Excel is an incredibly useful program that allows people to keep track of data in an easy-to-read manner. For teachers, this tool can be helpful in lesson planning, grading and more. Not everyone knows how to use this resource intuitively, though. Looking to learn a few starter tips? Here are some tricks for teachers using Excel:
Get colorful
Staring at a spreadsheet can cause your eyes to play tricks, transposing rows and columns as you try to input grades or manage your attendance. That's why it's helpful to make your spreadsheets colorful. You can add different hues for every row, or simply adjust the tone from one column to the next to make it easier to read your document. Opt for light colors or shades as this allows you to read through the color.
Use templates
Building a document from scratch can be a time-consuming endeavor and an unnecessary one if a template already exists. Turn to ready-made spreadsheets by using the many charts and graphs available. You can even combine several sets of data by using the "Combo" category. This comes in handy if you want to enter the data and then show a pie chart or other visual representation of the information to further your students' understanding.
Don't forget to freeze
If you've ever made an Excel spreadsheet with a lot of data (like combining the entire year's worth of grades to calculate each students GPA), you know your side and top headers disappear pretty quickly. Avoid this by locking the labeled row or column via the "Freeze Panes" choice on the top toolbar. Now you can scroll through the entire document without losing your labels. This tool allows you to see each student's name, assignment and test score without having to scroll back to the beginning every time. It will likely prevent you from entering information into the wrong box too, so your document will be more accurate.
Send out surveys
The Excel Online program allows teachers to create surveys and have their students' responses compiled in real-time as the kids reply. If you frequently ask for your students' input, this can save some serious time as you won't have to go over each answer and then add everything up at the end. Just create your survey in Excel Online and it will format the data into an easily readable response sheet.
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