Introduction to Microsoft Excel
Introduction
Microsoft Excel can be used in everyday life but also in a mathematics classroom. Many people know how to input data and do their finances using Excel but here we will do a summary of how to graph information and how to find statistics on a group of data. This knowledge is a very valuable tool in a classroom because it will allow students to explore mathematics. After a basic demonstration from a teacher students would be able to develop their own graphs. They will also begin to discover what statistics can be used with various data sets.
Unit Objectives
- Demonstrate an understanding of possible misconceptions and limitations when using Excel
- Demonstrate the ability to input information into Excel from a data set
- Demonstrate the ability to find mean/average from a set of data
- Demonstrate the ability to create a graph using this data
Lesson Activities
Inputting information from a data set
Now we want to input information into our excel file. Open a new file and label three columns with "Month," "High," and "Low."
1) From the data information below - input this information into your excel file.
2) To see what this may look like click: [1]
3) Next, go to INSERT --> COLUMN and click the first picture:
4) Now, in the information bar you will see a button that says "select data." From here you will want to click the button that the arrow is pointing to below
5) From here you will highlight all the data that you inputted from "month" diagonally down to "33." Next, click enter. Click "OK" and your information will be input into your graph!
6) If you want to add a title, change graph colors, or change the layout of the graph play with the buttons provided in the toolbar.
REMEMBER: LEARN THROUGH EXPLORATION. TRY NEW THINGS AND EXPLORE THE TOOLS THAT THE PROGRAM GIVES YOU BEFORE YOU MOVE ON!
Think about how this could be used in a classroom:
1) Students will be able to see information visually as opposed to a constant number approach that is present in most classrooms.
2) Students can create graphs different from each other - including circle graphs, histograms, and more. They can also explore how these different graphs would provide different viewpoints.
Finding the mean from the data set
Now we will go a bit further and look at how statistics can be used when graphing information.
1) Continue with the graph you create in the previous section.
2) Below your label for "December" input Mean (or Average) and below that - Range. Click the box next to average (should be in the "high" column)
3) You will want to find the button that says "fx" in your toolbar.
This button will allow you to do a myriad of things. You will be able to find all sorts of statistical tools here.
4) Find "average" and click okay. Now, like you did when selecting your data for graphing, you will want to highlight all the "highs" for each month (43 to 43) and click OK. Now you will have your AVERAGE high temperature in Vancouver. Do the same to find the low average temperature in Vancouver.
5) Using your data explore more - see what other information you can discover using the "fx" button.
NOTE: THE AVERAGE HIGH IS 56.58 AND THE AVERAGE LOW IS 43.75
Think about how this could be used in a classroom: 1) Students will be able to explore different types of statistical analysis. 2) Class discussions can occur about which statistics are more valuable for different data sets and which may be useless. For example, is there a use to finding the sum of our temperatures?