Using Excel to Understand Story Problems

Abstract

Math classes can boring and distant to most students. The solution seems to be to pull away from traditional teaching practices and move towards learning styles. Every student does not learn in the same exact way. Enabling learners to approach something as complex as a mathematical word problem through graphing helps the learner process the data calculated, and integrating technology to ensure accuracy and a clearer picture of the data should increase student success. One of the major findings in this study was that students had never thought of using Excel to do math problems, yet many know its ability to store data and fewer realize that scatter plots can be created from the program. Teachers might consider tapping into this underused resource to deepen their learners’ understanding of using algebra in everyday life using Excel.