Most teachers teach specific programs such as Word or Excel, and students then have a vague idea of the concept, but they're not really sure why they should use Word or Excel. Some teachers add information about how good each program is, but the students are still perplexed. They only have a vague idea that computers are important.

The solution is to teach the concepts rather than the programs. Students need to understand what they can accomplish with any program in the most efficient way. If they learn that all programs do the same thing, then they've started to think about how the computer can help them.

This method suggests that the teacher should begin with an understanding of what he wants to accomplish with the program. This is similar to the advice that is given when someone wants to buy a computer. The first question is what they want to do with it.

For example, a calculation can cross over all the Office programs. Any program can 0do calculations. Some programs specialize in it, but others can offer varying levels of calculations and display the results in different ways.

If it is taught in this way, then students do not see computing as a collection of programs, but rather they relate to the general functionality of the computer itself.

Thus, the best way probably to teach calculations is to show the things that Word can do with its formula function. Then you can show them how PowerPoint can make a pie chart that changes its shape based on the different numbers, and how different concepts are represented.

Later, you can show how they can do the same things with different formulas in Excel. Those formulas can be learned easily. Once they have the concept of formulas they can accept the fact that there is slightly different terminology. At that point you can explain that Excel adds other functions as well as an instant updating of the spreadsheet, which other programs don't do.

Then the teacher can put part of an Excel spreadsheet into a Word document and demonstrate a live update of the calculation.

Start with easy and known elements and go on to more complex issues. That is why you should start with Word to do a calculated table and not with Excel itself.