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Using Spreadsheet Software as a Database and for Designing Forms

published on: 2/28/2003

Contributing Teacher(s): Glenda Eppard,

Subject Area: Tech Prep/Business, Management and Technology, Vocational/Business/Business,

Grade Range: High School (9-12)

Materials Needed:

• national brand cereal
• private label cereal
• plastic sandwich bags
• computer with spreadsheet software
• access to computer network

Objective:

Essential Question:

Instructional Strategy:

Process Standards: Goal 1.4 use technological tools and other resources to locate, select and organize information
Goal 1.8 organize data, information and ideas into useful forms (including charts, graphs, outlines)
Goal 4.6 identify tasks that require a coordinated effort and work with others to complete those tasks

Content Standards: CA6, MA1, SS4,

G.L.E.:

Time Allowance: Part A - 1 Class period (55 minutes) Part B - 1 Class period (55 minutes)

Technological Resources:

Extensions:

Integration:

Differentiation:

Assessment:

Description: Students complete cereal product evaluations comparing a national label cereal and a private label cereal--computer applications

Comments:

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Classroom Component:
Instructional Activity/Lesson Plan Outline

Synopsis

PART A:  SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE AS A DATABASE

Students will complete cereal product evaluation comparing a national label brand cereal and a private label cereal of the same type cereal.  The product evaluation will be conducted in two parts.  Part 1 is where the student does not know the cereal names and will be comparing which product has the better flavor, texture, color, overall appearance.  Part 2 is where the student has been told the cereal names and will answer questions comparing the two known products.  After completion of each part, the student will record and save their responses in a worksheet file that has been stored in a common directory on the network.  The use of the same file in a common directory will simulate the operation procedure used by Jasper Foods, Inc., Joplin, Missouri where several employees have access to the same file - one at a time.  If this file is currently in use a “read only status” message will appear.  This prevents any modifications being made to the file until the current user saves and closes the file.  After all responses have been entered, the class will review and discuss the results of the survey and the process of using a common file.

 

PART B:  SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE USED FOR DESIGNING FORMS

Students will be given copies of two forms used by the Quality Assurance Department of Jasper Foods, Inc. in Joplin, Missouri, and will use spreadsheet software to create the forms.

SCANS Skills Addressed

Basic Skills Required

reading, writing, listening, speaking

Thinking Skills Required

seeing things in the mind’s eye, knowing how to learn

Personal Qualities

responsibility, sociability, self-management, integrity/honesty

Resources

select goal-relevant activities

Interpersonal

contribute to group effort

Information

acquire and evaluate information, organize and maintain information, interpret and communicate information, use computers to process information

Technology

choose procedures, tools or equipment, including computers and related technologies, understand overall intent and proper procedures for setup and operation of equipment, prevent, identify, or solve problems with equipment, including computers and other technologies

 

Background Information

The manufacturing of cereal is quite an extensive process.  It is a process that integrates the use of computers throughout the whole production cycle of the product.  Data and information would be extremely difficult to manage without the use of computers.

 

Determining Prior Knowledge

Use the following “set” to begin the unit

Share with the students “Research has shown that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”  Ask the students “How many of you had breakfast this morning? (wait for a response) Those of you who did have breakfast, how many of you chose a ready-made cereal to eat for breakfast? (wait for response) Those of you who chose to eat cereal for breakfast, how many of you would prefer to eat a national brand cereal like one made by Kellogg's because you think it is a better product? (wait for response) How many of you do not care if it is a national brand cereal but like the private label cereal just as well?”

Solicit information from students on their perceived concepts of how computers are used in the entire process of making ready-made cereal.

 

Share with the students “The manufacturing of cereal is quite an extensive process.  It is a process that integrates the use of computers throughout the whole production cycle of the product.  Data and information would be extremely difficult to manage without the use of computers.  This unit you are about to begin with give you some insight into data and information that is used in the production of cereal and how computers are needed to manage the entire production cycle.”

 

Advanced Preparations

1.   Teacher needs to be familiar with using a computer and spreadsheet software.

2.   Teacher needs to prepare for each student two cereal samples each placed in a plastic sandwich bag - one sample from a national brand cereal and another sample from a private label cereal and label one Sample A and the other Sample B.  Both samples should be of the same type cereal (i.e. comparing national brand cocoa puffs with a private label brand of cocoa puffs).

