This page will be about the semester's first project, the Grade Calculator project for ISM 3011 Spring 2024. The project is designed to be a tool to help students effectively monitor their academic progress throughout the semester within this course. Through the creation of this intricate spreadsheet using Excel, I learned the ways of organizing and calculating scores. I gained insights into what my performance would be like throughout the semester.
The goal of the Grade Calculator project is more than just data entry. It helps equip students with fundamental Excel skills and techniques that can be used for essential data manipulation and analysis. Through the completion of this project, I was able to learn how to utilize Excel functions such as formulas, cell merges, data validation, named ranges, tables, and graph creation/enhancements to improve functionality and visual aesthetic representation.
Furthermore, the Grade Calculator project encourages students to do self-assessments and reflect on their academic performances. This is done by visualizing grades through the tables and charts and being able to analyze our grade progression throughout the semester. For myself, I can gain valuable insights into my strengths and weaknesses for better improvement. This helps me be proactive and strive to have a better learning outcome.
Ultimately, this project helps with Excel proficiency, a mindset of continuous improvement, and a focus on self-accountability, which are important skills that can be transferable and used in world experiences that go beyond the classroom.
Throughout the Grade Calculator project, I have not only gained a greater understanding of Excel but also been able to improve and practice my organizational and analytical skills. Working on this project, I encountered challenges, especially with setting up the data validation and ensuring that all my formulas were correct. With that, one more thing I found was that after the document was saved, the formatting was a little off. It was due to the protection of some areas of the spreadsheet. However, overcoming these hurdles has been a rewarding experience; it has allowed me to develop my problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. It made me have a greater appreciation for attention to the little details. Overall, this project was a learning opportunity, equipping me with practical skills that can be used outside the classroom. I am excited about the progress I have made so far and to see how I will apply these new skills and how they will benefit my future projects.