Standard1

Standard 1 Teachers know the subjects they are teaching. The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the disciplines she or he teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for pupils

Evidence1: Microsoft Excel M&M Project

Rationale 1: This Microsoft Excel lesson plan has been designed to introduce sixth grade computer students to entering formulas to calculate totals using Excel. Previously the students have learned the basic parts of Excel, how to enter information, and how to create a simple chart. The lesson starts out with the students forming a hypothesis on the anatomy of an M&M bag and entering the information into Excel as a review exercise. After the students have completed the review, the lesson begins by showing them how to enter a formula to calculate the bag totals. Students then enter the formula on their hypothesis sheets and create a simple chart from the information. Next, the students apply what they have learned to calculate the anatomy of a bag of M&M’s and enter the information as previously done in the hypothesis. After repeating the steps, the students have time to compare the charts and reflect on the differences. Microsoft Excel was introduced to the middle school computer students for the first time next year and this lesson will be facilitated with them for the first time next year. As a result of this lesson I am expecting the students to have mastered entering information into Microsoft Excel, be comfortable with forming a simple chart, and have an understanding of entering formulas into Microsoft Excel. After the students have been introduced to entering formulas they will practice entering formulas as they work collaboratively with other students to compare results and average the results. Once the students have practiced entering information, formulas, and created charts for three different scenarios’ they will compare results and analyze the information.

KSD: 1. K.1 The teacher understands the major concepts, assumptions, debates, processes of inquiry, and ways of knowing that are central to the discipline(s) s/he teaches.

The Microsoft Excel lesson is based on a knowledge and understanding of how to use Excel and how to show other students how to use Excel. As the teacher I need to be able to demonstrate how to use Excel and explain how each step works. By creating examples and leading the students through the lesson I am able to demonstrate my knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

1. S.4 The teacher engages students in generating knowledge and testing hypotheses according to the methods of inquiry and standards of evidence used in the discipline.

The students begin the lesson by forming a hypothesis about the bag of M&M’s and entering the information into Excel. The students then calculate the actual anatomy of a bag of M&M’s and repeat the previous steps as the hypothesis. After both spreadsheets have been completed the students compare results and analyze the data.

1. D.4 The teacher is committed to continuous learning and engages in professional discourse about subject matter knowledge and children’s learning of the discipline

As a business teacher I network with other business educators through a business list serve and a business wiki in which we share current lesson plans and ideas. Through networking I am able to see that my students are learning the same skills at the same levels as other students. I am also able to create and share creative lesson ideas to use in the classroom for these particular skills.

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