Video Technology for Excel
Competency Programs
By
Joseph M. Manzo
Lehigh University
jmm6@Lehigh.edu
OVERVIEW OF TODAY’S PRESENTATION
Purpose: To share my experience in developing a video reference and
teaching tool for Microsoft Excel Lehigh University’s College
of Business and Economics.
Topics
• Conditions and Needs
• The Excel competency program at Lehigh
• Developing a video tool at Lehigh
• Demonstration
• Current and future applications
2
CONDITIONS AND NEEDS
Conditions
• Excel is an every day tool for professionals in business.
• The emergence of not for credit / not for grade
competency programs.
• Professors are teaching applications of Excel in class
through multiple demonstrations.
• Students will forget most software skills if they do not use
them.
Needs
• How Excel is used, not how it works.
• An in class experience outside the class room.
• Reduce or eliminate in-class Excel demonstrations.
• A tool for relearning skills when they are needed.
THE EXCEL COMPETENCY PROGRAM AT LEHIGH
Who / When
• All freshmen business students and transfers
• First fall and spring semester
• Core competency
Skills
• Skills required calculate data and conduct “What-if”
scenarios.
• Formulas, Charts, Functions: IF, V-Lookup, FV
Requirements
• Students must pass a competency exam before
registering for first accounting class (April spring
semester)
• Passing grade is 80% or higher
• Not for grade or credit
4
BENEFITS OF THE EXCEL COMPETENCY PROGRAM
• Allows students who come to Lehigh with strong Excel skills
to take the competency exam and complete the requirement
• Focuses on skills students will likely use during their
undergraduate classes
• Gives students flexibility to attend various seminars and
exams
• Students must pass the exam and retake if they don’t pass
Provides the core essential skills to get
students up and running on Excel as
quickly as possible
5
DEVELOPING A VIDEO TECHNOLOGY TOOL
• Collection of videos on CD ROM
• Filmed using advanced camera technology
• Smartboard for written demonstrations
• Green Screen technology to display Excel
screen
• NOT a voice over screen capture model
• Only live takes…..no editing
6
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION
Absolute References
&
Formulas
7
CURRENT APPLICATIONS & TECHNICAL SPECS
CD & Book
• Core skills
• Freshman receive over the summer to prepare for the
Excel Competency exam.
• Reference tools for future classes
• 640x480 resolution; 30 frames per second; .rm
• Camtasia access menu
Streaming
Videos
• Advanced skill content (Regression, Histograms, etc.)
• Professors assign or refer students instead of doing in
class demonstration.
• 320x240; 30 frames per second; .rm
• Custom web site access
8
BENEFITS OF BOOK AND VIDEO
• Quick reference tool
• Includes more business applications and
assignments
• Address learning styles
•Text
•Inverse
•Pictures
•Demonstration
9
FUTURE APPLICATIONS - ACCESS
• Covered in the Sophomore year
• Not used by faculty
• Students are not confident with skills in their
Senior year
Senior Competency Program vs.
Integration in the Curriculum
10
NEEDS RECAP
Needs
• How Excel is used, not how it works.
• An in class experience outside the class
room.
• Reduced in-class Excel demonstrations.
• A tool for relearning skills when they are
needed.
11
QUESTIONS???
12