Unit Aim
The aim of this unit is to provide Learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills to manage data using technology.
Unit Content
LO1 Understand the common functions of spreadsheet programs
Instances when a spreadsheet tool is the most appropriate program to use: data analysis, calculations, reporting and visualisation, planning and tracking, data import and export, collaboration and sharing.
Meaning of a “cell”, a “sheet” and a “workbook” when using a spreadsheet tool
- Cell: smallest unit of a worksheet, data can be entered, stored, and manipulated, identified by a unique combination of its column letter and row number, known as its cell reference
- Sheet: also known as a worksheet or a tab, a single page within a workbook where data is organised and manipulated, workbooks can contain multiple sheets, each identified by a unique name
- Workbook: a collection of one or more sheets or worksheets contained within a single file, serves as the primary document or file where users store and manipulate data
Programs that could be used for data management: including but not limited to: Google Sheets, Microsoft Access, SQL Server Management Studios, Tableau, Power BI, Python, R Programming Language, Microsoft Excel.
LO2 Be able to use a spreadsheet tool to manage data
Creating and saving a spreadsheet: find the program, open the program, select a new blank workbook, and save the file, file formats, and file name.
Entering data into a spreadsheet: cell formats, text, paragraphs, copy and paste into a cell, dates. Splitting and merging a cell: why merge a cell, why split a cell, how to split a cell, how to merge a cell.
Sorting data using a single criteria: alphabetical, size, smallest to largest, largest to smallest.
Completing calculations using relative cell references and formulae with up to two mathematical operators: addition, subtraction, mean, count, and auto sum.
Replicating values and formulae: replicate vertically, replicate horizontally, dates.
Applying conditional formatting to a data set
- Highlight cells rules: format cells that contain specific values, are greater than/less than a certain number, or fall within a specified range.
- Top/bottom rules: highlight the top 10%, bottom 10%, above average, or below average values.
- Data bars: display coloured bars that visually represent the value in each cell relative to the others.
- Colour scales: apply a gradient of colours based on the cell values, often used to show data distribution.
- Icon sets: display icons such as arrows, flags, or circles based on cell values.
LO3 Understand where to use data modelled using a spreadsheet program
Circumstances where data should be presented as a table: comparing multiple variables or categories, displaying exact values, organising structured data, handling large data sets, highlighting relationships between data points, comparing data over time, summarising data with totals and averages, presenting data, displaying survey results, providing reference information, etc.
Circumstances where data should be presented as a graph: visualising trends, comparing categories or graphs, displaying proportions or percentages, highlighting relationships or correlations, displaying distributions, illustrating hierarchal data, tracking progress, presenting complex data in a simple way, etc.
Instances when a Comma-Separated Values (CSV) file would be required: data import or export between systems, bulk uploading data, storing structured data, data analysis, data backup, data sharing, web scraping, data collection, etc.
LO4 Be able to use data modelled using a spreadsheet program in additional programs
Using a spreadsheet tool to create a graph: select data, format data, select graph type, graph layout, add elements to graph, remove elements to graph, colour, font.
Reformatting a table created in a spreadsheet program: colour, font, outlines, bold, italics., etc.
