Spanish-American Institute

950 Using Excel for Windows 80 Classes

Prerequisite(s): None

Textbooks: Jennifer Fulton, Learning Microsoft Excel 2002, DDC Publishing, 2002 (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
1	Mapping the text and course: introduction to the course and the book, including learning aids 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.	Write at least five complete sentences using direction words from the following list: TBA Exercises: 1-5.
2	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	Turn any list of 5 or more sequential directions into a paragraph, using ordinals: first, second, third, etc. Exercises 6-11
3	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.	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.
4	Printing a worksheet: previewing, print options & page setup; page breaks, headers, and footers; etc. Close reading: on the job and critical thinking.	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	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. Review for exam.	Exercises 34-41. Write a paragraph or more describing at least two ways you made the CompuTrain worksheet more effective for Exercise 41. Bi-monthly Exam, week 8.
9	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.	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.	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.	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.	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.
16	Creating macros and hyperlinks Close reading: on the job and critical thinking. Review for exam.	Exercises 80-83 Bi-monthly Exam, week 16.

rev. 2/04, 3/07