Introduction to Study Skills and Research Methods - SPOR0031

Introduction to Study Skills and Research Methods - SPOR0031

Session 1: Week 2

University PC’s & Microsoft Office I

The Desktop & Saving Data

From the main desktop you can access software programs by clicking on the start button in the bottom left corner and going to programs to choose the desired package.

You can access previously saved data files by going to My Computer at the top left of the desktop and double-clicking with the left mouse button to navigate down the correct directory structure or by clicking StartProgramsWindows Explorer.

You will tend to use two areas to save your data:

H:Drive –this is your personal drive space on the university network. Only you have access to this space from any networked PC on campus when you log in. You should become accustomed to saving all of your data on H:

X:Drive –this is the shared area which contains many files relevant to various areas within the department. You should follow the filepath X:\Health\Groups\Sport & Exercise Science\Students

Organising Your File Space

The best way of organising your files is to place them in separate folders for each different topic you cover.

  • Log on to the PC and double-click on My Computer
  • Double-click on the H: (Homes) drive icon
  • Find a space in the H: drive window for the cursor and right click the mouse and choose New then Folder
  • Assign the folder an appropriate name, for example the files associated with this unit could be placed in a folder called StudySkills or similar.
  • It is desirable to keep all computer file names and folder names as short as feasibly possible (while allowing unique identification) and to avoid spaces in the filenames if possible (substitute_spaces_with_underscores).
  • Move all of the files associated with this unit into the StudySkills folder by clicking and dragging the file icon on top of the folder icon.
  • You can move multiple files simultaneously by holding the Ctrl key down while clicking once on top of the files with the left mouse button and then moving them to the folder all at once.
  • If you have other files related to a common topic then create more folders (right click > New > Folder) to place them inside.
  • If there are files in your H: drive that you have not created it is best to leave them where they are because they may be important for the functioning of other tasks such as your e-mail etc.

MICROSOFT WORD

Microsoft Word is a word processing package. You would tend to use such packages as the main tool to write letters, essays, laboratory reports and research projects.

1)Open Word by clicking on StartProgramsMicrosoft Word

2)Open a new document by selecting the Filemenu at the top of the screen and then New (only if a new document hasn’t opened automatically)

You can define the default layout of the page by using the Format menu and then Font to change the text characteristics and Paragraph to change the appearance characteristics or by using the buttons in the toolbars at the top of the screen.

You can alter the format of small sections of text by highlighting the text and then editing that section in the desired manner.

3)Type the paragraph below in the following format:

Font: Times New RomanSize: 12Line Spacing: 1.5 Style: Insert Bold and Italic and underline where necessary

4)Carry out a spelling and grammar check using the following procedure:

Highlight your text. Select theToolsmenu then select Spelling and Grammar

5)Align the paragraph to be fully justified by highlighting it and then selecting the Justify button on the toolbar

6)Save your work by selecting the File menu and then Save As, navigate to the H:Drive using the top box, give your file an appropriate name and click Save.

7)Reconstruct Table 1 in exactly the same format as below by following the instructions:

-Select the Table menu and then Insert Table

-Select the number of rows and columns required, then OK

-Insert the text into the cells, formatting the text where necessary (note that headings have used a variety of fonts and styles, some of the headings have been justified and that some of the borders have been omitted).

-Format the width of each column by highlighting the column and selecting the Table menu then Cell Height and Width. Column 1 = 3.5 cm, Column 2 = 4.4 cm and Columns 3 & 4 = 3.0 cm.

Table 1: Sample Lecture Timetable

8)Use the ‘cut and paste’ function to move the first paragraph you typed so that it is now below Table 1. To do this, highlight the paragraph text then select the Edit Menu then Cut. Move the cursor to below the table and select the Edit menu then Paste.

9)Now type what is written in the box below. Highlight the main text then select the Format menu then Bullets and Numbering to insert bullet points. Use the sliders on the ruler above the page to alter the ‘first line indent’ and the ‘left tab’ of the main text to bring the bullet points in from the left.

10)Draw the box around the text by highlighting all of the text and then select the Format menu and Borders and Shading and choose the desired Properties.

11)Insert page numbers by selecting the Insert menu then Page Numbers, select your chosen format then OK.

12)Update and save your file by clicking the Save button on the toolbar or by selecting the File menu then Save. Close your file by the File menu then Close.

MICROSOFT EXCEL

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet package. Spreadsheet packages enable you to perform calculations and statistical analyses on a data set that is arranged in a row and column format.

1)Open Excel by clicking on StartProgramsMicrosoft Excel. Select the File menu then New to open a new file (only if a new file is not automatically opened).

2)Insert the information regarding student marks from 5 semester 1 units from the following table into your new file using the first row for the column headings:

Cells A1 to F10 should now be filled in

3)To find out the average mark for each student complete the following:

-Select cell G2

-Select the function (fx) button on the toolbar

-Select Average from the options

-ensure the correct cell range is selected and click OK

-this gives you the average markfor student AR

4)To give the average mark for the rest of the students, select cell G2 and then click and hold on the small square in the bottom right of this cell. Drag this formula down until you reach cell G10 then release

5)Now repeat this procedure beginning with cell B11 to determine the average mark for the class in each unit

6) Save your work on the H:Drive and give it an appropriate filename

7)Students OP and SE want to see a visual comparison of their respective performances. Produce a column graph to illustrate their scores in each subject.

-Highlight the headings row

-Press the Ctrl key and keep it pressed while highlighting the row of scores for OP

-Press the Ctrl key again and highlight the scores for SE

-Select Chart Wizard on the toolbar

-Select the Column chart type and the top left sub-type and select Next

-Select the Series In: Rows Radio Button then Next

-Make Chart Title: OP vs SE, X axis: Subject, Y axis: % then click Next

-Select the finished chart and use the ‘copy and paste’ function to paste it into a word document

8)If you have time, take a few minutes to explore the many chart formatting options that are available to you. This is generally done by placing your mouse over the desired region of the figure and then right clicking. Try formatting the font, axes, colour, scales, etc.

9)Don’t forget to save all this work to your H :Drive

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