3.   Teacher should not inform the students which sample is the national brand cereal or the private label cereal until Part 2 of the lesson.

4.   Teacher needs to ask the network manager to create a directory on the network (i.e. f:\public\jasper\common\ ) that only the students in this class will have rights to access.  Two spreadsheet files need to be placed in the common directory.  These files are called "survey" and "jasper" used in Parts 1 and 2 of the cereal product evaluation.  These files need to be set so (1) students can make modifications to the file and (2) if a student tries to open a file while someone else is using it, they will get a message stating it has “read status only.”

5.   Teacher needs to print off the necessary hard copies of the following handouts entitled:

CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION National Brand vs. Private Label - Part 1 of 2

CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION National Brand vs. Private Label - Part 2 of 2

FORMS DESIGNED BY A SPREADSHEET FOR THE USE OF MANUFACTURING CEREAL

Q.A. Lab

YSI Daily Operational Checks (Handouts are included at the end of this lesson.)

6.   Optional Activity: Arrange for the class to have a field trip to a food manufacturer (preferably to a cereal manufacturer) to observe the entire process of making the product and what part computers play in the process.

 

 

Lesson Description

Teacher Activities

Part A:  CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION

      Complete Advanced Preparations

      Introduce the unit using the “set” described “Determining Prior Knowledge” above

      Pass out the two cereal samples to each student as well as the Cereal Product Evaluation Forms - Part 1 and Part 2

      Instruct the students to follow the directions on the handout entitled:

 

   CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION National Brand vs. Private Label - Part 1 of 2

 

      Instruct the students to follow the directions on the handout entitled:

 

   CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION National Brand vs. Private Label - Part 2 of 2

 

      Review and discuss with the students the results of the survey and the process of using a common file after all responses have been entered.

 

Part B:  FORMS DESIGNED BY A SPREADSHEET

      Pass out the handouts (along with the two forms attached to it entitled "Q.A. Lab" and "YSI Daily Operational Checks" entitled:

 

FORMS DESIGNED BY A SPREADSHEET FOR THE USE OF MANUFACTURING CEREAL

 

      Instruct the students to follow the directions on the handout entitled:

 

FORMS DESIGNED BY A SPREADSHEET FOR THE USE OF MANUFACTURING CEREAL

 

Student Activities

Part A:  CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION

      When instructed by the teacher, complete handouts entitled:

 

CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION National Brand vs. Private Label - Part 1 of 2

 

CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION National Brand vs. Private Label - Part 2 of 2

 

      Participate in the class discussion over the results of the survey and the process of using a common file.

 

Part B:  FORMS DESIGNED BY A SPREADSHEET

      When instructed by the teacher, complete handout entitled:

 

FORMS DESIGNED BY A SPREADSHEET FOR THE USE OF MANUFACTURING CEREAL

Problem-Based Situation

 

Hands-on/Performance Component

Students will have “hands-on” in conducting a cereal product evaluation, recording data in a file that is shared by many users, and will use computer spreadsheet software to construct two forms used in the manufacturing of cereal products.

 

Important Terms Used

      computer - an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory unit, arithmetically and logically, produce output from the processing, and store the results for future use and used both in manufacturing process and office environments.

      database - collection of data that is stored in related files.

      national brand cereal - cereal produced by a national brand manufacturer such as Kellogg's, General Mills, Quaker Foods.

      private label cereal -   cereal produced by a manufacturer, comparable to a national brand cereal, sold under a private label such as Always Save, Jasper Foods, Amway, Albertson’s.

      spreadsheet software - computer software that allows the user to organize numeric data in a worksheet or table format called a spreadsheet for calculations or for manipulation of data in the form of a database.

 

Assessment/Evaluation of Student Progress (Performance-Based)

Part A - CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION

Student has successfully completed cereal product evaluation by using the computer and entered their results in the file named "survey" located in the common directory on the computer network and actively participates in class discussion on results of the survey and the process of using a common file.

