The Microsoft Office Suite is a widely used software package utilized for both business and higher education purposes. This is just one of the many signposts that indicate the growing role of technology in the world at large. A decade ago it was a benefit to have an employee who possessed the technological skill set to use the Microsoft Office Suite. However, this benefit has evolved into an expectation. No longer is it acceptable to be proficient in one of the multiple applications within the Office Suite, i.e. Word. For students pursuing a college degree and for job applicants pursing a means of employment, it is expected that each qualified individual will be experienced in Word and Excel. As an educator, it is my job to ensure that the students I teach are well prepared to meet the expectations of these institutions.
Excel is one of the more challenging programs within the Microsoft Office Suite. It requires the user to do more than type and make use of simple formatting to produce an effective and appealing product. As a result, students may perceive the use of this program to be daunting and thus, shy away. This hesitancy is understandable, but it is also surmountable. By integrating the use of Excel in classroom projects, I am helping students to familiarize themselves with a program that is both important and often misunderstood.
In many ways, Excel is the Shakespeare of the Office Suite. Students are put off by it as a result of its reputation. As their teacher it is my goal and responsibility to break down the material for the students so that it is both manageable and approachable. With my spreadsheet lesson plan, it was my goal to combine these two seemingly insurmountable subjects to help build the confidence of the students and reinforce concepts. The end product was a lesson plan that involved creating a portion of a timeline that is generated within Excel for Shakespeare's play Hamlet.
The Hamlet timeline asked students, in groups, to build a timeline for a specific section of the play. I provided an example of a spreadsheet timeline for this project that also worked as a starting point for the students to build off of. Hamlet is a complex play with a lot of plot and subplot activity that can be confusing. By asking the students to build a timeline for specific sections in the play they are being asked to dissect a portion of the play for plot points. This will reinforce their understanding of the text as well as help to make Shakespeare more manageable aiding in their analysis of Hamlet.
By requiring the students to use Excel in the creation of their timeline, I am giving them the opportunity to explore a program they may not otherwise utilize. In addition, by using this program to build a timeline students are able to recognize that there many different uses for Excel outside of the standard pivot table or graph. This will help each student to recognize the endless technological possibilities available at their fingertips as long as they are willing to think outside of the box.
The final component, which I feel is essential to the success of this lesson plan, is the collaborative learning component. Despite my best efforts, there will always be a student who doesn't feel comfortable approaching me with questions or concerns regarding a project or the subject matter. However, regardless of a student's inability to approach me directly, it is still my responsibility to ensure every student learns and has their educational needs met. For many students a group setting is an environment that is more conducive to voicing confusion about the material as they are not typically alone in their wariness. This means that students who may have otherwise suffered in silence are able to engage their peers in dissecting the material not only clarifying it, but also increasing the level of retention.
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