Background: I have taught Business Education to Adult Learners who were working towards a certificate of completion as Administrative Assistants. The book I used was, “Microsoft Office 2003”. So am I an expert? NOT AT ALL!! I knew what I know working as an administrative assistant for 6 years. Thankfully the textbook became the lesson plan and then I planned other benchmarks around it. I worked very hard to learn as I was teaching all Microsoft Office applications. I was also teaching the 2003 version when 2007 was what I had on my computer but not the school computers yet. Microsoft Access was not my thing. Actually no one I worked with was comfortable with Access. Anyway, I learned by teaching. I made a lot of mistakes in front and behind my students, but today I know Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher very well. There are many functions in these programs I rarely use or know what they are really used for, Macro is one of them. So I consider myself to have, “Knowledge of and some Proficiency” in Microsoft Office 2007.
Excel Task:
I was very comfortable working on the Excel Task this week. I did have to review “Linking Data between Workbooks”. I was glad I had my old textbook and had written on a banner on page F-7,”easier than appears”, in either 2008 or 2009. The task reminded me of a Hands-On test I would give my students. The Excel task really demonstrated how Excel a spreadsheet software application allows you to organize numeric data. The input is manual, but once it is entered you can do numerous math functions. They can be entered using Automatic or with Insert Functions. I track my finances on an Excel spreadsheet so I like to use the Insert Function. I am positive that there are some short cuts I missing, but it is easier than using a calculator or keeping a paper file. My 90 year old dad kept a paper file.
So I was OK with the task. Making the columns different colors was easy, however keeping track of the colors I used was a manual thought process. Inserting columns is easy to do I assigned grades to the Homework Column, by dragging the fill handle to increase the grade by one number in each cell then randomly mixing them up. I automatically selected the Auto Average “pulldown handle” to calculate the averages for step 3,4,and 5. The next steps I had to reread a few times and look up this information on Blackboard. I am still thinking about the Extra-Credit. Thinking is probably as far as I will get.
This task helped me experience what teachers consider when setting up a grade book. It is not only a computerized function, but also includes an important thought process from the teacher and other administrators at a school. I enjoyed this exercise.
Jana,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post because you brought your own life experiences into it. Teaching adults how to be Administrative Assistants is a big task, and I enjoyed how you were so honest and even humble about overcoming any of your personal disadvantages. I was an Administrative Assistant myself for a period, and we used Access for ordering and accounts, but I doubt I could pull it up today and remember anything I used to do.
I must say, you really broke down how you deal with this week's task with smart, concise and interesting detail. I feel like I was re-learning the assignment all over again! You were able to pull a deep reflection from the task to the needs of teachers in their own grade books, and I felt you really took this assignment to heart. Knowing Excel is a valuable skill, for both professional and personal use, and no one demonstrates this better than you.