Spreadsheet refers a group of values and other data organized into rows and columns, similar to the ruled paper worksheets traditionally used by bookkeepers and accounts. Spreadsheet software is the types of application software used to create computerized spreadsheets.
Previously individuals and teachers have used manually prepared spreadsheets for years by writing in the figures and performing the computations. Computations were originally done by hand electronic calculators. But in recently computerization of the spreadsheet has created an electronic version that has made its use much easier enable much more complex computation to be completed.
In the spreadsheet, we have several physical features (Physical Arrangements), these are Cells, Current cells, Ranges, Labels and Values. A cell is used to refer to the space on the spreadsheet used to store one value, number, character label or formula which is indicated by A1 B2 C3. Current cell is used for one or more selected cells that will receive data that is entered or be affected by computers next processing action. Also Range as a spreadsheet feature refers to any continuous group of cells or any group of cells next to each other which are called a range of cells and the range that is highlighted is called the current range. Thus Labels which are alphabetic (Alphanumeric) characters that are entered into cells; and the cells containing numbers that are entered or calculated within the spreadsheet are referred as value.
The picture below shows the features of spreadsheet which are used to store and analyzing different data that can be recorded on it.
Spreadsheet as a software has got different names like Calc in Open-office and Excel in Microsoft office (like Microsoft office 2007 and 2013). Spreadsheet is used in various field such as at banks, hospitals, industries, institutions, business centers and commercial activities. As far in education system and its activities, spreadsheets is used on performing daily tasks:
Spreadsheet reduce the need for tedious calculations
It save time during the display of the results
Spreadsheet is used to offer the variety of the ways of arranging learning conditions
In school managements purposes and classroom applications
Spreadsheet can be used as the database to produce some statistical analysis.
In real practical, spreadsheet can be used by teacher to store and analyze students.
From the above example of student's data; shows the monthly test scores that obtained in four subjects such as Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Physics. Then analysis of that data is done by calculating the total, average and grade of that scores for each student. Also, other analysis made on determining the remarks, fail/pass, maximum and minimum score, the median and position of each students regarding to average of his/her scores. Various formulas (functions) used to make analysis of the given data. For instance those used function are:- Total score: =SUM(D7:G7)
- Average scores: =AVERAGE(D7:G7)
- Grade of the average score:
- Remarks grade score: =IF(I7>=60;”GOOD”;IF(I7>=50;”AVERAGE”;”POOR”))
- Pass/Fail of grade score: =IF(I7>=50;”PASS”;”FAIL”)
- Maximum score of individual: =MAX(D7:G7)
- Minimum score of individual: = MIN(D7:G7)
- The median of score: =MEDIAN(D7:G7)
- Position of student: =RANK(H7;$H$7:$H$21)+COUNTIF($H$7:H7;H7)-1
- Subject rank in percentage: = (D24/H24)*100%
If user can change one or more numbers in a spreadsheet, then all related formulas used will change the cell's grid name and recalculate automatically. Thus, you can substitute one value for another in a cell and observe the effect on other related cell in the worksheet. For instance, if formula entered into G6 then if the user can add a row before the current row, current cell will change its name to be G7 and the formula in it will change too; that situation is called, “what –if-analysis”.
Furthermore, how much data a spreadsheet can handle a typical worksheet ,can only hold 64,000 rows of data and doing complicated calculation on 64,000 rows of data is going to bring user's personal computer down to cloud .So it is a balance of speed versus how complicated model needs to be presented.
Generally, the spreadsheets are always considered to be very useful in term of saving time. The tasks like sorting, drawings, calculations, comparing findings searching and also printing documents can be done for very short period of time. Some of the difficult calculation can be done by spreadsheet for a short time without the need for other program knowledge. If there are changes in the content of the data in the spreadsheet the result can be calculated automatically which help to focus the objective rather than dealing with calculations and changes. So for accurate and assurance of storing and analyzing student's data like academic and personal information as well as non academic, teachers are advised to use spreadsheet on performing daily activities in school.
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