1. A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Computer Simulations Chakita Jackson, Hazelwood West High School

2. Agenda  Why Computer Simulations? HSD Tech Fair 2014

3.  Microsoft Excelets  Computer Programming Bootstrap HSD Technology Fair 2014

4. Quick Survey HSD Technology Fair 2014

5. What is an Excelet? An Excelet is an interactive Excel spreadsheet or simulation that allows users to engage in critical problem solving. HSD Technology Fair 2014

6. Learning Targets: To introduce you to the Forms Toolbar and a number of the tools available; To create a “just add data” interactive Excel spreadsheet. HSD Technology Fair 2014

7. 1. Getting the Forms Toolbar HSD Technology Fair 2014

8.  View  Toolbars  Forms

9. 2. Constructing a simple “Just Add Data” spreadsheet. HSD Technology Fair 2014

10. In a blank Excel worksheet, set up two columns, one with M&M colors, and one with a predicted number of each M&M color. Label the columns, number and color.

11. HSD Technology Fair 2014 Next, click on the chart wizard, select The default clustered column.

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13. Now let’s add a total to the number column, so we can make the comparison to the official color percentages from: https://www.exeter.edu/docume nts/mandm.pdf https://www.exeter.edu/docume nts/mandm.pdf HSD Technology Fair 2014

14. Click on cell B9 and select autosum. You will hit the enter key to get the total number of M&Ms in your bag.

15. HSD Technology Fair 2014 Here is a screenshot of the official values and setup for the calculation using the percentage from the M&M website.

16. The number of each color in theory is calculated by taking the actual total number of M&M’s in your bag ($B$9) and then multiplying by the official percent of that color (D3) divided by 100 to get a fraction. The total is from the SUM calculation. HSD Technology Fair 2014

17. Add a new column. Place the cursor in the lower left hand box. This is the official comparison of your data to the M&M percentages.

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20. Now if you click on the check box it will return “TRUE” when checked and “FALSE” when unchecked in cell F16. Now go to cell C3 and change the formula by adding the yellow highlighted part shown below: =IF($F$16=TRUE,$B$9*D3/100,0) Drag this formula down the column to C8. HSD Technology Fair 2014

21. Use this spreadsheet to test the following hypotheses: How do different bags of the same size of M&M Milk Chocolate candies compare? HSD Technology Fair 2014

22. Questions? HSD Technology Fair 2014

23. BootStrap Computer Programming for Students HSD Technology Fair 2014

24. BootStrap Bootstrap teaches program design skills, allowing students to transfer skills to other programming languages. HSD Technology Fair 2014

25. Why Programming? Paradigm shift from “getting answers” to “describing functions.” HSD Technology Fair 2014

26. Why Programming? A defined curriculum that aligns with the Common Core Standards for Math and ISTE Standards for Technology. HSD Technology Fair 2014

27. How? Students use Order of operations, Pythagoream Theorem, function composition and definition to create and design a series of relevant programming problems. HSD Technology Fair 2014

28. Who? Created by Emmamuel Schanzer of Cornell University. Supported by: NSF, Apple, Google, Cisco etc. HSD Technology Fair 2014

29. Bootstrap Level 1: Apply mathematical concepts and rigorous programming principles to create a simple video game. HSD Technology Fair 2014

30. Bootstrap Level 2 Build on concepts taught in Bootstrap 1 HSD Technology Fair 2014

31. BootStrap HSD Technology Fair 2014

32. This book is an introduction to designing programming.

33. HSD Technology Fair 2014 The authors make a distinction between designing a program vs. designing functions.

34. HSD Technology Fair 2014 This book by Peter Bloch is an introduction to computer programming.

35. HSD Technology Fair 2014 Picturing Programs focus on pictures and animation as students explore recursion, lists, trees, and algorithms using the same language.

36. HSD Technology Fair 2014 This is a more advanced book, however, the principles are relevant for middle and high school students.

37. Tablet Tool Kit Unique Mobile Device Animations Software WeScheme is a cloud-based program. If you have a gmail account, you can use WeScheme.

38. Tablet Tool Kit Unique Mobile Device Animations Software If you don’t want to use a gmail account, you can use DrRacket instead.

39. Thank You! Contact: Chakita Jackson Hazelwood West High School cjackson@hazelwoodschools.orgcjackson@hazelwoodschools.org.