Using spreadsheet calculations to demonstrate concepts of programming
by Gabriela Lovaszova, Jozef Hvorecky
International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning (IJCEELL), Vol. 15, No. 3/4/5/6, 2005

Abstract: 'Experiment', 'discovery' and 'self-teaching' are basic bricks of active learning. Despite the fact that learners are investigating notions and relationships known long before, their own discovery of something new and unknown for them results in their fascination with an irreplaceable educational value. Spreadsheets are one of the environments that can successfully be used for building stages in similar experimentation. Today, computer literacy courses (i.e. file management, word processing and spreadsheet calculations) frequently precede programming courses. They give us an opportunity to introduce programming concepts using the students' computer-related erudition – by solving problems that they can solve by other means. Spreadsheets have a special value in this sense. Their calculations can be seen as 'program outputs of hidden programs'. By drawing the curtain away from the hidden processes, one can illustrate concepts and properties that are typical for all programs. Activities described in our paper show how spreadsheet-based calculations can lead students to a deeper comprehension of algorithms, their design, development and execution.

Online publication date: Sat, 03-Sep-2005

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