Excel in the classroom

Excel in the ClassroomBy: Lauren Sosa

Features

• Although to many people excel can be a bit overwhelming, once proficient, excel can be a handy tool, especially in the classroom.

• As I received my BA in business and plan to become a middle school math teacher, I have “excelled” in the formula/function features in Excel. However, in this presentation I will also review the more basic features.

• In terms of using excel as a math teacher, it can help expedite learning. As opposed to having to do every calculation by hand, with this program you can skip that tedious work and get back to more learning.

Example: http://www.excelmath.com/about.html

Basics

• Excel is formatted as a grid made up of boxes named “cells.”

• When typing in a cell in Excel, if the text exceeds the provided space you can expand the entire column of cells by double clicking the right end of letter column, ie column A.

• You can also edit the alignment of the text within the cell using the align left, center and align right tool, just as in Microsoft Word, by highlighting the cells you want affected and hitting the desired alignment button located on the standard toolbar.

Sorting

5 1

2 2

9 4

4 5

1 6

6 9

• If you have a collection of data you want sorted, there is an easy way Excel does it for you without having to do it manually.

• First, highlight the desired data. Next, click the “Sort & Filter” button on the top right toolbar.

Calculating Numbers

• There is a function key that allows you to add, average, find the minimum or maximum value and many other functions to large groups of numbers without having to do it manually!

63 Sum

346 867

2 =SUM(A1:A15)

6

69 Average

0 57.8

4 =AVERAGE(A1:A15)

7

23 Minimum

67 0

69 =MIN(A1:A15)

37

25 Maximum

64 346

85 =MAX(A1:A15)

Adding

• In order to add all desired numbers, first click on the cell you want your final answer to appear in. Next, locate the Sigma letter (Σ) at the top right of the screen, beside the “Sort & Filter” key. Click on it and choose “Sum.” The function will then appear in the cell and all you must do is select all the cells which you want to include in the summation and press enter.

63 Sum

346 867

2 =SUM(A1:A15)

6

69 Average

0 57.8

4 =AVERAGE(A1:A15)

7

23 Minimum

67 0

69 =MIN(A1:A15)

37

25 Maximum

64 346

85 =MAX(A1:A15)

Average• In order to average numbers,

you follow the same procedure as when you add except clicking on the average button, located under “Sum.”

• Calculate the average of numbers:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/calculate-the-average-of-numbers-HP003056135.aspx

63 Sum

346 867

2 =SUM(A1:A15)

6

69 Average

0 57.8

4 =AVERAGE(A1:A15)

7

23 Minimum

67 0

69 =MIN(A1:A15)

37

25 Maximum

64 346

85 =MAX(A1:A15)

Minimum and Maximum

• The Minimum and Maximum value are the smallest and largest value in your data set.

• In order to find these values, follow the same procedure we just reviewed except selecting the maximum and minimum function key.

63 Sum

346 867

2 =SUM(A1:A15)

6

69 Average

0 57.8

4 =AVERAGE(A1:A15)

7

23 Minimum

67 0

69 =MIN(A1:A15)

37

25 Maximum

64 346

85 =MAX(A1:A15)

Conditional Formatting

• There is a very nifty set of formatting tools located in the center toolbar, under styles, labeled “Conditional Formatting,” which allows you to compare your data according to the specifications you desire.

• You may also create your own conditional formatting “rules” if you wish.

Highlight Cells Rules

• This feature has excel distinguish specific values you’ve entered that obey a desired rule.

• For example, if you want to locate items greater then a certain value, less than or equal to, you can select that rule. There is also a “Between” rule that will highlight numbers between to values you set.

• There are also rules for cells that contain certain text, have a particular date or for duplicate values.

Top/Bottom Rules

• This formatting tool allows you to find and highlight the values that fall within the top and bottom 10% and the top and bottom 10 items. You highlight the cells in which you ant to compare and set the rules.

• To the left, I set the top 5 numbers to be highlighted in red and the bottom 5 to be highlighted in green.

2356

654

787

707

35

39590

746

256

1093

123

2546

2457

697

4760

9042

Data Bars

• This formatting tool allows you to view a colored data bar in each cell. The length of the data bar represents the value in the cell. A longer bar represents a higher value. Using this tool you can instantly see the unique values compared to the whole set.

100

567567

2345

245756

1234235

7654

1244

345265

2634532

90932

Credits

• http://www.excelmath.com/about.html

• How to calculate averages with Microsoft:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/calculate-the-average-of-numbers-HP003056135.aspx

• Thank you!! http://amominredhighheels.com/thank-you-last-effort/