Raising Techno-Functional Thinkers, One Halloween Candy at a Time
This Halloween, my 11-year-old son and I decided to do something a little different with his candy.
We made a spreadsheet. (It was his idea. I promise)
For my son, collecting something isn't enough. He also needs to analyze it. He has pokemon spreadsheets. Chess match spreadsheets. And now a Halloween candy spreadsheet.
And what started as a fun little project became a lesson in organizing data, creating dropdown lists, writing formulas, asking questions and figuring out how to answer them. Questions like - How much candy did you get? Where did it come from? Which candy showed up the most? And perhaps most importantly, how much of it ended up with Mom or Dad? (He'll use this data point against us later)
A Little Data Analysis Goes a Long Way
I spend a lot of time thinking about how higher education institutions can make better use of technology. And one thing I've learned is that being techno-functional isn't just about knowing how to use a particular system.
It's about understanding a problem, organizing information, and figuring out how technology can help answer useful questions.
Those skills can start surprisingly young, especially if it involves candy.
So I thought I'd share our spreadsheet with other families who might enjoy a little candy-powered data analysis.
Try Our Halloween Candy Spreadsheet
It's free, simple, and designed to be something kids and parents can explore together. No fancy software or advanced spreadsheet skills required.
GET YOUR FREE HALLOWEEN CANDY SPREADSHEET ⬇️
(not working? email us at info@legatostrategic.com and we'll send you a copy!)
Make a copy, customize it, and see what your kids discover. You might be surprised by the questions they come up with.
Best Wishes to Budding Techno-Functional Analysts!
Happy Halloween! Here's to raising the next generation of curious thinkers, problem solvers, and maybe even a few future techno-functional professionals.
