CCNC/CCNC Module 4

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MODULE 4: SPREADSHEETS using OpenOffice 2.0

Module Overview

Welcome to Module 4 of the Commonwealth Computer Navigator's Certificate. In this module you will be learning how to develop, work with and manipulate spreadsheets using a computer application that was designed for this purpose. Spreadsheets are basically tables that contain information or data,defined by specific values that are given to its rows and columns. Spreadsheets are typically used for manipulating numerical data. The computer application we will be using is designed to do the calculations required to enable you to observe the relationship between data in the respective rows and columns.


Outcomes

By the end of this Module you will have mastered the knowledge and skills to be able to develop, format, modify and use a spreadsheet, which can be useful for a variety of contexts, for example calculating or analysing business data or simply managing personal information more efficiently. In the process of learning how to work with spreadsheets you will be able to generate and apply standard mathematical and logical formulae and create and format graphs/charts.


Study Tips

You may find it useful to skim through an entire chapter (or portion of a chapter) first, paying special attention to the headings and introductions then go through a second time for more indepth study and practice. We recommend that you do the activities as they appear rather than all at the end. They are essential study materials, so please attempt them.

In general, you should try to be alert and active as you study the module. Keep linking the new areas that you are studying with areas of the module that you have already covered as well as your own general knowledge. This approach would help to deepen your understanding of the operations you are learning about. Finally, if you have difficulty understanding any area, try working at it slowly. If you still do not understand, seek help.



Preknowledge

While all the mathematical operations involved in the preparation of a spreadsheet and handled by the software itself, it is important that you as the user should be knowledgeable about these operations as well. In this way, you will be able to keep checking the calculations to ensure their accuracy even as Calc performs them. It isn't that we expect Calc to make a mistake, but errors can occur if you enter incorrect information. It is therefore helpful if you are able to estimate what the result ought to be given the data that is supposed to be inputted and the intended operations to be performed.

You should therefore be very competent in doing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. You should also know how about decimals and how to generate percentages. Knowledge about the use of charts and graphs is also an asset, but there will be a brief overview of this area in the relevant section.

You should also have a sense of logical sequencing. In this module, we have attempted to provide all the relevant steps for carrying out the various operations. But just passively following the steps is not enough. Even as you follow the steps, you should be building your own understanding of the logic of the operation. In other words, it must make sense!! So we are hoping that you will be bringing that aptitude to the study of this module.

Finally, while there is no definite sequence to the ordering of the modules, we think it will be to your benefit to complete the modules on Computer Applications and Wordprocessing before beginning this one.


Module Sections

Module References

Home and Learn. Free Computer Tutorials - Microsoft Excel Tutorials [1] accessed 2007-12-09.

OpenLearn Learning Space. Working with charts, graphs and tables [2] accessed 2007-12-15.

About this Module

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