Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-237). Also available on the World Wide Web.

M.Ed. / The computer technology can be used as a complementary tool for teaching as well as a learning tool. Whilst not having the same level of computer use as the developed countries, South Africa is increasingly becoming a society of technology users; therefore, one prime goal of education would be to develop a basic knowledge of the structure and operating principle behind the use of computers in teaching and learning. This study was conducted at a selected public secondary school in Johannesburg West District, Gauteng Province. It focuses on the design and implementation of Data Handling lesson through computer-based spreadsheets for Grade 10 learners. The design type of this study is qualitative design experiment method with a small component of quantitative approach. This method is regarded as an educational intervention developed as a way of carrying out formative research to test and refine educational designs on the principles derived from earlier research. The method addressed the curricular content (Data Handling) in the classroom as well as PowerPoint, Microsoft Word and Spreadsheets software design. The design framework is derived from design principles generated from instructional system design theory and constructivist perspective. Design principles are used as a framework for the analysis of the learners’ and teacher’s experiences of a Data Handling lesson through computer-based spreadsheets. Data was collected through observation, interviews and assessment activities Findings suggested that the use of computer-based spreadsheets in teaching and learning had contributed positive effect towards the learning of Data Handling. Both teacher and her learners identified the positive experiences of fun and interest in using computer-based spreadsheets in teaching and learning.

End-user programmers are writing an unprecedented number of programs, due in large part to the significant effort put forth to bring programming power to end users. Unfortunately, this effort has not been supplemented by a comparable effort to increase the correctness of these often faulty programs. To address this need, we have been working towards bringing fault localization techniques to end users. In order to understand how end users are affected by and interact with such techniques, we conducted a think-aloud study, examining the interactive, human-centric ties between end-user debugging and a fault localization technique for the spreadsheet paradigm. Our results provide insights into the contributions such techniques can make to an interactive end-user debugging process. / Graduation date: 2004

Test case generation in software testing is a process of developing a set of test data that satisfies a particular test adequacy criterion. It is desirable to automate this process since doing it manually is not only technically difficult but also tedious and time-consuming. Although there has been considerable research in automatic test case generation directed at imperative languages, we find no research exists addressing the problem for spreadsheet languages. This problem is particularly important for spreadsheet languages, since spreadsheet languages are widely used by end users and most of them lack testing backgrounds. To address this need, in this thesis, we present an automatic test case generation methodology for spreadsheet languages. Based on an analysis of the differences between imperative languages and spreadsheet languages, we developed our methodology by properly adapting existing test case generation techniques for imperative languages. Our methodology is integrated with a previously developed methodology for testing spreadsheets, and supports incremental automatic test case generation and visual feedback. We have conducted a family of empirical studies to assess the effectiveness and the efficiency of the essential techniques underlying our methodology. The results of our studies show that the test cases generated by our methodology can exercise a large percentage of a spreadsheet under test. The results also provide insights into the tradeoffs between two test case generation techniques for spreadsheet languages. / Graduation date: 2001

Until now, attempts to extend the one-way constraint evaluation model of the spreadsheet paradigm to support complex objects, such as colored circles or user-defined types, have led to approaches featuring either a direct way of creating objects graphically or strong compatibility with the spreadsheet paradigm, but not both. This inability to conveniently go beyond numbers and strings without straying outside the spreadsheet paradigm has been a limiting factor in the applicability of spreadsheets. In this thesis we present a technique that removes this limitation, allowing complex objects to be programmed directly--and in a manner that fits seamlessly within the spreadsheet paradigm--using direct manipulation and gestures. We also present the results of an empirical study which suggests that programmers can use this technique to program complex objects faster and with fewer errors. The graphical definitions technique not only expands the applicability of spreadsheet languages, it also adds to their support for exploratory programming and to their scalability. / Graduation date: 1997

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. School of Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-121).

