Lecture Notes/Worksheets
ICS-7: Problem Solving with Spreadsheets
Spring 2021
Because we are not attending phyiscal classes or labs, some of the
information included here (which applies to prior/future quarters)
will not make sense: ignore it; or better yet, ask a question about
it on Piazza (after looking to see whether that question has already
been asked).
Course Expectations
Lectures and Labs
Learning to use any complex software tool is an intensive activity.
We will have class 4 days of the week: MWF lectures and Th labs.
I expect to show material in lecture on MWF, which you will put to practical
use, and extend, during labs and on your own.
I will try to provide written materials (readings) for each lecture,
which will be accompanied by a workbook that further illustrates the
material.
The readings will be text files: click a reading to display it in your
browser; right click a reading and select Save Target As...
to download your own copy (for example to print or annotate it).
After each lecture, I expect students to read the complete notes for that
lecture, and follow the instructions it contains (see "-->"), to build
spreadsheets by using the Excel features covered in the lecture/notes.
So, I will act as the guide in lecture, as we tour new territory.
But, you need to revisit this territory by yourself, exploring it in more
detail, after each lecture.
The workbooks are .xlsx or .xlsm files; right click a workbook
and select Save Target As... to download your own copy (for example,
onto your desktop), and then double-click the workbook icon to start Excel
on that workbook.
Lecture Attendance and Decorum
I encourage students to attend class, but I will also record and archive the
lectures for later viewing.
I will try to post them within a few hours of the class ending.
I will open the chat for everyone to publicly chat everyone else, but I hope
that you will keep the chats to a minimum.
I encourage you to chat the TA privately with any questions that you have.
If you elect not to attend lectures, the notes that I provide will cover all the
important topics (but you have to read them carefully).
You will miss general purpose announcements, a small amount of live-coding,
picture drawing, and questions/answers.
I find only the most mature students can skip class and study by themself, but
learning how to learn by yourself is an excellent higher-order skill to
attain.
Schedule, Readings, and Workbooks