I find it easy to pinpoint absolute uses for word processing and database applications, but very difficult to pinpoint absolute uses for spreadsheets. Perhaps this is because spreadsheets can be used for a multitude of tasks, whereas word processing applications are used to type documents and database applications are used for record keeping. Spreadsheets don’t have an absolute use; they can be used for anything from accounting to creating class rosters.
Although I don’t use spreadsheets on a daily basis, I do find myself using them many times throughout the week. I use spreadsheets in a variety of ways: tracking the IP addresses assigned to network devices, maintaining inventory of network equipment, creating budgets, and even for tracking results from the district’s annual 5K run. Spreadsheets allow me to organize data quickly and efficiently.
Like me, my district’s teachers use spreadsheets for a variety of reasons. A quick scan of the fileserver showed that teachers are using spreadsheets to create calendars, rosters, fine lists, maintenance logs, check-out lists, food orders, schedules, polls, etc. The list of spreadsheet uses is seemingly endless. Our teachers make excellent use of spreadsheets, but I’d be hard-pressed to say that they use them more than our district’s financial department. Spreadsheets are a vital tool for accountants and financial personnel. They allow for the tracking of finances, through the use of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division formulas.
Overall, spreadsheets play an important role in both the worlds of business and school. For some, spreadsheets allow us to better organize data; for others, spreadsheets allow us to keep our financial records in order. For me, spreadsheets have become an important tool that I will continue using for an assortment of tasks.
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Spreadsheet for 5K run??? We just created a spreadsheet to create and keep track of our staff fitness program which will culminate in the Motor City Triathlon in June. We have created teams to survive the challenge. I think all of use were surprised at the everyday uses of spreadsheet to keep track of classroom business. The goal is to have interactive templates in place for everyone to use.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned a few weeks ago that Word was the most often used pregram in your district. As I started thinking about how much I really use Excel, I started wondering how that ranked. If your district uses it half as much as we seem to in Lake Orion, I bet it's right up there at the top of the list!
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like you guys are maximizing the worth of Excel. I think it is cool how intouch you are with the different ways teachers use technology in your district. I wish that the director of Technology from my district was as involved with the teachers and in touch with the students needs as you are.
ReplyDeleteRyan-
ReplyDeleteI agree spreadsheets have countless uses. I use them frequently at both home and work.
I use spreadsheets at home to keep track of my personal finances and household chores/maintenance. In the classroom, I use spreadsheets for seating charts, parent contact info, grades, and science experiment logs. Spreadsheets even play a big part on the athletic courts and fields. As a coach we use spreadsheets to keep student info, daily/yearly stats, and practice plans.
I really enjoy using spreadsheets because they keep you data neat, organized and easily accessible.