Part B - FORMS DESIGNED BY A SPREADSHEET

Student has successfully completed designing a form using a spreadsheet by the printing of the forms the student created. 

 

References

Shelly, Gary, Thomas J. Cashman, Gloria A. Waggoner, William C. Waggoner, Using Computers: A Gateway to Information, 1995, boyd & fraser publishing company.

 

The Show-Me Standards, Overview of Performance Standards, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Available: http://www.dese.state.mo.us/standards/process.html

 

The Show-Me Standards, Overview of Knowledge Standards, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Available: http://www.dese.state.mo.us/standards/content.html

                

CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION National Brand vs. Private Label - Part 1 of 2 Name____________________________ Date____________________ Hour_______ Directions:

After you have received your two product samples labeled Sample A and Sample B, complete the product evaluation below.

Using Lotus 1-2-3 software, open the appropriate worksheet file on the network to enter your responses. The file is located at ____________________________________________ ("f:\public\jasper\common\survey.wk4" for example). If you receive a message when opening the file that says “read status only,” this means the file is currently in use by someone else and you will need to wait until they have saved and closed the file before you will be able to enter your data.

Save your entry and close the file.

Give the completed form to your instructor after you have entered your responses into the worksheet.

You will be given Part 2 of this evaluation after all students have completed this portion of the product evaluation.

PRODUCT COMPARISON: SAMPLE A vs. SAMPLE B / Cereal Names Unknown Evaluate Product (enter 1 or 0) 1 = Better        0 = Worse Sample A Sample B                 Choose Product (enter Sample A or Sample B)  

Which product has the better:

flavor?

texture?

color that is more appealing?

overall appearance?

The product I would purchase would be (choose one):

Comments:

CEREAL PRODUCT EVALUATION National Brand vs. Private Label - Part 2 of 2 Name____________________________ Date____________________ Hour_______ Directions:

After you have received the information to fill in below, answer the remaining questions.

Using Lotus 1-2-3 software, open the appropriate worksheet file on the network to enter your responses. The file is located at ____________________________________________ ("f:\public\jasper\common\jasper.wk4" for example). If you receive a message when opening the file that says “read status only”, this means the file is currently in use by someone else and you will need to wait until they have saved and closed the file before you will be able to enter your data.

Save your entry and close the file.

Give the completed form to your instructor after you have entered your responses into the worksheet.

PRODUCT COMPARISON: National Brand vs. Private Label / Cereal Names Known

Fill In As Provided by Instructor: Sample ______ Private-Label Brand/Product Name___________________________________________ Sample ______ National Brand Label/Product Name__________________________________________
This private-label brand is (select one):	equal in quality
	better
	worse
This private-label brand matches the national brand (select one):	yes
	no
Comments:

FORMS DESIGNED BY A SPREADSHEET FOR THE USE OF MANUFACTURING CEREAL Name____________________________ Date____________________ Hour____ Directions:

Using your computer and the spreadsheet software, create the two attached forms which are used in the Quality Assurance Lab of Jasper Foods, Inc., Joplin, Missouri.

Add as a footer in the lower-right corner for each form the name of the file and the date it was revised as shown on each handout.

Save each document with the following file name: document labeled “Q. A. Lab” - save as - quallab.wk4 document labeled “YSI Daily Operational Checks” - save as - ysicheck.wk4

Print one copy of each document.

Staple both hard copies to this sheet and turn in to the class work folder.

SCORING GUIDESpreadsheet as a Database and for Designing Forms

Name	Hour
Spreadsheet as a DataBase
Item	Points Earned
Directions correctly followed	2	1	0
Data entered correctly	2	1	0
Surveys correctly filled out	2	1	0
Spreadsheet for Designing Forms
"Q.A. Lab Form"	Points Earned
Directions correctly followed	2	1	0
Neat appearance	2	1	0
No misspelled words	2	1	0
Data entered correctly	2	1	0
Form printed	2	1	0
"YSI Daily Operational Checks Form"	Points Earned
Directions correctly followed	2	1	0
Neat appearance	2	1	0
No misspelled words	2	1	0
Data entered correctly	2	1	0
Form printed	2	1	0
TOTAL POINTS EARNED

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