Welcome to Advanced Applications!

Over the next 18 weeks we'll be learning how we can customise standard office applications (spreadsheets, databases etc.) for clients by creating our own little computer programs (a.k.a. macros), as well as learning some nifty little features of the standard office Applications.

We will be using MS Word, MS Excel and MS Access in class and a groovy free program that will help you learn Computer Programming called Alice! Your textbook is Advanced Applications of MS Excel.

But, let's get started! Learning the basics of programming is just learning to solve problems with some special tools. Problem solving is a skill that needs practice! I always like to get started with a brain-teaser... just to exercise our minds a bit.

Other things we need to cover before we get started:

• Join email group
• SAGS
• Overview of Assignments
• Required Text
• Deciding on breaks!

Then we'll get started by flexing our Excel skills with a little revision exercised. Once you've finished the worksheet, have a think about your Excel skills... do you feel confident, are there areas you feel you need to brush up on?

After a break, we'll get stuck into the first exercise from our Text. After lunch, we'll start having fun learning programming with Alice!