Authors
Konstantinos Lavidas, Vasilis Komis, & Iro Voulgari
Abstract
In this study we examine the familiarization of students with the basic functions for formula insertion in a general purpose spreadsheet software.
Two teaching interventions and two respective follow-up tests were conducted to 124 students of Educational Sciences, with little prior experience in the use of spreadsheets.
Through the data collected (test results, registration forms for the students to record any difficulties they had during the tests, video captures of the interactions of the students with the software during the tests) the errors the students made and also any attempts to correct these errors were identified.
Our findings indicated that the software error messages and the unexpected results were the main events that prompted the students to recognize their errors.
Sample
It seems that the majority of the students are familiar with a subset of the basic spreadsheet operations which involve formula insertion in spreadsheet cells.
Most problems were observed in the use of the IF built-in function, since one out of four students did not use this function successfully.
Regarding observed error types, our study shows that students tend to correct mechanical errors, while only half of the conceptual errors are finally corrected.
Publication
2017, SCIREA Journal of Education, February, volume 2, issue 1, pages 1-17
