Course Title: Develop and use complex spreadsheets
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2017
Course Code: COSC6185C
Course Title: Develop and use complex spreadsheets
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5343 - Diploma of Financial Planning
Course Contact: Callie Harvey
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5772
Course Contact Email: callie.harvey@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Your Course Coordinator and Teacher for Semester 1, 2017 will be Claude Marasco.
Claude is on campus Monday to Thursday and is available by appointment only on these days.
He can be contacted by phone on 9925 1651 or via email at claudio.marasco@rmit.edu.au.
Nominal Hours: 50
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use spreadsheet software to complete business tasks and produce complex documents.
It applies to individuals employed in a range of work environments who require skills in creation of complex spreadsheets to store and retrieve data. They may work as individuals providing administrative support within an enterprise, or may be independently responsible for designing and working with spreadsheets relevant to their own work roles.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBITU402 Develop and use complex spreadsheets |
Element: |
1. Prepare to develop spreadsheet |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Organise personal work environment in accordance with ergonomic requirements 1.2 Analyse task and determine specifications for spreadsheets 1.3 Identify organisational and task requirements of data entry, storage, output, reporting and presentation requirements 1.4 Apply work organisation strategies and energy and resource conservation techniques to plan work activities |
Element: |
2. Develop a linked spreadsheet solution |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Utilise spreadsheet design software functions and formulae to meet identified requirements 2.2 Link spreadsheets in accordance with software procedures 2.3 Format cells and use data attributes assigned with relative and/or absolute cell references, in accordance with task specifications 2.4 Test formulae to confirm output meets task requirements |
Element: |
3. Automate and standardise spreadsheet operation |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Evaluate tasks to identify those where automation would increase efficiency 3.2 Create, use and edit macros to fulfil requirements of task and automate spreadsheet operation 3.3 Develop, edit and use templates to ensure consistency of design and layout for forms and reports, in accordance with organisational requirements |
Element: |
4. Use spreadsheets |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Enter, check and amend data in accordance with organisational and task requirements 4.2 Import and export data between compatible spreadsheets and adjust host documents, in accordance with software and system procedures 4.3 Use manuals, user documentation and online help to overcome problems with spreadsheet design and production 4.4 Preview, adjust and print spreadsheet in accordance with organisational and task requirements 4.5 Name and store spreadsheet in accordance with organisational requirements and exit application without data loss or damage |
Element: |
5. Represent numerical data in graphic form |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Determine style of graph to meet specified requirements and manipulate spreadsheet data if necessary to suit graph requirements 5.2 Create graphs with labels and titles from numerical data contained in a spreadsheet file 5.3 Save, view and print graph within designated timelines |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
The self-paced activities will be delivered thought various technology platforms and include your contribution to activities, discussion threads, reflective journals on industry updates, presentations, quizzes and interactive sessions.
The collaborative classroom based activities will include role plays, group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment. You are expected to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.
Teaching Schedule
Induction Session
Prior to training commencement a program level induction session will be conducted that comprises the following:
- Program overview and requirements
- MyRMIT/Blackboard
- Overview of assessment requirements
- Pre-Training Review including:
- Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfers
- Assessment of current skills and knowledge
- Competency/Grading Criteria
- Plagiarism
- Appeals
- Extensions
- Feedback
- Privacy
- Submission requirements
- Re-submission policy
- Where to get support
- Student responsibilities.
The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
The Teaching Schedule for this course is attached to this document (Part B) but please note that it is subject to change.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
"Develop and Use Complex Spreadsheets", Microsoft Excel 2013, Tilde Publishing and Distribution. |
978-0-7346-0855-0 |
References
Other Resources
Online learning materials can be accessed by going into the RMIT web sites Online Learning Hub.
The online learning materials listed include:
- Course outlines
- Client Files
- Course Materials
- You-tube videos
- Supporting Reading material
- Industry relevant articles
- Activities
Prescribed Resource:
Develop and use complex spreadsheets, Microsoft Excel 2013”, Tilde skills, 2nd edition. Please refer to the Blackboard with reference to how the text can be purchased online direct from the publisher. The text is required by all students by week 2 preferably and must be brought along to all classes throughout semester 1.
