Excel Activity

Activity Reflection #2

Part of integrating technology in the classroom involves utilizing software properly.  There are many different types of software available including open sourced software like OpenOffice and web-based alternatives like GoogleDocs.  I am less familiar with these types of software as most of my experience is with Microsoft Office, but after reading about software in Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom and this week’s module for my class, I intend to learn more and try some out.

For this week’s activity, I used a very common program that most are familiar with called, “Excel.”  I used an Excel spreadsheet to modify and manipulate a mock grade book.  The activity required tasks such as changing colors in columns, adding grades, creating formulas to average homework grades, test grades, and final grades, and organizing the grades from least to greatest.  I have some experience working with Excel so most of these tasks were not difficult for me. 

One thing I learned from this activity is that I should not be afraid to try different options to achieve a task.  Some of the items for the activity I had not done since high school.  Since I am pretty good at figuring out technology, I just kept trying different things and clicking in different places until I got it right. I was not nervous that anything I was doing was going to ruin my grade book because if I clicked on something that was not correct, I just clicked “undo” and the spreadsheet would return to how I had it.  I also kept saving the page between steps.  I think that it is very important not to be afraid to try new things.  Often times, that is how you learn best.  If we don’t try new things, how can we encourage our students to do so?

Another aspect I learned from this activity is to always try the “help” feature if you do not know how to do something.  I experienced this when the activity asked me to make the student names on the first worksheet transfer over to the other worksheets and modify it so that if a change is made, it will change on all the worksheets.  I did not know that this was a feature of Excel so I was not sure how to do it.  After trying a few options that were not correct, I decided to Google the answer.  I sequestered the junk sites from the valid sites, but after about 5 minutes of searching through Google pages without finding anything close, I determined that this was not a good strategy.   I returned to my Excel spreadsheet and clicked on the “help” feature.  I typed in what I needed and the feature gave me step by step instructions on the side of the screen on how to do the task.

In conclusion, I enjoyed completing this activity.  Although my county has its own grade book program that we are required to use, I do see some practical uses for software such as Excel.  Since Excel is such a basic tool, I know that I could probably benefit even more from other productivity software that is available.  Upon reflection, the main thing that I learned from this activity is not to be afraid.  From now on, I will not be scared to try new technologies, and I will not fear asking for help or using the help features when needed.