Spanish-American Institute

950 Using Excel for Windows 80 Classes

Prerequisite(s): None

Textbooks: Jennifer Fulton, Learning Microsoft Excel 2000, DDC Publishing, 2000 (or comparable text).

Course Description: While developing English language skills, this course introduces students to spreadsheet concepts, features, functions, and applications using Excel.

Objectives: By the end of the course, students should be able:

to read about spreadsheets, in general, and about Excel, in particualr, and understand what is being discussed or described;
to read and follow directions when practicing textbook exercises;
to decide how to use Excel to organize and present information for described situations;
to ask questions concerning concepts and implementation;
to explain to others procedures used or results obtained;
to explain the information contained in Excel spreadsheets, charts, and graphs;
to understand the basics of creating a Excel spreadsheet or graph;
to understand how Excel can be applied to real world situations;
to understand how to navigate toolbars and use menus to customize Excel; and
to understand how to use other Excel features.

Instructional Methods: Classes include language development and critical thinking sessions followed by hands-on practice and drills. Students will complete periodic summary exercises that require application of all skills learned to date. Each student will create a portfolio of finished output.

Grading: The final grade is based on the following:

Class Participation	25%
Assignments	50%
Exams	25%
Total	100%

The grading scale is: A=90-100%, B+=85-89%, B=80-84%, C+=75-79%, C=70-74%, D=65-69%, F=60-64%

Course Outline: WP=word processing exercises, SS=spreadsheet exercises, DB=database exercises, INT= integration exercises

Week

Topics

Assignments and Tests

Mapping the text and course: introduction to the course and the book, including learning aids

Vocabulary log guidelines: two complete sentences for each word, one that describes its meaning and one that gives an example of its use.

Language preparation: basic direction words

Basics: spreadsheets and Excel

Basics: computer hardware and software; help functions, worksheets, managing multiple workbooks; internet basics, etc.

Close reading: mini-case situations.

Vocabulary log.

Write at least five complete sentences using direction words from the following list: TBA

Exercises: 1-5.

Key worksheet procedures: starting, saving, and closing a workbook; entering data; changing and adjusting rows and heights; changing workbook properties; creating folders and backup files, etc.

Enumerating transition words in giving directions

Close reading: critical thinking case

Vocabulary log.

Turn any list of 5 or more sequential directions into a paragraph, using ordinals: first, second, third, etc.

Exercises 6-11

Using formulas and formatting: using formulas' formatting data with Toolbar, fonts, symbols, numbers; copying data; creating a series; etc.

Using other transition words in giving directions.

Close reading: critical thinking case.

Vocabulary log. Exercises 12-18

Turn any list of 4 or more sequential directions from Lesson 2 into a paragraph, making use of some or all of the following transition words: first, next, then, etc.

Printing a worksheet: previewing, print options & page setup; page breaks, headers, and footers; etc.

Close reading: on the job and critical thinking.

Vocabulary log. Exercises 19-23

In a paragraph or more, explain why the computer training company needed the work you did for exercise 23.

5-6

Editing and manipulating worksheets & workbooks

Oral practice: explaining the information on Exercise 31's Expense Statement

Close reading: on the job and critical thinking situations

Vocabulary log. Exercises 24-33.

Write a paragraph or more explaining the need for the purchase order in exercise 31 and the information entered.

Write a paragraph or more describing the reason for the "on your own" part of exercise 32 and explaining how you did it.

7-8

Modifying the appearance of a worksheet.

Close reading: on the job and critical thinking.

Oral practice: explaining to others how you modified the appearance of a worksheet to make it more effective.

Vocabulary log. Exercises 34-41.

Write a paragraph or more describing at least two ways you made the CompuTrain worksheet more effective for Exercise 41.

Exam, week 8.

Integrating Excel with other applications and with the Internet: object and file linking and embedding; integrating office documents; saving a worksheet as a Web page; importing/exporting text files, tables, and data from other applications.

Close reading: on the job and critical thinking.

Vocabulary log. Exercises 42-46

10-11

Using advanced Excel functions

Close reading: on the job and critical thinking situations

Oral practice: describing the information presented on the spreadsheet in exercise 47.

Discussing "what-if" situations.

Vocabulary log. Exercises 47-57

Look up the common meaning of the word "scenario;" then explain why it is a good description for "what-if" data.

12-13

Creating and modifying charts.

Oral practice: interpret the information provided by the charts in exercises 58, 61, 62, 63, & 64.

Close reading: on the job and critical thinking.

Vocabulary log. Exercises 58-68.

Write a paragraph or more explaining the Temperature Readings chart on p. 63.

14-15

Analyzing data: creating a list/database; modifying a record; controlling data entry; sorting records, advanced filters, using database (list) functions, creating PivotTables and PivotCharts, data consolidation, etc.

Close reading: on the job and critical thinking.

Vocabulary log. Exercises 69-79

Write a letter to a friend who does not use Excel and how you think you may use it in the future.

Creating macros and hyperlinks

Close reading: on the job and critical thinking.

Vocabulary log. Exercises 80-83

Exam, week 16.

rev. 2/04