blog enrty #3

The main purpose behind the M&M excel activity was to show how excel can be helpful in computing fast results of calculations (such as the average). Excel also helped significantly with the organization of the calculated information. The technology itself was not the means of retrieving the knowledge. The students themselves had to determine which calculation to use in order to complete the excel chart. Then, with the help of the excel tools, the student was able to make numerous calculations in a short amount of time. In addition, excel provided a new way of organizing data with all sorts of graphing techniques. Therefore, the excel activity was an excellent example of using technology as a cognitive tool rather than technology as a conveyor of knowledge. Overal, the M&M activity was aimed at engaging the learners in creation of knowledge. Thus going righ in line with Jonassen's definition of technolgy as a cognitive tool. He states that the cognitive tool, in this case, the excel program, should "reflect thier [the students] comprehension and conception of the information rather than focus on the presentation of objective knowledge. They are learner controlled, not teacher or technology driven." This activity was entirely learner contolled because the student was responsible for each step on his or her own. This activity also assisted in developing reflective thought by use of the computer. Students were able to expand their mathematical knowledge and apply it to an M&M activity.
One suggestio for improving this activity would be to let the students chose their own type of data they would like to collect. Then the activity could relate to a subject in which they are more interested. This would be helpful because it would lead to a more student/ learner focused activity.