The Energy Spreadsheet Game for Elementary School Students

1. Anthony A. Tovar, Ph. D. Eastern Oregon University Spring Into Science Conference Eastern Oregon University April 25, 2008 The Energy Spreadsheet Game for Elementary School Students

2. Introduction • An interactive spreadsheet "game" is presented where the students get to decide what type of energy sources society should be using. • The activity requires no knowledge of spreadsheets, and was created with Excel 97, so it does not require the latest spreadsheet version to operate. • How does it work? Working in teams, students rate merit functions for society's energy sources (i.e. how important is it that your energy sources be clean, efficient, cheap...). Based on their choices, the spreadsheet determines which and how much of each energy type is to be used (solar, nuclear, hydro,...). • The students then "scroll down" and get to see how three different factions (political, cost conscious, and environmental) rate their energy plan giving them remarks, a letter grade, and a suggested alternate plan. An average grade is computed. • The students can then change their original ratings, or make several home improvements which modify their grades from the factions. Of course, the home upgrades have a personal financial cost which is calculated for them. • Finally, the students are given some other energy concepts to think about. • The purpose of the game is to get students to learn about the different types of energy, think about how it impacts them, and understand that it is difficult to make everyone happy when it comes to energy unless you (and each household, actually) pay a nontrivial amount of money upgrading your home.

3. Where in the Curriculum? • 8.4 Engineering Design: Engineering design is a process of identifying needs, defining problems, identifying design criteria and constraints, developing solutions, and evaluating proposed solutions. • 8.4D.1 Define a problem that addresses a need, and using relevant science principles investigate possible solutions given specified criteria, constraints, priorities, and trade-offs. • 8.4D.2 Design, construct, and test a proposed engineering design solution and collect relevant data. Evaluate a proposed design solution in terms of design and performance criteria, constraints, priorities, and trade-offs. Identify possible design improvements. • 8.4D.3 Explain how creating a new technology requires considering societal goals, costs, priorities, and trade-offs.

4. What Can the Spreadsheet Be Used For? • The Spreadsheet Game Uses Quantitative Decision Making to Choose Home Energy Sources • Can Be Used for Decision Making • Can Be Used for Forecasting • Can Be Used to Study Energy!

5. What is “Quantitative Decision Making”?An Example – Buying a Car • 4 Car Choices - Ford Windstar, Nissan Quest, Dodge Caravan, (Old) Ford Pinto • (Pinto is Control)‏ • 3 Merit Functions – Cost, Reliability, Color • (Color is Control)‏ • Question: Pinto is Control for COST, what is Control for RELIABILITY? (Volvo)‏

6. Buying a CarContinued

7. Buying a CarConclusions • If you buy 1 car – buy the Quest • If you buy a fleet of cars, buy most Quests and old Pintos, fewer Windstars and Caravans • Add more Merit Functions • Do Research to Get Better Cell Values • Add “Political Factor” because Car Color does not have the same importance as Reliability and Cost

8. Other Decision Making Ideas • Decision Making: • Which Energy Sources to Use • Where Should You Live? • Forecasting: • How Old Will You Live To Be? • Who Will Win the NBA Championship? • How Much Money Will You Earn?

9. Go To Download Page • physics.eou.edu • Go Over Introduction • Go Over Spreadsheet