Lab Assignment #2: Spreadsheets

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Sample Spreadsheet Assignments
RUBRIC

Resources:
Statistics Canada and E-STAT
US Census Bureau
United Nations Cyber School Bus
United Nations Monthly Bulletin of Statistics

Weight: 10%
Late assignments will be penalized 5% per day.

Introduction

Spreadsheet construction and use requires students to identify relationships and patterns in the data they want to represent using a spreadsheet.

Students must determine which data to include, how it should be arranged, what calculations should be performed, and how to display results in a meaningful manner.

Spreadsheets are excellent tools for graphing data and answering "what if" questions such as "What would happen to the acceleration of a rolling ball if we increased the mass but not the force?" or "What will the population of Canada be in 10 years if the current growth rate increases by 3% each year?"

Spreadsheets help students to visualize data and thus can be used to facilitate inquiry and analysis.

Assignment

1. Design a spreadsheet activity that facilitates inquiry, problem solving and/or decision making for an Alberta curriculum topic. Look at authentic data from an existing database (such as  E-STAT) and extract a set of data that fits into the activity.
   
   
• Identify the curricular goals this activity will address.
• Write a brief description of the activity (1-2 paragraphs).
• Discuss how technology enhances this activity (1 paragraph).
  
  
2. Provide a sample of the product(s) that students would be expected to create. Your sample spreadsheet should be formatted appropriately and present information in a meaningful way. Incorporate as many features of a spreadsheet as possible. For example:
   
   
• chart(s) based on spreadsheet data
• header that includes the title for the document
• footer that includes the page number
• use of different fonts, styles, and alignment of text and data
• varied column widths and row height
• protected cells
• different cell borders
• displaying audit trails and formulas
• relative and absolute cell referencing
• use of simple and/or complex functions
• a macro
  
  
3. Submit a hard copy of the assignment to your teaching assistant and email him a copy of your 'student sample' as an attachment.

NOTE: Statistics Canada offers an annual $500 cash prize for the best curriculum project that utilizes the Statistics Canada website. You can read the details at: http://www.statcan.ca/english/liaison/index.htm

Last Updated 9/09/02