AR#2
I increased my knowledge about operating systems and how they are needed to start running the different software that we often use on the computers. I use both Microsoft windows and Mac OS in daily life. (Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter) The students in my class and I often use Microsoft Word to write our papers. This assists my Florida 8th graders who will take a writing test from the state in March. I am often trying to get them to use this software because it is hard to read their handwriting. It is important for the students to become aware of how to use computer programs because they will always be expected to use one. Most the students being digital natives, often surprises me that they do not understand how to organize files, This is what happens when we cut computer electives right. I was hoping to use Google Docs or even dropbox (as a school often complains I take up to much space) to help the students work in collaborative teams with group members who might not be in their class. In order to be a better teacher to this type of student I need to grow and learn about different software.
One example this week is being able to test my skills at Microsoft Excel. I use this software often to help me with list when planning a field trip or ordering t-shirts for students. Yet, I was really put to the test when I had to create a grade book because, I had to use Color, formulas and dynamically link form one sheet to another.
Of course, I had used the color function before; since it helps the names pop out of a list if students have not paid for something. This is a very helpful feature and I tend to use certain colors like yellow and red. I was able to experiment and use some colors that I do not normally use.
Additionally, the formulas were very helpful in compiling an average for the students’ grade. I often use a formula to add up the total amount paid for a field trip but I had to look up the formula for average. I had forgotten how many functions that excel had. Thank you Microsoft for creating a help page to assist me in finding the formulas that were needed. While I was looking for features I found the auto filter option, undoubtedly this will save me time, using this function I was able to sort by any column I wanted to. In the near future I will be able to create my own excel spreadsheet for a field trip and have it tally how much was paid and filter (this is my favorite feature) each column.
Pursuing this grade book assignment further, I tried to Dynamically place the students name on each sheet; this way whatever changes were made to one sheet would be made on the next one. My school’s transit rate went up to 38% so this function would be a great use to me. I used paste special, to allow me to change each cells and it appears on the other sheets. What if I had a new student enter? It did not allow me to add a row to add a new student, and that new student would not show up on the other sheets.
Therefore, I thought this assignment would be easy, I was mistaken. I really learned a lot about excel help and how to use formulas. The goals of this assignment were accomplished. I was very frustrated in my inability to initially understand the term Dynamically link. In the end I figured it out. I spent to many hours on trying to solve this one riddle.
Realizing that I needed help I went off in search for an excel expert. I found that many teachers did not know much more then I did. I also tried to look Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter. I found a similar assignment but still no explanation to how to Dynamically link the names. I have found that Microsoft has a great help program but there are limitations to everything. My hope is to grow and learn….could you help me in this endeavor?
Hi Rachel.
ReplyDeleteI know how to link cells in different sheets in Excel, but if I told you, I wouldn't really be helping you, so instead, I found a link for you to check out. (What is it - teaching you to fish?)
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/create-a-link-to-another-cell-workbook-or-program-HP005199514.aspx
The idea behind it is that if you change something in one cell, it will change it in all the cells that it references. In our grade book exercise, I am not sure if that is the best example of how it can be used because how many times a year do you have to change your student's names? I mean, John Smith is probably still going to be named John Smith in the last 9 weeks of the term. (Your statement about your school's transit rate doesn't really apply, because as you get or lose students, you would create or delete cells for those students; you wouldn't be carrying on information from another student's record.)
A better example would be for something that might change periodically. For instance, something like computer lab partners. You could have a column that lists the students' computer lab partners, and link that column to the rest of the rating periods' sheets. If someone switches partners, you'd just have to change it one time in the spreadsheet. The dynamic link would change it on subsequent sheets.
I hope that this helps!
Christi
I encountered similar frustrations in completing this exact assignment. I found it a real challenge trying to dynamically link those names to the other sheets. I don't mind, as you, trying to go through help and other avenues to find the answers, but why was it so hard to get an answer to this question? It seems like such a valuable, and now I see how simple, function of Excel. I know that when I have to "struggle" sometimes to figure out how to do something, I'll really learn it.
ReplyDeleteAnd to your school that complains that you take up too much computer space...it used to be you were using too much paper...you just can't win sometimes.
Oh I feel the pain!! I had such a hard time with the dynamic placement:) I think what is the most important with this assignment was taking the time to become familiar with the tutorials available and really sitting down and digging deep into it. I tell you, it took me forever to find out how to do question #8 and although the turtorials didn't help me, I did have to research comments from students and get help from outside resources. You couldn't have said it better than you did.
ReplyDeleteAfter going through all the turorials it turns out it was something very simple to solve the problem. It was actually a response to your page that helped me work through this. I'm glad that you were honest about your frustrations because I was really feeling you! For me it was the matter of going out and finding the resources, I just wish there was an easier way to obtain the information. Thanks for sharing.
I am so happy to know I am not the only one who was getting frustrated. @ Christi when I hear the term dynamically link it is like word to excel and you can add a row. This way when a new student enters in 2nd nine weeks he would be entered in all the other sheets. I really did not like the term that was used because to me it was not "dynamic" link.
ReplyDeleteI felt your pain as I was reading this entry! I also had trouble with figuring out how to create the dynamic list and I went crazy because I could not find any type of tutorial online that helped me out. Luckily I found the answer through sheer luck and perseverance, so hopefully you found your answer and managed to get it done too.
ReplyDeleteAs for cutting computer electives, I think it is shameful that we don’t offer more computer classes to our students. I made the comment on someone else’s blog that it should be required for high school graduation because students need to learn how to use these basic programs. However, I never even considered that they may not know how to do other basic computer skills, such as organizing files. This is something ever student is probably going to have to do at some point or another. How is it that they learn how to do these things then?
Also, I like that you use programs such as Google doc and Dropbox with your students. You’re bringing those computer classes to your students yourself. Actually, I had never heard of Dropbox until I saw it on your blog, so I went and checked it out. Thank you for sharing that link with us!
As I was reading your blog, I noticed that you made a reference to Google Docs. Funny you should mention that, because my school moved to the Google platform this year. I have been using Google mail, sites, docs, calendar, etc. and I love it (there are some quirks of course, but overall, I love it). If you ever have a question about it, please ask me and I can share some of my experiences with “switching” from Microsoft Office to Google Docs. My technology department also complained about my use of space on our network drive, and I was asked specifically to please move my “gigantic files” over to Google as quickly as possible. Ever since then, I have had a much better relationship with my tech department.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your sentiment, “I thought this assignment would be easy, I was mistaken.” I, too, thought the whole Excel assignment would be a piece of cake; that is, until the dynamic name placement” debacle. I spent about 15 minutes trying to figure it out on my own by clicking on this button or that one. Then I went to the “?” button on the program followed quickly by the “help” section on Microsoft’s website. From there, I broke open an Excel textbook and finally I resorted to calling a friend for help. After at least 2 hours of frustrating work, I got the “dynamic” portion of the assignment to function properly. I am very sorry that you also were frustrated, but I must admit, I am comforted that I was not the only one who had to really dig to figure it out.