Creative Ways to Support Math/Science/Language Arts Instruction Using Excel

TCEA February 5, 2003

Pamela Ossorio email: possorio@houstonisd.org

www.possorio.com/presentations/tcea2003

Interactive file examples

Student Modifications list– LEP and SpecEd

Who Is It? Ice Breaker (used in Girl’s Club)

 

 

Creating an interactive file for multiplication using the formulas above

1.     Open New Excel file
2.     Type the numbers into cells B2, D2
3.     Type character for multiplication ( * ) into cell C2
4.     Draw a box around F2, put a space “ “ into cell F2
5.     Type formula  +I2   into cell G2
6.     Type the If statement for multiplication (see below) into cell I2

7.     Hide column I

Click on Format
Column
Hide
8.     Protect your file so that students cannot look at the formula or answers
a.              Highlight the cells where students should not type or modify
Click on Format
Cells
Protection (Tab)
√ Locked

b.     Highlight the cells where students will type their answer

Click on Format
Cells
Protection (Tab)
Uncheck √ Locked

c. Click on Tools

Protection
Protect sheet or Protect workbook
√ Select locked cells √ Select unlocked cells

 

9.     Note: Password is optional
10. Save file as usual

 

*      Math operations using Excel Formulas

*       Addition

=IF (F2= (B2+D2), “Good Job!”, IF (F2= “ ”, “Enter Answer”, “Sorry, try again” ))

*       Subtraction

=IF(F2=(B2-D2), “Good Job!”, IF (F2= “  ”, “Enter Answer”, “Sorry, try again” ))

*       Multiplication

=IF(F2=(B2*D2), “Good Job!”, IF (F2= “  ”, “Enter Answer”, “Sorry, try again” ))
      Example:      

*       Division

=IF(F2=(B2/D2), “Good Job!”, IF (F2= “  ”, “Enter Answer”, “Sorry, try again” ))

 

Explanation of IF statement

IF F2(answer) = B2(value) + D2(value)  write Good Job!
Else IF F2= “ ” (press space bar in cell F2)  write Enter Answer
Else write Sorry, try again
*       If statements are based on comparing values. 
*       The values can be numeric or text
*       Any message can be place inside the “text message
*       The key is to make sure you select the correct cell for your formula

Formulas are a way to use a cell reference instead of a fixed number