Learning Generative AI Tools for Excel

Appendix C. The Showdown

This appendix is the third in a three-part series in which I introduce a teaching approach I call applied fiction. Applied fiction uses narrative to teach real concepts and skills. As you follow the story, you’ll naturally absorb the how-to knowledge woven into it, learning by experiencing rather than by rote instruction.

The short novel unfolds across three appendices, with each part paired with hands-on activities tied directly to the book’s concepts. You can read all three for the whole arc, or dip into just one and still get a complete set of activities—perfect if you want to focus on skill-building without committing to the entire story.

This appendix reviews concepts from Part III, “Other AI Tools for Excel”.

The Story So Far

In Episode 1, Helena, an experienced climber, discovers mysterious health data on her brother Mark’s laptop, linked to a failed Everest expedition that stopped short of the summit. By analyzing the files with the help of ChatGPT, she realizes that one of the three climbers showed dangerously critical vital signs at extreme altitude. Suspecting that this data hides the truth about Mark’s disappearance, Helena returns to Everest with two guides, Rajan and Tenzing. As the climb progresses, further analysis reveals that both men were part of Mark’s final expedition. The truth slowly emerges: Mark gave up his chance to reach the summit in order to save Rajan, while Tenzing abandoned them and later took full credit for the ascent. ...