Why Excel?

Abstract

This article is not the usual Excel pedagogy fare in that it does not provide an application or example taught via a spreadsheet. Instead, it briefly reviews the history of spreadsheets in the economics classroom and explores the current environment, with an emphasis on modern learning theory. The conclusion is not surprising: spreadsheets improve learning outcomes across the economics curriculum and are increasingly being used. They offer the “just right” option that gives a middle way between too little and too much focus on software in an economics course.

Keywords:

• learning
• Microsoft Excel
• pedagogy
• spreadsheet

JEL codes:

• A20
• A22

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author thanks Frank Howland for helpful comments and suggestions that improved this article.

Notes

¹Excel Web sites that provide helpful starting points include serc.carleton.edu/econ/spreadsheets/econ.html, www.depauw.edu/learn/econexcel/, and www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/themes/excel.