Excel Class  --  ESD 70J           Course Information                     Last update:  Feb. 15, 2012


Credits:  3 units  to those that want them, otherwise students can register as listeners
or simply sit in on class.

Instructors:  Xin Zhang and Richard de Neufville

This micro-subject is given over 4 periods at the beginning of the Fall semester.
In 2010, it was offered from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Sept 12, 13, 14, and 15 (Mon - Thurs). 

A Session 0 for Excel beginners and those uneasy about English language version
met 4.30 - 5.30 on Monday September 12 in 32-155, just before Session 1.

We apologize for the awkward evening hours, but it seems to be the only way to get the
facilities needed for the class.  We meet in the Stata Center, Room 32-155, opposite the
Student Cafe, which supplies food and drink.  Bring your lap-tops and whatever
sustenance you need to keep you going through the class.

Details provided in the syllabus .   See also:  
Session 0:   Slide show0  ;  spreadsheet 0-1 ; spreadsheet 0-2
Session 1:   Slide Show1 ;  spreadsheet 1-1 ; spreadsheet 1-2
Session 2:   Slide Show2 ;  spreadsheet 2-1 ; spreadsheet 2-2 ; spreadsheet_2-1_@Risk; spreadsheet_2-2_@Risk;
Session 3:   Slide Show3 ;  spreadsheet 3-1 Part_1 ; spreadsheet 3-1 Part_2 ;  spreadsheet_3-1_Part_1_@Risk; spreadsheet_3-2_Part_1_@Risk;
                       spreadsheet 3-2 Part_1 ; spreadsheet 3-2 Part_2
Session 4:   Slide Show4 ;  spreadsheet 4-1 ; spreadsheet 4-2 ;  spreadsheet_4-2_@Risk;

You may want to refer to the Excel "hot keys"

For the convenience of people using

• French versions of Excel, here is a partial translation of words and conventions prepared by Blandine ANTOINE -- Merci!
• Spanish versions of Excel, here are versions of the spreadsheets with notes that explain various operations being used (spreadsheet 1-1, spreadsheet 2-2, spreadsheet 3-2Part1; spreadsheet 3-2Part2, and spreadsheet 4-2) -- Muchas gracias Isabel Agudelo!
  
• For the convenience of users of "Open Office Calc", here is a handy set of tips, especially about what it seems unable to do -- Thank you Nathan Fleming!
  

The purpose of the course is to enable entering graduate students to become
proficient in the use of Excel, at the level needed for efficient, effective use of
spreadsheets.  It is particularly designed to complement the combined courses:

• Risk and Decision Analysis, ESD 710 and
  
• Engineering Systems Analysis for Design, ESD 71. 
  

It is however open to all ESD students, in whatever program, as well as to students
from other departments.

The motivation for this offering is that faculty notice that many entering students have
only a rudimentary grasp of  how to use Excel effectively.  Our experience is that many
are not familiar with how to use the Data Table function (arguably the main reason for
the development of spreadsheets), let alone conversant with how to run simulations
using RAND().   The short course is designed to fill these and other gaps quickly by
walking students through worked out examples.

Should I take the course?
To see if you should follow this course, look at the self-assessment exercise.
If you feel you could comfortably complete its tasks within a morning, then you have
no need for the short course.  On the other hand, if these tasks look daunting, then
you should particpate in the short course!   ESD 71/710 assume that you will have
the capability covered in this mini-subject.           Up to you!

To receive credit for the course, you must complete the assignment by Sept. 27.