Pivoting the paradigm: the role of spreadsheets in K-12 data science

TL;DR

This paper explores how spreadsheets serve as accessible tools in K-12 education to promote data literacy, engagement, and computational skills, highlighting their pedagogical potential and challenges.

Contribution

It reviews existing frameworks, proposes learning outcomes, and discusses pedagogical strategies for integrating spreadsheets into K-12 data science education.

Findings

Spreadsheets enhance student engagement in data analysis.

They help develop data and computational skills.

Challenges include adoption barriers and need for professional development.

Abstract

Spreadsheet tools are widely accessible to and commonly used by K-12 students and teachers. They have an important role in data collection and organization. Beyond data organization, spreadsheets also make data visible and easy to interact with, facilitating student engagement in data exploration and analysis. Though not suitable for all circumstances, spreadsheets can and do help foster data and computing skills for K-12 students. This paper 1) reviews prior frameworks on K-12 data tools; 2) proposes data-driven learning outcomes that can be accomplished by incorporating spreadsheets into the curriculum; and 3) discusses how spreadsheets can help develop data acumen and computational fluency. We provide example class activities, identify challenges and barriers to adoption, suggest pedagogical approaches to ease the learning curve for instructors and students, and discuss the need for professional development to facilitate deeper use of spreadsheets for data science and STEM disciplines.