Computational Models of Spreadsheet Development: Basis for Educational Approaches

TL;DR

This paper explores computational models of spreadsheets to improve educational approaches by focusing on cell interactions and understanding underlying computational issues, aiming to reduce errors caused by inadequate training.

Contribution

It introduces a didactical model emphasizing cell interaction and investigates how various spreadsheet systems handle complex computational issues.

Findings

Different spreadsheet systems handle cell operations and recursion differently.

Understanding computational models can improve training and reduce errors.

The proposed model highlights the importance of cell interaction in spreadsheet education.

Abstract

Among the multiple causes of high error rates in spreadsheets, lack of proper training and of deep understanding of the computational model upon which spreadsheet computations rest might not be the least issue. The paper addresses this problem by presenting a didactical model focussing on cell interaction, thus exceeding the atomicity of cell computations. The approach is motivated by an investigation how different spreadsheet systems handle certain computational issues implied from moving cells, copy-paste operations, or recursion.