Assignment

title

Reward Trip Information

Assessor
Date issued
Final
deadline
Duration
(approx)
Qualification
suite
covered
Units
covered
Learning
aims
covered

Scenario

10 hours
BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Information and Creative Technology
BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Certificate in Information and Creative Technology
BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Extended Certificate in Information and Creative
Technology
BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Diploma in Information and Creative Technology
Unit 9: Spreadsheet Development
Learning aim A: Understand the uses of spreadsheets and the features available
in spreadsheet software packages
Learning aim B: Design a spreadsheet
Learning aim C: Develop and test a spreadsheet
Learning aim D: Review the finished spreadsheet
You are completing a work placement at the local upper school. You have been
asked to produce a spreadsheet to manage information about the pupils reward
trip.
You will produce design documents for a spreadsheet solution to meet your
managers needs as detailed below.
Three worksheets are required:
Worksheet 1: Trip and Tutor Details
As a minimum, this spreadsheet should hold:
Form Tutor including the house and form name
Points table If the students achieve 50 points or under they get no
reward, between 50 and 100 they get an in school reward and 100
points and over an out of school trip.
Trip information Including the name of the trip, date, price and
maximum numbers.
Worksheet 2: Students and trips
This work sheet is where the data on the pupils and the trips they have
selected will be held. You will need to ensure you include the following:
Pupil information including their name, form, gender and year
The total of achievement and behaviour points and their net total
The type of activity they are eligible for
Their choice of trip, price and if they have paid (Payment must be made
at least 7 days before the trip)
A discount of 5 can be applied if the student is in year 11 and have
more than 200 net points.
Calculations and tools/techniques
Appropriate calculations and tools/techniques should be applied to the
worksheet(s), e.g. cell formatting, functions, formulas, IF statements and
macros.

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Data input
The data entry should be user-friendly.
Worksheet 3: Summary of information
This should hold a summary of the totals of the trips. A series of
calculations will be needed, as well as conversion of some data to
charts, in order to generate management information.
The worksheets can be stored in one spreadsheet file and connected using a
menu.
The solution should include a number of outputs that will help to manage the
information. The developer is asked to design a series of examples to
demonstrate what is possible.
Your design documents should consider the formatting of inputs to the
spreadsheet, what processes/calculations are required, and example outputs
that the club can use to help manage the trip information.
Task 1

Uses and Features of Spreadsheet Software Packages

Before you create the spreadsheet, the head teacher would like some
information about how spreadsheets are used in the real world.
He has asked you to review two different kinds of spreadsheets and to prepare
a short presentation discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the
spreadsheets.
The two spreadsheets should be designed for different purposes; for example:
cost modelling
analysis of data
tracking learners progress and recording results
creating league timetables and match results
stock control.
Create the presentation using PowerPoint slides and notes. Make sure the
presentation describes the below.
The purpose of both spreadsheets.
The purpose of the tools and techniques of both spreadsheets, e.g. to aid
usability, to increase productivity, to improve accuracy and to present output
data.
How the tools and techniques of both spreadsheets are used, e.g. cell
replication and formatting, page setup and user interfaces.

Evidence
you must
produce for
this task

You should also:

review how the features (e.g. functions, layout and structure) could improve
productivity, accuracy and usability in both spreadsheets.
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both spreadsheets.
PowerPoint slides with notes.
Copies of both spreadsheets.

Criteria covered by this task:

To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to:
Pearson 2014

Unit

Criterion
2

Explain how spreadsheets are used for two different

activities, and how the features are used in the
spreadsheets.
Review how the features in the spreadsheets could improve
productivity, accuracy and usability.
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the spreadsheets.
Task 2

reference
2A.P1

2A.M1

2A.D1

Create a Design
Its now time to create your design.
Investigate what information is typically involved in school trip applications and
study the scenario. Consider what outputs are possible and useful to the school,
and produce a summary of the purpose of your spreadsheets and your specific
user requirements.
Your design documentation should include a detailed:
worksheet structure diagram indicating data validation (including lists),
e.g. multiple worksheets, cell referencing, input messages, error messages,
macros, cell protection and navigation between multiple worksheets.
description of the tools/techniques to be applied, e.g. cell formatting,
functions, formulas, calculations, IF statements
description of the input and output data presenting the results/outcome.

The design documentation should also provide:

a description of the user requirements and intended purpose of the
spreadsheet
a description of some alternative design ideas, e.g. choice of calculations
and style
test plan and data, e.g. test, expected result, actual result
design justification explaining how the design will meet the intended purpose
and user requirements (note any constraints in the design)
explain why alternative designs were rejected, and consider any constraints.
Evidence
Design documents, including:
you must
a statement of intended purpose and list of user requirements
produce for
detailed worksheet structure diagram outlining fields, calculations and
this task
functions, named ranges etc.
input and output data descriptions lists, charts and graphs
a test plan and test data
a short report justifying your final design decisions, and explaining why
alternative design ideas were rejected and any constraints.
Criteria covered by this task:
Criterion
To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to:
Unit
reference
Describe the purpose and user requirements for the
spreadsheet.

2B.P2

Produce a design for a spreadsheet, including:

2B.P3

2B.M2

worksheet structure diagram

how output data is to be presented
a test plan.

Produce detailed designs for a spreadsheet, including:

alternative solutions
detailed worksheet structure diagram
test data.

