Introduction to Spreadsheets

Software

Icons key:

For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation Teachers notes included in the Notes Page

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Learning objectives
Understand the advantages of using spreadsheets. Understand the basic formatting functions that can be used with spreadsheets. Know how to use basic functions and the advantages of displaying data in charts.

Icons key:

For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation Teachers notes included in the Notes Page

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Why use spreadsheets?

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What does the software do?

Spreadsheets can:

do all sorts of calculations, both simple and complex, using formulae recalculate things quickly when the numbers change use functions to help you set up complex formulae act as simple databases so that you can sort or search your data plot charts and graphs change the appearance of fonts, cell backgrounds and borders control how many decimal places are shown.

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Basic features

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Tracking marks on paper

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Tracking marks on computer

The teacher makes a table of names and assignments.

What formatting changes could you make to this table so that the information is better presented? Labels Bold font Merged cells
Shaded backgrounds Centred text Cell Borders
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Table border
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Tracking marks
The teacher enters the marks, leaving a blank cell if the student was absent, but putting a 0 if the student did not hand in their work.

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Using and replicating formulae

The teacher can use a formula to work out the average mark for each student

and then replicate it for the other students.

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Using a function
But theres a problem can you see what it is?

Bethany was absent for one assignment, so her results need to be divided by 4 not 5. The Average function does this automatically.

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What else can it do?

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What else can it do?

Functions can help the user to: look up data from lists do specialized calculations in subjects like finance, statistics and trigonometry experiment with questions, such as What if the interest rate went up by 1%? use logic such as IF, AND and OR change the format of a cell depending on what is in it (conditional formatting) use pivot tables to summarize data reduce the number of input errors by setting rules (validation).

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Nail that function

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Revise those functions

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Limitations of tables
If we look at the data in a table, its quite hard to understand exactly what is happening.

The average tells us who is generally getting the best marks, but not who is getting better or worse.

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Using charts
Charts give us a picture of our data, and that can help us to see patterns.

This chart shows us that Michael is quite consistent (he usually gets about the same mark), and Danny was improving until his last test.

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Choosing the right chart

It is very important to choose the right type of chart if we want to see the patterns in the data clearly.

The second chart is plotted from the same data, but doesnt tell us very much about what is happening.

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Label the chart

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Choosing the right chart

We dont always have to show all the information. If we choose only what we want to show, the patterns we see should become clearer.

This

is clearer than this

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Who would use it?

Spreadsheets are used by: engineers to test whether structures are strong enough business managers to model their finances

scientists to simulate what might happen in different circumstances

teachers to calculate marks and grades.

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Summary
Spreadsheet software is mostly used for simple and complex calculations using formulae. Spreadsheets are also very useful for plotting charts. They can be used to sort and search data. Functions make it easier to set up complicated calculations. Spreadsheet simulations can model situations so that you can ask What if questions.

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