Microsoft Excel
HACC - Course Syllabus
Division: Business and Management Services
Course: CIS 135 - Intermediate Microcomputer Spreadsheet Applications 3:3:0
Instructor: Glenn P. Hoffman 780-2327
Catalog Description:
Hands-on experience with a widely used microcomputer spreadsheet applications package with emphasis on an introduction to the worksheet, graphics, database, and macro features. The course builds on the spreadsheet applications concepts and skills developed in CIS 105. A laboratory fee is required.
Prerequisite: CIS 105 or permission of the instructor.
Text: Comprehensive Microsoft Excel 97; Parsons, Oja, and Carey; Course Technology, Inc.; Cambridge, MA; 1997.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Collateral Readings: One article on an Excel feature.
Class Procedure:
This course will be presented by lecture, visual aides, technology devices, and class participation (hands-on).
Students will be required to complete and present a project/paper.
Class Policies:
Academic honesty: Honesty is expected on each examination. Violating this policy will at a minimum result in the student being asked to leave the classroom and earning a "0" on that particular examination. More extreme steps (e.g., earning a grade of "F" for the course, suspension for the college, etc.) may be considered.
Assignments: The completion and presentation of the project/paper must be completed outside of class and presented on the assigned date.
Make-up examinations & attendance policy: Make-up examinations will only be permitted for excused absences. The attendance policy for the Business and Management Services Division is stated in detail in this syllabus. This instructor defines an "unexcused" absence as any absence not approved by the instructor. There will be NO make-up for the final examination.
Examinations: All material covered in class or presented in the text may be included in the examinations. Approximately on half of each examination will consist of objective questions (multiple choice and matching) and short answer questions and the remaining half of each examination will consist of a hands-on assignment.
Grading: Grades will be assigned according to the following schedule:
A 90% - 100%
B 80% - 89%
C 70% - 79%
D 60% - 69%
F Below 60%
There will be two (2) chapter examinations and a comprehensive final examination. The chapter examinations will consist of 100 points each and the final examination will also consist of 100 points. The Excel article assignment will consist of 25 points, two homework project assignments will consist of 50 points each and the presentation of the project/paper will consist of 75 points. Total points for this class, therefore, will be 500 points.
Withdrawal policy: A "W" grade will be granted by the instructor upon request of the student from the end of the refund period until the midpoint of the course as defined in the College calendar. The student must have been attending the class in a manner consistent with the instructor’s attendance policy, have completed the required graded material, and have not been dishonest in completing the course work in order to be eligible for the "W" grade.
From the midpoint of the course through the conclusion of the course (which is the last class period), the student will receive a grade of "W" or "F" depending upon the instructor’s assessment of the student’s performance which may take into account extenuating circumstances (in general, a grade of "W" will be assigned if the student is passing the course at the time of the withdrawal and a grade of "F" will be assigned if the student is failing the course at the time of the withdrawal).
Instructor’s office information: The instructor will be available most scheduled class days either before or after class or at other times by appointment.
Refund dates: The following dates concerning refunds apply to this class:
Full refund: ____________________
2/3 refund: ____________________
1/2 refund: ____________________
Please enjoy this class!
Harrisburg Area Community College
Attendance Policy
Business and Management Services Division
The faculty of the Business and Management Services Division is concerned with the total education of the individual and his/her future opportunities in business careers. Conceptual knowledge, skill, and proficiency are essential for successful business employment and effective citizenship. Equally important are the qualities of dependability and responsibility. Therefore, students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and are responsible for all class-related work and assignments. However, circumstances may cause a student to be absent from class on occasion (e.g., illness, bad weather, accident, etc.).
The determination of the attendance policy for each course is the prerogative of the instructor, as stated in the printed course syllabus, subject to the approval of the Division Administrator. Unexcused absence will be defined in each instructor’s printed course syllabus which will be distributed to students during the first class meeting.
Students shall not be penalized for non-attendance in regularly scheduled classes except as indicated below:
Instructors have the right to recommend to the Division Administrator that a student be dropped for an excessive absence that precludes the possibility of passing the class whereupon the student will be given a grade of "F" or "W" (excessive absence will not be considered to be fewer than six unexcused class hours.
Revised: February 3, 1992
Intermediate Microcomputer Spreadsheet Applications
CIS 135
Instructor: Glenn P. Hoffman 780-2327
Spring 1999 Thursdays 7:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Date Class work Assignments & Projects Due Dates
January 14 Introduction/Administrative Items
T 1 & T2: Excel Basics
January 21 T3: More Excel Basics: Worksheets,
Formulas, Formatting
January 28 Absolute References, Printing and Study for Test 1
Page Setup, Filtering and Sorting
Lists, Charting
February 4 Test 1 (T1 – T4)
February 11 T5: Working with Excel Lists
February 18 T6: Integrating Excel with Project 1 Due (Excel Basics)
Other Programs
February 25 T7: Developing an Excel Article Review Due
Application
March 4 T8: Working with Worksheets and Study for Test 2
Workbooks
Week of March 8 Spring Break
March 18 Test 2 (T5 – T8)
March 25 T11: Importing Data into Excel
April 8 T12: Enhancing Excel with Project 2 Due (Database)
Visual Basic
April 15 More Visual Basic
April 22 Presentations (Project 3)
April 29 Presentations (Project 3) Study for Final
May 6 Presentations (Project 3)
Finals Week Final Examination
Please enjoy this class!
Article Review Format
Background:
The magazine article to be reviewed must cover an Excel feature and be dated no earlier than January 1, 1998. The article must be at least two full pages in length or its equivalent. Attach a photocopy of the article to the back of the article review. The article review must be typed, 12 point font size, and double spaced (Note: this course syllabus is typed in 12 point font size).
Specifics:
The review must contain the following items in the order given:
Additional Information:
The compliment and the criticism must refer to specific pages in the article and these references must be highlighted with pen or marker.
Both the compliment and the criticism must focus on the approach of the author, not necessarily the content of the article. You are expected to answer the following: What did the author do well? (compliment); What could the author have done to improve your reading/understanding of the article? (criticism).
The review will be graded using the following guidelines:
Presentation Project/Paper
The presentation project/paper will amount to 15% of your grade.
The topic can be any spreadsheet applications problem solution using visual basic.
Part 1:
Think of a situation that you are facing at work or at home that could be improved through the use of a macro. This could consist of almost anything. On one end of the spectrum, if you work with Excel frequently at work, and if you prepare ongoing or weekly reports, you could create a macro that would simplify your weekly reporting process. On the other end of the spectrum, if you do not currently use Excel at your workplace, think of a personal use for a spreadsheet application: perhaps you would want to put your Christmas card mailing list into Excel, or your monthly budget. This should be a useful project to you, not a time waster. Try to come up with a problem or situation that will benefit you.
Your assignment for the first part of the project is to write a paragraph fully describing the situation or problem that you will be correcting with your macro. Please fully explain the situation and why it is time consuming as the situation currently stands.
Part 2:
Plan, record, test, and if necessary edit your macro. Print out a copy of the visual basic code to turn in along with your project. Your macro must contain at least two (2) of the following macro features:
Part 3:
Write a paragraph describing how your macro resolves the problem your were having or how the macro simplifies the situation you are trying to correct. You will be presenting your project and demonstrating the use of your macro to the class (real time).
Part 4:
Save your macro, along with any necessary files that are necessary to run the macro on a floppy disk. Turn in both paragraphs along with the printed copy of the macro code with your floppy disk. These are all due on the night of the project presentation.
