A Comparison of Two Methods for Completing Sudoku Puzzles

• Main Authors: Kenneth J Luterbach, Diane Rodriguez, Sandra Milling
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bond University
• Series: Spreadsheets in Education
• Online Access: http://sie.scholasticahq.com/article/4561-a-comparison-of-two-methods-for-completing-sudoku-puzzles.pdf

This study compared two methods for completing Sudoku puzzles. More specifically, students in mathematics classes in Grades 4 and 5 completed Sudoku puzzles using either paper or a specially designed electronic spreadsheet which disallowed the entry of duplicate numbers. Performance was measured by the number of entries in the puzzle and the percentage of correct entries. Results showed that the Grade 5 participants did not differ on either performance measure. On the other hand, the participants in Grade 4 using paper placed significantly more numbers, but the participants using the spreadsheet placed the numbers much more accurately. These mixed results encourage teachers to continually reflect on the utility of instructional technologies in light of learner characteristics and subject matter.