Shift+F7
Thesaurus
Shift+F3
Change case of selected text
Line-spacing Example:
It is generally easier to proofread your work if it is displayed in double line-spacing.
Remember to restore single line-spacing before printing the final version.
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Why?
■ May be easier for some learners to follow lines.
■ Tutor and/or learner can easily indicate changes during proofreading.
■ Better than using the Enterkey to insert extra lines as inserting or deleting text would then give undesired results.
How?
■ Highlight the required text.
■ Hold down the Controlkey (Ctrl) while pressing the 2key (for double line-spacing). ■ Ctrl+1restores text to single line-spacing.
■ Line-spacing can be precisely customised using Format, Paragraph.
Macros
Advanced users
Macros are a way of recording the keystrokes you use to perform a particular task, so that the sequence can be recreated by pressing just two keys on the keyboard. Why?
■ To provide yourself with a shortcut for tasks you repeat often.
■ To perform ICT tasks for learners when you/they are interested in the end result rather than the ICT skills needed to create it. For example:
• a macro in Excel to create a bar chart from a given set of data, so that the
learner can model the data and compare the resulting charts without having to use the Chart Wizard
• a macro in Microsoft Word to convert a sentence typed in by a learner into a flashcard-sized table.
How?
■ Tools, Macro, Record new macro.
■ Specify a macro name and a keystroke combination.
■ Make sure you save the macro only in the current document or workbook, not the Normal Template.
■ Carry out the keystrokes necessary to perform the task. ■ Click Stop recording.
The Macro dialogue box is different in Excel and Word, but both are straightforward.
Microsoft Excel - Default font
You may want to change the font style and size used by Excel, for example to
Arial
size 16
from Times New Roman size 10.Why?
■ A different font or size may be preferred, or required for accessibility reasons. Changing the default saves having to change the settings each time.
How?
■ Tools, Options. ■ Click the Generaltab.
■ Change the default style and size. ■ Click OK.
Microsoft Excel - Fractions, decimals and percentages Example:
Fraction lowest terms decimal percentage
4/6 2/3 0.67 67% 80/100 4/5 0.80 80% 17/25 17/25 0.68 68% 24/33 8/11 0.73 73% 16/24 2/3 0.67 67% Why?
■ To explore the conversion of fractions to decimals, cancellation of fractions to the lowest terms, conversion to percentages, etc. and to be able to format cells appropriately.
How?
Entering fractions
■ Highlight the column in which you want to enter the fractions. ■ Select Format, Cells.
■ Choose the Number taband select Fractionfrom the list.
Excel will automatically cancel the fraction to its lowest terms. You may want to pre- format the spreadsheet for your learner so that the first column is formatted as text and the second as 2-digit fractions. When the learner enters the same fractions in both columns, they will see the fractions reduced to their lowest terms in column B only. How?
Converting fractions and decimals to percentages
■ Highlight the cell(s) containing the fraction or decimal and click the percentage button on the toolbar.
■ You may want your learner to copy the values into a different column before doing this, so they can compare the two columns.
How?
Converting fractions and percentages to decimals ■ Highlight the cells containing the data.
■ Format, Cells.
■ Click the Numbertab. ■ Choose Numberfrom the list.
■ Choose the number of decimal places and click OK.
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Microsoft Excel - Hide gridlines Example:
Why?
■ To improve the appearance of the sheet, especially if you or your learners are using colour/images. How?
■ Tools, Options, View. ■ Under Window Options, remove the tick next to Gridlines.
Microsoft Excel - Increase and decrease decimal buttons
These buttons are shortcuts to increase or decrease the number of places displayed after the decimal point.
Why?
■ To explore rounding/significant figures. How?
■ Highlight the cell(s) and click the relevant button once or more.
■ Some learners may understand the process better if they are also shown how to do this using Format, Cells, Number.
Microsoft Excel – Maps Example:
You can insert a range of maps and label them in various ways. The example here has labels for cities. Hovering over a black marker shows the city name – you can then hold down the mouse and drag the label into the white area.
Why?
■ Use illustrations and captions to locate information (Rt/E2.4). ■ Use written words or phrases to record or present information (Wt/E2.1). How?
■ Insert, Object, Microsoft Map ■ Choose a region.
■ Double-click to see the map toolbar – you can use the existing labels from the Tools menu on the Maptoolbar and/or add your own labels using the Add textbutton.
■ Depending on which options have been installed on your machine, you may be able to access other features.
■ Click in the worksheet area when you have finished.
Microsoft Excel – Rounding Example:
Number Rounded Rounded to Rounded to Rounded to Rounded to to 2 d.p. 1 d.p. nearest nearest 10 nearest 100
integer 15.23 15.23 15.20 15.00 20.00 0.00 37.431 37.43 37.40 37.00 40.00 0.00 156.871 156.87 156.90 157.00 160.00 200.00 234878.88 234878.88 234878.90 234879.00 234880.00 234900.00 Why?
■ To explore rounding in various ways. How?
■ Set up the spreadsheet in advance by entering the RoundFunction (see below) in certain columns, using the fill handle to replicate the formula down columns. The learner can enter unformatted numbers into column A, then copy and paste into the other columns to explore the results or check work previously done on a worksheet.
■ There are two values in the brackets; the first value is the cell reference or the actual number you want to round, the second is the number of places you want to round to.
■ If this second number = 0, Excel rounds to the nearest whole number. ■ If this second number >0, Excel rounds to that number of decimal places.
■ If this second number <0 (i.e. it is negative), Excel rounds to that number of places to the LEFT of the decimal point.
Number Rounded Formula
15.25 15.00 = Round(A1,0) 15.375 15.38 = Round(A3,2) 15 15.00 = Round(A4,2) 15.25 20.00 = Round(A5,-1) 155 200.00 = Round(A6-2) 3,487,364 3000000.00 = Round(A7,-6)
Microsoft Excel – Self-checking tasks Why?
■ Whilst it is easy to insert a hyperlink into an answer sheet or even to ask learners to check their answers against a paper copy, it is pedagogically sound practice for basic