Spreadsheet Knowledge and Skills of French Secondary School Students

Abstract

The aim of our research project called DidaTab --- Didactics of Spreadsheets--- is to get a more comprehensive picture of ICT uses in French schools and to obtain a better knowledge of students' spreadsheet competencies.The exploratory study of curricula and practices shows very sparse use during secondary education. To achieve a more precise estimation of what students can do with spreadsheets, we identified detailed competencies and designed computer performance tasks to serve as a basis for tests. The analysis of the results of a few groups indicates that in most cases students' knowledge and skills are rather low. A deeper investigation of students' work shows close links between lack of confidence with spreadsheets and lack of knowledge in mathematics and informatics.