Intermediate
60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+80 XP
Pupils work through this independently

What's a Spreadsheet for?: Suitable Uses

Learn to identify when spreadsheets are the best tool for tasks like budgets, trackers and lists. Decide between spreadsheets and word processors, and connect ideas to your Something Real project by selecting one use to develop.

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    1 - Introduction ~5 mins

    Today you will

    • find out what jobs a spreadsheet is good at
    • decide when a spreadsheet is better than a word processor
    • write three spreadsheet ideas for your Something Real project and pick one to build

    Warm-up

    Think of one number that matters for your project, like a cost, a score or a stock count. Would you keep it in a paragraph, or in a grid where you can add it up?

    2 - Key Concepts ~6 mins

    A spreadsheet is a grid of cells in rows and columns, built for numbers and short labels.

    Suitable uses are jobs like budgets, trackers, tallies and stock lists.

    Tool fit means you use a spreadsheet for data and a word processor for writing.

    Your project pick is the one spreadsheet you will build across ICT2.

    Aoife's example

    Aoife bakes cakes to order. Her ideas are a budget, an order tracker and a stock list. She picks the budget because it helps her set her price.

    3 - Right Tool or Wrong Tool? ~15 mins

    You will sort each job into the tool that fits it best. Talk it through with the class first. Then drag each card into a bucket and click Check.

    Right tool or wrong tool?

    4 - Common Issues ~4 mins

    Common issues

    • Both tools seem to fit. If you need a total, a sort or a chart, use a spreadsheet. If you need sentences, use a word processor.
    • My project has no numbers. Look for costs, dates, hours, scores or a list of people.
    • A card bounced back. Ask yourself if the job is data or writing, then try the other bucket.

    5 - Portfolio Build ~20 mins

    Portfolio build

    Your goal: Write three spreadsheet ideas for your project and pick one to build across ICT2.
    Time: ~20 minutes
    Task: Your teacher will show you where to save it first, then:
    1. In your Project Portfolio folder, make a new document in Word Online or Google Docs.
    2. Name it {{code:05_spreadsheet_use_case_v1}}.
    3. Copy the layout below into your document.
    4. Fill in three uses, each tied to your Something Real project.
    5. Write your pick for ICT2 and one sentence saying why. Make that line bold.

    Use 1: A ___ tracker for my ___ so I can ___.

    Use 2: A ___ list/tally for ___ so I can ___.

    Use 3: A ___ budget/timetable/score sheet for ___ so I can ___.

    Pick for ICT2: I will build ___ because it will answer ___.

    Your pick will become part of your ICT2 Key Assignment.

    Success criteria:
    • {{code:05_spreadsheet_use_case_v1}} is saved in my Project Portfolio.
    • My three uses are all about my own project.
    • My ICT2 pick is in bold and has a reason.
    • I can picture the columns and rows for my pick.
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