.coas.howard.edu/chem/jhalpern

http://www.coas.howard.edu/PREM/Education/Index.html

14
mailto:[email protected]://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinexmailto:[email protected]://www.coas.howard.edu/chem/jhalpernhttp://www.coas.howard.edu/PREM/Education/Index.htmlhttp://www.coas.howard.edu/PREM/Education/Index.htmlhttp://www.coas.howard.edu/chem/jhalpernmailto:[email protected]://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinexmailto:[email protected]://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/matsci_excelets.htm


15/16

15
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/matsci_excelets.htmhttp://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/matsci_excelets.htm


16/16

Where will Excelets work?

Since we are using the forms toolbar tools, theyfunction on both PC and Mac!

Most all with function in Open Office Calc(open

source) with a little cosmetic clean up! Optionbuttons have a slightly different syntax in Calc.

Some of the conditional formatting has an Excel 2003to Excel 2007 problem (switch tabs back and forth tocorrect).

Documents

ACS 2009 MatSci Excelets Web