Spreadsheet and VBA workshop

Fun with numbers.

After a recent post that I wrote about fun things you can do with spreadsheets, I've decided for my last of 4 'active lectures' at Hambridge University with this group, I'm going to do some work on spreadsheets - some fun and games, then some VBA coding to go behind the scenes.

What will the students be learning/thinking?

• The shear size and power of spreadsheets in terms of volume and complexity.
• Using 'functions' or pre-programmed words, especially =sum(  ), =if(  )
• Writing simple macros to automate jobs
• Writing more complex macros

Preparation

Check Excel is available

Introduction

Try to go to the end and bottom, discuss size. Calculate in a spreadsheet.

Open this spreadsheet and have a little play.

Further steps

This spreadsheet will allow you to make a quiz using a simple =if (   ) function. Make a 'SATs' quiz - I don't care what the questions are!

Next steps - starting with Macros. 

Use this worksheet to guide through creating macros in Excel