graphs – SpreadsheetSolving

Stay home, flatten the COVID-19 curve, and build spreadsheets?

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused many families (including us) to be stuck at home with their kids. While not having to commute has been great, we’re two days in and quickly running out of interesting activities. Perhaps now is the perfect time to learn how to build spreadsheets to analyze data?

If you’re interested, we’ve organized certain spreadsheet skills into a curriculum of sorts, located here. However, the best way to learn spreadsheets (and the motto of our website) is to use them to solve real world problems and figure out how to get through roadblocks on the way.

So today’s spreadsheet is a simple one. We’ll build a sheet that can track coronavirus cases in the US by following the CDC data. First, we navigate to the CDC website tracking COVID-19 cases and then copy in the data near the bottom of cases reported in the US by onset date:

We paste this into our spreadsheet and add a formula in the row below to keep a running tally of cases:

A few clicks later, and we produce this spiffy graph:

The total numbers looked low, so I should probably paste in the data asterisks:

To access this spreadsheet on Google Docs, you can find it here: COVID-19 Case Tracker

How to Create Charts in Google Spreadsheets

"How I Met Your Mother." Source: YouTube — “How I Met Your Mother.” Source: YouTube

Charts are everywhere – books, newspaper articles, magazines, ads, and even TV shows [Click here for a video clip of How I Met Your Mother]. Valuable, practical, and fun, charts enable us to visualize and understand data. In 3 steps, you can build any chart in Google spreadsheets. Continue reading “How to Create Charts in Google Spreadsheets”

ABCD: Analyzing Big College Data

© Photographer Daniel Gilbey|Agency: Dreamstime.com

The college decision is a big one. Are you deciding which college(s) to apply to or which one to attend? Or are you in middle or high school and interested in attending college someday? Or have you already graduated from college?

For all, let’s explore essential skills by analyzing data across 202 U.S. colleges! Continue reading “ABCD: Analyzing Big College Data”

NYC Subway Passenger Habit Charts

© Photographer Oscar1319 | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently published an observational study of subway rider seating behavior. Collecting data over three weeks in late winter 2012, the researchers published their findings on rider seating preferences in a draft report: who finds seats when the train is crowded? Do standing riders prefer vertical bars or graspable handles? Which seat type do sitting riders take: seats near a door or bench spots?

Based on some of the data from the report, let’s create visuals – charts that offer us a glimpse into some questions: Continue reading “NYC Subway Passenger Habit Charts”

How many languages do you speak?

[polldaddy poll=6994482]

Over the past several months – or years for that matter – there has been a rush among American parents to teach kids Mandarin. After-school language classes have emerged, immersion programs are gaining popularity, and videos and phone apps focused on languages have sprung up!

A recent Economist article, “Valued-Added Remodeling” (March 16, 2013) even noted that Jack Markell, Delaware’s governor, plans to expand immersion programs, such as those seen in the kindergarten classroom of Mcllvaine Early Childhood Center, where children are taught solely in Mandarin for half of each day.

Now, what’s the connection between our language skills and a spreadsheet? Continue reading “How many languages do you speak?”

Employment Patterns by Gender since 1948

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, check out our poll below: what percentage of the work force consisted of women in 1948? Keep in mind that just 28 years prior to 1948, women were first granted the right to vote. How have employment patterns by gender changed over time? Let’s use our spreadsheet problem solving skills to figure this out!

[polldaddy poll=6991261]

Tag: graphs