Using Spreadsheets with Mathematically Gifted Students

Finding good ways to support the further development of mathematically gifted students is a challenge for all mathematics educators. Simply moving able students on more rapidly to the next level of traditional mathematical instruction seems to be a limited approach, while providing supplementary enrichment material or specialized mathematical software requires us to ensure that doing so is truly worthwhile for the students. This paper presents an approach that the author has used with students of diverse capabilities in both technologically advanced and developing nations investigating mathematical ideas using a spreadsheet.