Overview of Assessment
In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must provide:
Performance Evidence
Evidence of the ability to:
- follow organisational and safe work practices including:
- ergonomic requirements
- energy and resource conservation techniques
- adhere to organisational requirements for:
- ensuring consistency of style, design and layout
- saving and printing documents within designated timelines
- naming and storing documents
- adhere to identified or task requirements when producing documents including:
- editing macros and automating some tasks
- using appropriate templates
- creating graphs to represent data
- resolve issues by referring to user documentation and online help
- use appropriate data storage options
- evaluate tasks to improve efficiency
- apply knowledge of functions and features of contemporary computer applications
- communicate with relevant personnel
Knowledge Evidence
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:
- explain advanced functions of spreadsheet software applications
- describe impact of formatting and design on presentation and readability of data
- explain organisational requirements for ergonomics, work periods and breaks, and conservation techniques.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the information and communications technology – IT use field of work and include access to:
- organisational policies and procedures
- relevant workplace documentation and resources
- industry software packages and user instructions.
You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Feedback
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.
You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.
Assessment Tasks
Overview of Assessment
This course is comprised of a single competency but the materials and assessments will make reference to Cluster 3 - Conduct Research Analysis in Superannuation
Critical Aspects of assessment are described above in the performance evidence for this course.
The assessments for this course have been designed to allow participants apply their learning to particular simulated work scenarios and demonstrate their competence in a variety of ways.
Task 1 – Portfolio of Activities (Weeks 3 - 15)
For this assessment task you are required to produce a progressive individual portfolio comprised of eight practical exercises from your workbook: “Develop and use complex spreadsheets, Microsoft Excel 2013”, Tilde skills, 2nd edition.
You must successfully complete all of the practical exercises by the due date specified in the weekly schedule to be deemed competent for Task 1. The eight activities are to be completely progressively throughout the semester and all must be submitted no later than week 15. You must successfully complete all eight activities to be deemed competent in Assessment 1.
The aim of the practical exercises is to enhance your understanding and skills with advanced spreadsheet functions using Excel, including spreadsheet skills, formulas, creating and editing templates, using lookup functions, charting and pictures, importing and exporting data, tools for summarising data and creating macros.
Please refer to the Blackboard under the "Assessments" Folder for the detailed documentation relating to this Assessment.
Task 2 – Workplace Simulated Project - Financial Planning Spreadsheets (Week 15)
For this assessment task you will design Excel spreadsheets based on the style guide provided on the learning covered throughout the semester: Topics 1 – 21.
This assessment is progressive and you will be provided with a copy on commencement date with the expectation that you will address the requirements at the end of each topic. Assessment 2 will be in two parts and you must successfully complete both parts to be deemed competent in Assessment 2.
You will have access to a simulated client file which will incorporate financial planning advice in Superannuation by producing a financial planning spreadsheet that includes client cash flows, budget, income and expenditure reports and Balanced Fund Asset Allocation variance reports. You are required to present data in the form of various graphs, tables and pie charts.
The purpose of the assessment is to enable you to demonstrate a breadth of understanding across all of the course material at an independent level. It assesses the knowledge you have obtained through undertaking the concepts of superannuation, your communication skills in presenting that knowledge and your problem-solving skills in answering the questions posed in a live interview with the simulated client
A number of Learning Audit Dates have been scheduled and you are expected to progress as per the set targets throughout the Assessment but it must be submitted no later than week 15.
Please refer to the Blackboard under the "Assessments" Folder for the detailed documentation relating to this Assessment.
Overall Grading and Competency
You must successfully complete both assessments to be deemed competent.
Grading will be applied once you have been deemed competent for each competency.
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
Submission Requirements
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of each assessment task is available on blackboard.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Callie Harvey, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.
Late Submission Procedures
You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.
If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days. <check links are still current>
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination. <check links are still current>
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf
Resubmissions (VET Programs):
If you are found to be unsuccessful in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is “CAG”.
If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website: <check link is still current>
More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31
Marking Guide (Competency):
You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:
Final Grades table:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment.
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview