Software Evaluation- Cruncher 2.0

Strengths

•  Cruncher 2.0 is a program that teaches students how to create spreadsheets and graphs.
•  It includes a step-by-step tutorial that is animated.
•  There are 20 class projects and lesson plans that correspond with the program
•  It has stickers that include sound, animation, and text.
•  Students can import other graphics and information from the web.
•  There is an on-screen notebook for students to type notes, reports, and instructions.
•  A helpful Show feature breaks down each step of the problem solving process to show how the computer calculates each formula.

Weaknesses

•  There are very few weaknesses with this program.  The only problem is there are almost too many options.  This can cause confusion for students using the program.
•  Composing a formula for the spreadsheet may be difficult for some students.

I want my portrait student to gain knowledge about spreadsheets and graphs from this software.  She can learn a great deal about collecting data through surveying her classmates.  She needs some background instruction on tables, charts, and graphs before she can complete an assignment using the software.  The software will provide the extra practice needed to fully understand how to collect and organize data.
 
 
 

 
Lesson Plan

• This lesson should take place over three days.

Day 1
Have students pick a topic they would like to survey their classmates on.  They should pick three to four choices for the students to pick.  For example, a student can choose to survey the class on their favorite animals and include the choices of cats, dogs, fish, snakes, or horses.   Have students survey a minimum of ten classmates and record their finding on a table.

Day 2
Once students have completed their survey and data chart they are ready to use Cruncher 2.0.  Have the students first complete the tutorial program so they gain an understanding of how the program is used.  Students should complete all the tutorials to fully understand how to use the program.  This should take approximately thirty minutes to an hour.

Day 3
Once the tutorial is successfully created the students can record the results of their survey on a spreadsheet.   Cruncher 2.0 gives step by step instructions on how to fill in the spreadsheet.  The students must make sure to label their cells. After the spreadsheet is completed, the student should just simply decide what kind of graph they want the data displayed on.   They can choose between bar, line, scatter, and pie graphs.

When creating the graph, make sure the students put a title, label the X and Y-axis, and check whether the data is arranged in rows or columns.  The program then puts the graph together using the information it is given.  Students can then add stickers and animation using the sticker toolbar.  Sound can also be incorporated.  Once the spreadsheet and graph are complete they can be saved and printed.
 
 

Reflection

     The best part of my teaching experience was seeing how much my student enjoyed this assignment.  It was fun for her to survey her classmates and then produce a graph with her results.  She thought that it was neat how the program could create a graph with the information she gave it.  It was also fun to add decorations and sounds to the final product.
 I learned that my portrait student doesn't really like technology because she finds it intimidating. Once she completed the tutorial and began working with the program, she felt more comfortable with it.  She really liked the way her graph turned out and was proud to display it in the classroom.
     My student didn't really teach me anything new about the program because I had already attended a workshop after school with my teacher to learn about the program.  I was able to practice it and felt comfortable using it before I worked with my student.  I basically instructed her and led her through the program.
     I completed this assignment with the entire class.  The only thing I would change about this session is to have the class complete it in a computer lab.  The classroom only has two computers so it was time consuming to work with the students two at a time.  If all of the students were able to work at the same time on their own computers, the assignment would not be so lengthy.  I could have simply let them complete the tutorial and monitored their work.
     I would definitely use this program in the classroom.  It is extremely helpful in teaching students how to complete spreadsheets and then make a graph.  It focuses on the importance of labeling the axis and putting a title to the graph.  The only problem I see with this program is that it creates the graph for the user.  The students need to know how to create graphs on their own.  As long as they see how the graph used the information in the spreadsheet and where the specific information was placed on the graph they will have an understanding of this concept.  This program is very useful in teaching students how to collect and organize data.
     I would use this software in my classroom exactly the same way I used it in Mrs. Butts' classroom.  It is a wonderful project to include in a math unit on collecting and organizing data.  I would first teach my students how to survey each other. Then I would teach them about spreadsheets and graphs.  They would see how helpful these tools can be for organizing data.  They would then learn the concepts of a graph and how it is created.  Once the students had an understanding of this information, they would be ready to use the software to create their own spreadsheet and graph.