Regarded as one of the most dry and difficult to teach areas of ICT, this programme explores how Mat Little, an ICT teacher at Parrs Wood High School in Manchester, develops pupils' understanding of spreadsheets through a series of visual and kinaesthetic teaching activities, and by making the topic relevant. The year 10 students are initially tasked to define what a mean, mode, median and range are using a visual numbers game. Pupils then move on to create a formula, with students holding specific components at the front of the class being directed by peers into their correct position within the human formula. Students are then tasked to work on computers to identify a variety of components within spreadsheets, with the lesson plenary involving an activity demonstrating the effectiveness of spreadsheets. The data-set they work with is based on the use and cost of mobile phones.

Video Series: KS3/4 ICT
Release Date 2006