Course Title: Develop and use complex spreadsheets
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2016
Course Code: COSC6185C
Course Title: Develop and use complex spreadsheets
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4362 - Certificate IV in Bookkeeping
Course Contact : Ben Sethia
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1374
Course Contact Email:bhupendra.sethia@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Angelo Sellan
Phone: 9255 5460
Email: angelo.sellan@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: |
4. Use spreadsheets |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Enter, check and amend data in accordance with organisational and task requirements |
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 |
Element: |
1. Prepare to develop spreadsheet |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Organise personal work environment in accordance with ergonomic requirements |
Element: |
2. Develop a linked spreadsheet solution |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Utilise spreadsheet design software functions and formulae to meet identified requirements |
Element: |
3. Automate and standardise spreadsheet operation |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Evaluate tasks to identify those where automation would increase efficiency |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
The learning activities for this course will incorporate activities based around various spread sheet topics ranging from formula construction, use of spreadsheet functions, creating templates and macros, linking worksheets and workbooks, importing data, and creating a fostering sustainable workplace pracitces and employing ergonomic principles at a workstation. All are detailed and maintained on the Blackboard for this course. Please refer to the Blackboard where the topics are under the links for weeks 1 to 8.
This course can be completed by successful application of a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or by completing the course online over 8 weeks. All information regarding RPL’s and the course materials, activities and assessments can be located in the Blackboard for this course.
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Week Commencing ~ | Assessment | Topics / Exercises |
| 1 | 1 |
Online MCQ test |
Ergonomics and Sustainability |
| 2 | 2 | Consolidation Task 3 pg 21 Consolidation Task 4 pg 22 |
Relative Vs Absolute Cell Referencing & some simple use of formula / functions. Hands on exercises 2 & 3 pg 18 & 20 |
| 3 | 3 | Consolidation Task 6 pg 60 |
Spreadsheet design: Templates and Models Hands on exercises 17, 18 & 19 commencing on page 56 |
| 4 | 4 |
Functions Hands on exercises 14 & 15 on pages 49 & 50 |
|
| 5 | 5 | Exercise in Blackboard Assessments "Financial Modelling" (Part of evidence portfolio) |
Functions Hands on exercises 20 & 21 pg 62 & 65 respectively. Hands on exercise 4 pg 23. Hands on exercise 5 pg 30. Hands on exercise 13 pg 45. Hands on exercises 22 & 23 pgs 69 & 70. |
| 6 | 6 | Consolidated task 11 pg 171 |
Macros Hands on exercise 57 pg 151, 58 pg 152 and 59 pg 154 |
| 7 | 7 | Consolidation task 8 pg 82 |
Charts Hands on exercise 24 & 25 pg 73 & 74 |
| 8 | 8 | Consolidation task 9 pg 120 |
Importing & Exporting Data Hands on exercise 43, 44, 45 and 46 commencing pg 112 |
The above schedule and assessments are subject to change at the Co-ordinators discretion.
~ Actual dates to be inserted once course commences.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Tilde skills Develop & Use Complex Spreadsheets 2nd Edition. 978-0-7346-0795-9 May be purchased directly via: http://www.thetildegroup.com/aus/catalogue/default.cfm |
References
Other Resources
All resources for activities and learning, exercises and assessments will be provided through a combination of your text and your Teacher/Mentor. Materials will be made available on the Blackboard.
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, you 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 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
Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent and will be required to demonstrate all of the indicators which are shown below.
The following range of assessment methods will be used to assess practical skills and knowledge:
1. evaluating an integrated activity which combines the elements of the competency for the course – via the assessments;
2. verbal or written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills – via the assessments;
3. setting and reviewing workplace projects and business simulations – via the assessments;
4. evaluating samples of work - via the assessments; and
5. accessing and validating third party reports - via the assessments.
Critical aspects of Assessment:
Evidence of the following is also essential:
- developing complex spreadsheets
- developing graphical representations of data contained in spreadsheets
Assessment Tasks
1. Assessment Online MCQ Test Week 1 Use Spreadsheets
This online assessment consists of multiple choice questions relating to ergonomic requirements, work organisation strategies and energy and resource conservation techniques and relevant legislation. The assessment may be completed online.
2. Portfolio of evidence (7 Consolidation Tasks)
Students will complete seven (7) practical exercises during the semester. Refer to submission requirements below. You may also be required to demonstrate how you have completed tasks via questioning and observation if required.
All the portfolio of evidence exercises will be derived from the prescribed text for this course: Tilde skills Develop & Use Complex Spreadsheets 2nd Edition. It is therefore imperative that learners avail themselves of this text.
All criteria of the assessment must be completed correctly to be deemed competent.
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
To be deemed competent students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a competency. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over multiple tasks. Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
All competency based assessments for this course must be completed to achieve CA. If a student has been marked NYC (Not Yet Competent) in any of the assessment tasks, then they will begranted a reassessment for that assessment. Reassessments will only be granted to students who were either unsuccessful in the first attempt or have an approved special consideration application (please refer to the RMIT website regarding the policy with respect to the application and submission of a special consideration).
To be deemed competent in this unit the participant will be required to demonstrate all indicators which are shown in the Assessment Tasks for each Assessment. The indicators described above are detailed further in this document.
Marking Guide (competency) for each assessment:
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT). So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention. The marking guides or assessment matrix for each assessment together with the assessment will be discussed in class by your teacher/mentor at the beginning of the semester and prior to the assessment taking place. Each student will also receive this document completed by the teacher/mentor and the feedback with regard to performance in each assessment. Feedback is incorporated in the assessment matrix which each student will be given before each assessment. This will be completed by the teacher/mentor who will then go over this document and the feedback with each student individually. The assessment matrix documents are attached to each assessment.
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency, we then grade your performance in the unit. This gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards. If you are deemed competent in the two assessments above, then you will be given a CA (competent) for this course.
Resubmissions (VET Programs)
If you are found to be Not Yet Competent 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.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview