Objectives

• Gain experience in window mangement and having multiple applications in use.
• Learn the meanings of the following terms:
  Cell, Spreadsheet, "What if" Question.
• Gain practice using the WWW as a tool.
• Begin using a spreadsheet to organize information.
• Explore some of the visual options on the Excel spreadsheet, such as color, font size, etc.
• Explore some of the capabilities of the spreadsheet.
• Explore some of the history of the spreadsheet.

This assignment should be completed individually unless you still don't have your own computer, but consultation with one another is encouraged.

First, open a Microsoft Word document and save it as YourUserNameA2. You will use this Word document for answering questions. In this assignment, you will use the WWW to learn about the spreadsheet and then you will use the Excel spreadsheet to create your weekly schedule. You will then paste a copy of the schedule into your Word document.

Here is a schedule of mine that was created in Excel:

Part 1: Using the WWW, find answers to the following questions. . In complete sentences and with corrected spelling, type your answers to the following questions using Microsoft Word. Be sure to put your name in the header. Be sure to give references using both the title and the URL.

1. What is a spreadsheet? And, at what types of tasks do spreadsheets excel? (I know this is a bad pun, but please answer it anyway!)
   
2. What was the name of the first electronic spreadsheet program, when was it invented, and by whom?
   
3. When was the spreadsheet program Lotus 1-2-3 invented, and by whom? List a couple of ways that the spreadsheet program Lotus 1-2-3 an improvement over the first spreadsheet program?
   
4. We are using Microsoft Excel as our spreadsheet program. When was it invented and what was new about it?
   
5. What is a "what if" question, and how can a spreadsheet help you answer a "what if" question?

Part II: You will now use the Excel spreadsheet program to answer some questions about some of its features and abilities and to create your weekly schedule. Finally, you will paste a copy of the schedule into your Word document. First, open a new spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and save it as YourUserName schedule (For example, mine would be "PearceJ schedule")

6. Each of the rectangular boxes on the spreadsheet worksheet shown in my schedule above is called a cell which is the smallest working unit on a spreadsheet. Open your Excel Spreadsheet program. How many columns are there in an Excel spreadsheet? If you need more columns, can you get more? How many cells are there? If you need more cells can you get more?
   
7. Save your file onto your computer harddrive as Username Schedule. After hovering your cursor over each of the following to find the purpose of the following symbols on the Excel spreadsheet, use the "what's this" tool under help to get more detail. Then briefly describe the name and purpose of each in about a sentence or two.
   
   1. or or
   2. 
   3. 
   4. 
   5. 
   
   
8. Using Excel, create your own weekly schedule. Useful Tips: You can use the copy and paste commands to insert identical information in several cells without typing them in each time. Also, the undo command, Ctrl and Z keys, is VERY handy in case you did something wrong. In fact, Excel keeps a list of previous commands, so you can undo quite a number if necessary.
   Be sure to do all of the following:
   • Don't forget to save often and keep a back-up!
   • Include your name and all your classes.
   • Use the (merge and center--a center across columns tool) found on the formatting toolbar to center your name or other identifying information across several cells of your spreadsheet.
   • Use at least two font sizes.
   • Copy and paste to repeat an entry for your CSC 205 course.
   • Use the border tool for emphasis somewhere.
   • Use Colors or Patterns or both to shade some cells.
   • Include times with AM and PM by changing the cell format of the entire column to number: time. (Select the entire column by clicking on the column letter.)
   • Change the width of some of your columns so that the schedue will easily fit on a standard-size page.
     
9. Open Word while Excel is still open. Highlight the information in Excel and copy it. Then paste it into Word.
   
10. When you have completed the assignment, drop your Word file named YourUserNameA2.doc (only) into the CSC 205 dropbox on the Academic server that is labelled "A2 Schedule Drop."