Using Self-Checking Spreadsheets to Reduce Instructor Grading Load and Encourage Skill Development

• Barbara A. Reisner ^[1] ; Daniel E. Blumling ^[1] ; R. Scott Padgett ^[1] ; Christopher E. Berndsen ^[1]
  1. [1] James Madison University

     James Madison University

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 103, Nº 1, 2026
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Spreadsheets are frequently used to organize, analyze, and communicate data in the laboratory and the business world. One challenge with using spreadsheets in the teaching laboratory is that they can be time-intensive to grade, and it can be hard to detect formula errors with real data. To reduce the instructor grading load and empower students to find their own data-entry-related mistakes, we developed self-checking spreadsheets. These spreadsheets, which have been implemented in multiple assignments in a second-semester general chemistry laboratory, show students whether their calculations are correct. They use a combination of IF logic and conditional formatting to display a green checkmark (correct) or a red X (incorrect). The implementation of these spreadsheets has reduced grading time and the instructor’s role in searching for data-entry-related errors while improving the quality of student work. Students have commented that the self-check feature improves their confidence, reduces their stress, and improves their learning. This easy-to-implement and adaptable spreadsheet modification can be employed in many contexts.