Empowering Teachers with Google Sheets: A Beginner-Friendly Workshop

Welcome to the first module of our Google Sheets training programme. Google Sheets is a powerful and user-friendly online spreadsheet application. It allows you to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets in real time, with many built-in features that make data management easier.

This beginner-level course is designed to help new computer users become confident in Google Sheets quickly. We will explore the interface, learn how to print and share spreadsheets, work through simple practical examples, and cover the basics of formatting.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to create new spreadsheets, use basic formulas, format their work to look clean and professional, and save, print, and share their spreadsheets effectively.

The criteria for Google Sheets are as follows:

Please make sure that you can do ALL of the items below. You have to be able to:

  • Open Google Sheets
  • Create a new workbook.
  • Type text or numbers into a cell.
  • Basic formula use (add, subtract, divide and multiply)
  • Resize columns and rows.
  • Zoom in and out
  • Select a cell, copy and paste the cell content or move it.
  • Select a range of cells, copy and paste the cell content or move them.
  • Open a recently used document.
  • Print a document - fit an entire worksheet on one page.
  • Print a worksheet - fit all columns on one page.
  • Save the workbook.
  • Close Google Sheets.
  • All basic skills, including:
    • Place borders around a cell or range of cells.
    • Shade a cell or a range of cells.
    • Use the Autofill feature.
    • Change font type, size and colour.
  • Can use the following functions:
    • SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, COUNT
  • Can use the apostrophe to prevent cells doing automatic date/time/dropped zero.
  • Print/Export/Download as a PDF.
  • Uses cell references instead of typing in values.
  • Can sort a column, or range, numerically or alphabetically.
  • Knows at least three keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets.
  • Understands the differences between the various number, date and currency formats in the ‘Number’ group on the ribbon.

Activity 1: Getting Started with Google Sheets

In this exercise, you will apply basic formatting, adjust column widths, and use formulas to calculate averages and counts.

Instructions:

  1. Open My Beginner Budget
  2. Set up your table:
    • In Row 1, create headers: Category, Planned Amount, Actual Amount, Difference.
    • In A2 - A8, list the categories: Rent, Groceries, Transport, Entertainment, Savings, Miscellaneous, Total
  3. Enter sample data (Look at the example)
    • Fill in Planned Amounts for each category
    • Fill in Actual Amounts for each category
  4. Use basic formulas:
    • In the Difference column, subtract Actual Amount from Planned Amount using a formula
    • At the bottom of the Planned, Actual, and Difference columns, use SUM to get totals.
  5. Format your sheet:
    • Bold and centre the headers and add borders to the table.
    • Shade the header row (A1 - D1) to the colour cornflower blue.
    • Shade column A2-A8 to the colour light cornflower blue 2.
    • Format the amounts as currency.
  6. Practice cell selection, copying, and moving:
    • Copy one formula down the Difference column using Autofill.
    • Move or adjust a category or amount to see how the formulas update automatically.

Activity 2: Google Sheet Certified

Activity one (ALL)

  1. Register for an account on the GFCGlobal platform
  2. Complete the Google Sheet GCFGlobal course. Make sure that you make notes as you go along. Watch the videos and complete the tasks within the course.
  3. Complete the Google Sheet assessment and download the certificate.
  4. Save it in your with the file name googlesheetbadge_YournameYoursurname.pdf e.g. googlesheetbadgeRayleneDonson.pdf.
  5. Email your certificate to the facilitator: raylenedonson327@gmail.com.

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