Skills Update B

Okay this module I'm working on word processing skills.  I truly feel like I know quite a bit about Microsoft Word but was surprised with the checklist about the number of skills that I do not know how to do.  I have spent this module looking at tabs, margins, columns, indent markers, spacing and alignment (which I did know more than I realized), and column/section/page breaks.  I spent time reading and learning about mail merger but I feel like it is one of those things that I will forget if I do not use it more regularly.  I would love to know examples of how that can be utilized more effectively!  Overall, I feel very good about my final product.  I included my newly acquired skills on columns, setting margins, using column and section breaks, insert pictures and use text wrap, and header/footer for the date.

Final Product for Word Processing Skills

Skills Updated Checklist

Skills Update B

Okay, for Skills Update B I will be looking at Word Processing Skills through the use of Microsoft Word.  One thing on my list to refresh my memory and learn more about is headers and footers.  I have already done quite a bit with this through my paper submissions for this class and one other so I feel that this skill is mastered at this point.

My Example Spreadsheet

I noticed in others' posts that you are able to upload your finished product for others to see.  So, after researching this a bit, since I don't see an attachment in Blogger, I have found a way to attach a copy of my finished product for Spreadsheets.

Skills A - Spreadsheet

Let's see if it works! 

Skills Update A - My Plan

 Skills Update A – Spreadsheet Skills

I have altered my final project for the spreadsheet skills.  My original boot camp technology paper suggests that I will create a spreadsheet using parents’ names and address of a class.  Upon doing some research to get started in Excel skills, I found a list for uses of spreadsheets in the elementary classroom.  I decided that creating spreadsheets with both charts and graphs could really benefit them in the area of word problems.  So, I decided to practice my skills by creating 2 examples of data in both chart and graph form to use in a classroom.  I would even take this a step further as the year progressed and let the students learn more about spreadsheets by creating a word problem set of their own for students to use.

How it would work:

I would display the information in both chart and graph form for the class to see – maybe on a SMARTboard.  Then, there would be a question for them to answer each morning of the week.  I would have them write and explain their answers in a math journal.  I would even have a small copy of the data displayed for them to cut and paste into their math journals.  Then, each week the display would change.  This constant exposure to charts and graphs would be a wonderful tool for them to master.  

Skills:

I feel pretty successful that I have read, watched and learned about relative and absolute references, formulas and functions, fill down, fill series, create charts, edit charts and insert into Word document.  I found that some of these operations I did know how to do, I just didn't realize what they were called until I was studying this.

Skills Update A

Well, today I'm working to get my skills started for Skill Update A.  I had decided to work on the spreadsheet info first and then do the word processing in the next update.  I realized today that my paper had that fixed in one spot but not another.

Also, I've been doing some research today on ways to maybe use the spreadsheet as a classroom tool.  I hope it is okay if I change my final product.  Instead of parent addresses and phone numbers (which I still might use it for down the road), I would like to also use it for classroom activities that could turn into graphs and charts.  What a great tool for math word problems and things like that!