The Energy Spreadsheet Game for Elementary School Students

1
The Energy Spreadsheet Game for Elementary
School Students

• Anthony A. Tovar, Ph. D.
• Eastern Oregon University
• Spring Into Science Conference
• Eastern Oregon University
• April 25, 2008

2
Introduction

• An interactive spreadsheet "game" is presented
  where the students get to decide what type of
  energy sources society should be using.
• The activity requires no knowledge of
  spreadsheets, and was created with Excel 97, so
  it does not require the latest spreadsheet
  version to operate.
• How does it work? Working in teams, students
  rate merit functions for society's energy sources
  (i.e. how important is it that your energy
  sources be clean, efficient, cheap...). Based on
  their choices, the spreadsheet determines which
  and how much of each energy type is to be used
  (solar, nuclear, hydro,...).
• The students then "scroll down" and get to see
  how three different factions (political, cost
  conscious, and environmental) rate their energy
  plan giving them remarks, a letter grade, and a
  suggested alternate plan. An average grade is
  computed.
• The students can then change their original
  ratings, or make several home improvements which
  modify their grades from the factions. Of
  course, the home upgrades have a personal
  financial cost which is calculated for them.
• Finally, the students are given some other energy
  concepts to think about.
• The purpose of the game is to get students to
  learn about the different types of energy, think
  about how it impacts them, and understand that it
  is difficult to make everyone happy when it comes
  to energy unless you (and each household,
  actually) pay a nontrivial amount of money
  upgrading your home.

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Where in the Curriculum?

• 8.4 Engineering Design Engineering design is a
  process of identifying needs, defining problems,
  identifying design criteria and constraints,
  developing solutions, and evaluating proposed
  solutions.
• 8.4D.1 Define a problem that addresses a need,
  and using relevant science principles investigate
  possible solutions given specified criteria,
  constraints, priorities, and trade-offs.
• 8.4D.2 Design, construct, and test a proposed
  engineering design solution and collect relevant
  data. Evaluate a proposed design solution in
  terms of design and performance criteria,
  constraints, priorities, and trade-offs. Identify
  possible design improvements.
• 8.4D.3 Explain how creating a new technology
  requires considering societal goals, costs,
  priorities, and trade-offs.

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What Can the Spreadsheet Be Used For?

• The Spreadsheet Game Uses Quantitative Decision
  Making to Choose Home Energy Sources

• Can Be Used for Decision Making
• Can Be Used for Forecasting
• Can Be Used to Study Energy!

5
What is Quantitative Decision Making?An
Example Buying a Car

• 4 Car Choices - Ford Windstar, Nissan Quest,
  Dodge Caravan, (Old) Ford Pinto
• (Pinto is Control)?
• 3 Merit Functions Cost, Reliability, Color
• (Color is Control)?
• Question Pinto is Control for COST, what is
  Control for RELIABILITY? (Volvo)?

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Buying a CarContinued
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Buying a CarConclusions

• If you buy 1 car buy the Quest
• If you buy a fleet of cars, buy most Quests and
  old Pintos, fewer Windstars and Caravans
• Add more Merit Functions
• Do Research to Get Better Cell Values
• Add Political Factor because Car Color does not
  have the same importance as Reliability and Cost

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Other Decision Making Ideas

• Decision Making
• Which Energy Sources to Use
• Where Should You Live?

• Forecasting
• How Old Will You Live To Be?
• Who Will Win the NBA Championship?
• How Much Money Will You Earn?

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Go To Download Page

• physics.eou.edu
• Go Over Introduction
• Go Over Spreadsheet