Observing independent workers

This week I have been observing which students can complete an Excel assignment either completely by themselves, with some direction from a friend, or who need extra help from the teacher. Here are the results:

Basic Functions

• Independent skill mastery: 12
• Working towards mastery: 4
  
• Below skill mastery: 2
  

Advanced Functions

• Independent skill mastery: 4
• Working towards mastery: 11
• Below skill mastery: 3

The assignment was to take the data on the Shared Google spreadsheet and analyze by using basic functions (sum and average) to calculate nutrition data (calories, fats, carbs), cost and lunch waste. Then the students needed to analyze the data according by the day of the week with advanced functions (countif, sumif). Finally, they graphed the results from one category.

I was a bit disappointed that some students were still having difficulties with basic functions. I realized one student had missed several days of class and probably is just guessing how to write formulas and the other one sits near the back of the room and I wonder how well they pay attention. Recently I have had to remove headphones from those computers to prevent "tuning out" or watching videos during class work time.