Pearson 2014

Justify final design decisions, including:

2B.D2

how the spreadsheet will fulfil the stated purpose and

user requirements
any constraints to the design.

Task 3

Create, test and review

It is now time to create your spreadsheet solution.
The spreadsheet will contain a user interface for data input and for the
presentation of output data. You should include automated tools/techniques to
improve productivity and ensure accuracy, including macros, links, named
ranges and pivot tables.
You should have either a chart or a graph to present the result/output from the
spreadsheet solution.
Onscreen user navigation and guidance used should be clear:
input messages
validation (including lists)
error messages
navigation prompts and guidance
conditional formatting
labels
a commentary explaining the output presentation.
Data for the spreadsheet should be sorted and the spreadsheet formatted
appropriately to promote ease of use.
Its now time for you to test the functionality/tools/techniques of the
spreadsheet and make changes to repair any faults identified by these tests.
Changes to the spreadsheet should be documented; different versions from the
various stages of development could be used to evidence this.
Arrange a meeting with your tutor to demonstrate your spreadsheet solution.
You should discuss the ease of use of the spreadsheet solution, both in terms of
the storage, manipulation and analysis of data and the data output
presentation. Use the discussion to review your designs and improve the
spreadsheet.
All of the ideas that are generated from testing, user feedback and reviewing
the designs with your tutor should be considered when improving the
spreadsheet.
This discussion will be documented using a witness statement.
Reminder
Once complete, you should consider which elements of the design you would
like to showcase in your digital portfolio (as part of Unit 3) and also think about
how they will fit in with your portfolio design. You should save a copy, in an
appropriate format, of the selected documents and/or files for inclusion in your
digital portfolio at a later date.

Pearson 2014

Evidence
you must
produce for
this task

Original spreadsheet.
Annotated reviewed spreadsheet (after testing).
A commentary explaining the input and output presentation.
Testing table and data.
Feedback from others.
Witness statement.

Criteria covered by this task:

To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to:
Develop a spreadsheet with a given realistic data set,
containing a user interface for data input and presentation of
output data.
Test the spreadsheet for functionality and purpose and repair
any faults, documenting any changes made.
Refine the spreadsheet to improve usability and accuracy
using onscreen user navigation and guidance.
Gather feedback from others on usability, and use it to
improve the spreadsheet, testing the additional functionality
and repair any faults.
Refine the spreadsheet using automated tools/techniques to
improve productivity, accuracy and presentation of output
data.
Task 4

Unit
9

Criterion
reference
2C.P4

2C.P5

2C.M3

2C.M4

2C.D3

Review
Its now time to complete a review of the finished spreadsheet solution.

Evaluate how the spreadsheet solution meets the user requirements, and fits
the intended purpose based on the user feedback.
Evaluate the final spreadsheet against the initial designs.
Justify any changes that were made.
Make at least three recommendations for how you can further improve the
spreadsheet.

You do not need to implement these improvements.

Evidence
Evaluation report.
you must
produce for
this task
Criteria covered by this task:
To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to:
For the final spreadsheet, explain how the final spreadsheet
is suitable for the user requirements and purpose.
Review the extent to which the final spreadsheet meets the
user requirements and purpose while considering feedback
from others.
Evaluate the final spreadsheet against the initial designs and
justify any changes that were made, making
recommendations for further improvements to the
spreadsheet.

Pearson 2014

Unit
9

Criterion
reference
2D.P6

2D.M5

2D.D4

Sources of
information

Textbooks
Allman, E. et al. (2012) BTEC First in Information and Creative Technology
Student Book, Pearson Education Ltd, 978 1 44690 187 8
Textbook is designed for this qualification with a strong vocational focus.
Holden, G. and Short, P. (2010) Excel 2010 in Simple Steps, FT Prentice Hall,
978 0 27373 613 4
Not expensive but useful step-by step-approach to the software. All examples
use Excel 2010.
Johnson, S. (2010) Brilliant Excel 2010, FT Prentice Hall, 978 0 27373 609 7
This text covers the more advanced topics within the specification, in particular
the data tools features. Not expensive and all examples are in Excel 2010.

Note to assessors
We are committed to ensuring that teachers/tutors and learners have a
choice of resources to support their teaching and study.
We would encourage them to use relevant resources for your local area
such as local employers, newspapers and council websites.
Resources from various publishers are available to support delivery and
training for all Pearson and BTEC qualifications so that learners and
teachers/tutors can select those that best suit their needs.
Above are some examples of textbooks and websites. Further useful
resources may be found at
www.edexcel.com/resources/Pages/default.aspx.

Pearson 2014

If you have not achieved the Level 2 criteria, your work will be assessed to determine if the
following Level 1 criteria have been met.
Criterion
To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to:
Unit
reference
Identify how spreadsheets are used for two different activities
9
1A.1
and how the features are used in the spreadsheets.
Identify the purpose and user requirements for the
spreadsheet.

1B.2

With guidance, produce a design for a spreadsheet including:

worksheet structure diagram.
With guidance, develop a spreadsheet with a given realistic
dataset.
With guidance, test the spreadsheet for functionality and
purpose, and repair any faults, documenting any changes
made.
For the final spreadsheet, identify how the final
spreadsheet is suitable for the purpose.

1B.3

1C.4

1C.5

1D.6

Pearson 2014