Thesis (Ph.D. Education)--University of Waikato, 2009. / Title from PDF cover (viewed January 14, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 345-362)

The influence of modern technology on education is becoming more noticeable and has implications for the curriculum and the teaching methods of mathematics. The microcomputer can be used effectively as a powerful teaching and learning aid within the mathematics classroom. This study considers the role of the computer as an aid to teachers and pupils in the teaching and learning of mathematics and shows it as having great potential. At present relatively few schools in South Africa are using the computer as a teaching aid in the mathematics classroom. The researcher proposes that some reasons are a shortage of suitable programs, the fact that few teachers have adequate skills in educative uses of the computer and most teachers are not skilled in programming techniques. Based on this assessment of the problem, spreadsheet programs related to some mathematics lessons, together with teaching notes and pupils' material have been developed. Besides describing the potential of the computer in mathematics, this study outlines the development of three spreadsheet packages and suitable teaching methodologies used for each package, and assesses an action research investigation undertaken by the researcher, teachers and pupils when using these spreadsheet packages in six classes. The findings of the investigation are most encouraging. The overall conclusion is that computer spreadsheet packages can assist the teacher in making the learning of mathematics more effective, more interesting and more enjoyable.

M.Ed. / The objective of this study was to explore the possibilities of applying and using the computer in the Mathematics classroom. The effectiveness of the various possibilities of this application was of particular importance, as the main motivation for the use of the computer as educational aid in the Mathematics classroom was to promote learning effectively and to transform learners from passive to active participators in the learning environment. A literary study was assigned to a broad discussion of three learning theorems. The behaviourist, information processing and constructivist learning theories were weighed up against one another. The distinguishing characteristics of each one, as well as implications thereof on the effective learning of Mathematics, were analysed. The nature of mathematical knowledge serves ultimately as criteria for effective learning. A list of criteria and guidelines, which the learning situation had to meet, in order to promote effective learning in Mathematics, was presented before the computer could be considered as an alternative teaching strategy. In the course of the study, there was regular reference to the computer as a tutor. Varius advantages and disadantages of computer aided instruction (CAI) in the Mathematics classroom were discussed thoroughly. Four types of CAI approaches were seen as alternatives to traditional teaching methods. Each of these approaches was weighed up against the suggested/recommended list of criteria which the learning situation should meet in order to promote effective learning. As an alternative to these approaches, the possibilities of application software were considered. This study focused particularly on the possibilities of the use of spreadsheets in the Mathematics classroom. Various advantages and disadvantages of the implementation of spreadsheets in the Mathematics classroom were discussed thoroughly. During an empirical study, a lesson unit, implementing spreadsheets as teaching aid, was put to the test and its value assessed. The success of this lesson unit was evaluated according to a West. In conclusion, it can be assumed that constructivist learning theory principles served as a foundation for this study which effectively promoted learning. The learners were constructively active, on the computer, and were guided in their construction of knowledge with the assistance of inductive questions and observation of the spreadsheet generated graphs. In a group situation, the learners supported one another and the teacher acted merely as facilitator. By using spreadsheets in the Mathematics classroom as an alternative to the traditional CAI material, learning could be effectively promoted as the progression of lesson aspects and phases depended on the foundation of constructivism.

This study describes the use of spreadsheets in business computer applications (BCA) courses and identifies and evaluates the use of spreadsheets for emphasizing and teaching mathematics in BCA courses. Survey instruments in the form of questionnaires were sent to all of the Virginia high schools with the BCA course to attain the BCA teachers' perceptions of spreadsheet use. Responses were received from 257 teachers, or 70% of the total assumed population. Findings reveal that 95% of the Virginia BCA teachers include spreadsheet instruction in their BCA courses. The mean number of class periods used for spreadsheet instruction is 27; however, the standard deviation is relatively high. The basic mathematics operations received extensive emphasis. The more complex operations only some emphasis. Accounting and Payroll computation receive the most amount of spreadsheet instructional time. Over half of the BCA teachers who teach spreadsheets include increasing their students' mathematics skills as one of the course objectives. At the same time, however, only 22% of the respondents evaluate their students' mathematics skills independently from spreadsheet application evaluation. Although this independent mathematics evaluation seldom occurs, 72% of the respondents believe that teaching spreadsheets enhances students' mathematics skills to some extent, and 42% believe that teaching spreadsheets enhances students' mathematics skills extensively. Considering the amount of material to be taught in spreadsheet instruction, not enough of the BCA class time is devoted to spreadsheet instruction. Much spreadsheet instruction precedes emphasis on mathematics as part of the instruction. Also, considering that students emphasize in their learning what they are evaluated on, the importance the BCA teachers placed on mathematics appears to be minimal. / Master of Science