Lesson Plan

D r e a m C a r s

Computer Foundations Jim Moore

Introduction

Standards

Objectives

Activities

Assessment

Results

Resources

(Internet Tutorial)

(Spreadsheet Tutorial)

Paradise High School
Home Page
(Acceptable Use Policies)

(MSN Carpoint Auto Research)

(Where Smart Car Buyers Start)

(Kelley Blue Book
Guiding The Car Buyer)

(CarSmart-Where America Shops For Cars)

(Auto Research)

Introduction
Each student in class has received an opportunity to purchase the car of their dreams. Using the internet and a spreadsheet, each student will compare the cars based on base price and at least five additional options.

Subject: Computer Foundations
Topic: Spreadsheets
Grade Level: 9-12
Student Lesson name and URL:
http://ctap295.ctaponline.org/~jmoore/Student/index.html

Standards Addressed
Career Preparation Standards

                     Business Education Technology Core
                     9-12th Grade
                     Computer Foundations
                     Spreadsheets and Internet

Standard 5

Students will understand financial concepts in business situations. They will use appropriate technology and access resources to solve computational problems.

Standard 9

Students will understand technology used in business. They will utilize technology to access, manipulate, and produce information.

Utilize a variety of software programs to manipulate, analyze and produce data. (5,9)
Use electronic media, manuals, and tutorials as resources to access information. (5,9)
Solve problems effectively by utilizing appropriate technology. (5)
Create, format and produce documents. (9)
Apply a rational decision-making process to solve common business problems in a dynamic environment. (5,9)
Demonstrate self-motivation and use motivation techniques in classroom and small group situations. (9)
Identify the steps necessary to produce desired results and effect change. (5,9)

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Instructional Objectives

Use internet sites to obtain information to compile a spreadsheet.
After obtaining information, plan and create a spreadsheet.
Enter the appropriate text, dates, numbers
Develop and edit formulas including: functions (avg, sum, count , min, max), autosum, and references (cell, absolute, relative) using both the formula bar and the traditional method
Define a range of cells to: move, copy, delete and fill
Apply font styles (typeface, size, color), and number formats (currency, percent, date and decimals)
Appy spreadsheet formats including (margins, page orientation, spelling, date functions, borders and/or patterns, shading, gridlines or use of autoformat
Modify the size of rows and columns, and the alignment of cell content.
Select a designated area, preview and print.
Create and modify charts using chart wizard.

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Student Activities

This lesson will come at the end of a spreadsheet and Internet unit. We will begin with a discussion of the auto market, including popular new cars available in the consumer car market. The review of the basics of the Internet, accecptable use policy of the Internet, and spreadsheets will also be discussed. Additional review will be done with tutorial web sites.

After the review (if necessary), the students will obtain information about new cars from various Internet sites. These sites will concentrate on new car prices and the price of each accessory for a car. Choosing three cars and different accessories for each car (accessories include a different engine, adding a luggage rack, etc.), the students will demonstrate the ability to plan and create a spreadsheet with the data, and finally, create a bar graph illustrating their results. Each car will be projected over a three year period, starting with the current year. A percentage increase of 7.5% must be added for each additional year for car price and for each accessory.

Introductory Activity

Class discussion of popular cars in the consumer car market
Review Acceptable use policies of Paradise High
Review spreadsheet basics
Review internet basics

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Enabling Activities

Students will research on the internet and choose 3 popular cars and at least five options for each car.
Students will plan and create a spreadsheet which lists their cars and options, with prices over a three year period, starting with the current year. Each year will have a 7.5% increase in the price of the car and options.
Students will create a worksheet chart illustrating at least one characteristic relating to all cars. An example might be a chart showing the difference among the base price of each car in a given year.
Students will present results to the class.

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Culminating Activity

Students will use their completed spreadsheet to:

create a worksheet chart which will illustrate their selected cars and their prices
present their results to the class.
take a post-test demonstrating their understanding of the internet/spreadsheet unit lesson objectives.

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Assessment

Students will be assessed using the following rubric:

                       4 = Exemplary (exceeds standards)
                       3 = Proficient (meets standard)
                       2 = Basic
                       1 = Needs Improvement

Expectations

Students will: 4 3 2 1

Explore and obtain information from the internet from numerous sites.

Create a spreadsheet using effective formatting techniques.

Develop reference, absolute and function formulas.

Preview and print the spreadsheet (May be graded in print preview)

Create a bar graph from information compiled in spreadsheet

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Results

The following chart illustrates the student scores of the pre, post test and the project.

The students all improved from their pre-test to their post test. None of the students were below basic standards and many did exemplary work on their project.

Web Resources & Supplementary Materials

Introductory Activity

The following links will allow students to review spreadsheet fundamentals

Spreadsheet Turtorial:

http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/excel/basics.html
http://www.anglia.co.uk/education/mathsnet/a2zofssheets.html
http://www.usd.edu/trio/tut/excel/3.html

The following link will allow students to review acceptable use policies for Paradise High.

http://www.paradisedirect.com/pusd/phs/pages/PUSDaup/cover.html

The following links will allow students to review internet basics.

http://www.microsoft.com/insider/internet/
http://www.learnthenet.com/english/section/intbas.html
http://www.netc.org/basics/

Internet/Spreadsheet Pre Test

Enabling Activity

The students wil find the cost of each vehicle and accessories using these links.