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Send Secret Messages With Google Sheets

It is fun to send encoded messages and it also teaches computer science and math concepts. History comes alive with learning about the increasingly sophisticated messages and spy techniques used through history.
Robert Brink
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(3)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

The learner will use the Google Sheets spreadsheet to turn plain-text messages into encoded secret messages. Then they will embed those messages into an image. The image will contain the secret, encoded message which the learner can help friends discover and decode.

I will explain the introductory computer computer science and math concepts and provide a sample spreadsheet and image to turn a simple phrase into a secret message and hide it within an image. Through demonstration and hands-on exercises the learner will gain these abilities in cryptography and steganography. 

There are several classes that provide the opportunity to learn increasingly sophisticated algorithms and the learner will gain experience thinking through real-world computer science problems while producing amazing results. There will be some discussion about the history of using these techniques during the Roman era, WW II, and current internet encryption.

The learner should have access to Google Sheets, which is free to use and just requires a free Google account (no obligations, credit cards or payments). We will use increasingly interesting spreadsheet techniques to produce our messages. The learner should understand simple math formulas as well as being a reasonably experienced computer user.  Every step we take will have an example and  explanation as well as the opportunity to ask questions.

The class will be hands-on and fun and is structured to make the learners successful.
Learning Goals
The learning goals include:
- Ability to use the Google Sheets spreadsheet interface.
- The use of spreadsheet functionality to use text manipulation formulas.
- Understanding the computer science behind Ascii text representation and manipulation.
- Understanding how to hide text inside of an image file.
- Formulating the thought process of simple algorithm design.
- Experience the increasing levels of sophistication of cryptography over time.
learning goal

Other Details

Supply List
The learner should be able to access google sheets and have a very basic familiarity with its user interface.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined September, 2020
5.0
3reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am teaching classes on Excel and Google Sheets using climate data and analyzing global warming. Using these tools the students can produce amazing results and become fluent in basic data analysis.

Professionally I have been an IT developer and manager for over 20 years and have extensive background in data analysis using conventional and AI techniques. Leading projects and teams has taught me the fun of coaching my young team members. Providing formal training courses on data management in the US and Europe has taught me how to structure and present content to a wide variety of learners and learning styles.

Students want to learn, and want to be excellent at what they do. As coaches we have to give them the information and tools they need. Then providing a good bit of patience and pride in each of their achievements helps keep them enthusiastic.

In my spare time I enjoy playing the guitar, while there may be some doubt about how loud it should be, there is never doubt that it is fun!

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
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$12

per class
Meets once
50 min

Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
1-4 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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