Administrative Software: Elelctronic Spreadsheets and Data Manangement

The main things that should define what a spreadsheet is, is simply the rows, columns, and grids that are used to compare numerical data, or to record them. Spreadsheet technology is used widely for the same purposes, as it simply feels as if one is doing work on a virtual paper sheet with all their needed tally areas available. Most organizations and businesses are using spreadsheets to track their data, analyze their budgets, forecast sales, or simply tally up their expense records. On excel worksheets, formulas are readily available for use such as simple calculations and more complex calculations can be done as well. These spreadsheets are also the main thing used for testing hypothetical theories and determine scenarios.

A step-by-step guided series of lessons for students on all types of graphs. It walks students through the process of identifying the axis, plotting points, connecting points, and making sense of the outcome of data that is graphed.

In a classroom setting spreadsheets are great to use when tracking surveys. They can store huge amounts of data. Another great application of spreadsheets is that most programs has the ability to take the data and instantly make graphs and data tables on the fly.

Schools implementing the RTI approach are finding that it typically requires a three- to six-year commitment, a range consistent with the findings from systems change research. Therefore, it is important for schools to set up a data management system that will enable them to examine student data over time (e.g., by grading period, by year, or across several years). A good data management system will help principals generate accountability reports, demonstrate the success of the approach, and facilitate the sharing of data with faculty, parents, other principals, and interested community members.

A classroom-level data management system helps teacher’s track student performance. By examining the data plotted on each student’s progress monitoring graph, the teachers can determine whether students are making adequate progress. Teachers have two options for creating progress monitoring graphs for individual students in the classroom. In either case, schools must have a system in place so that teachers can enter the data for each classroom in the school or district database.