← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Depersonalising a spreadsheet by removing identifying columns

Save a copy first, then delete columns that identify people (name, address, birth date) so only data needed for analysis remains. Hiding is not enough when sharing.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Privacy Principles and Digital Footprints — Module 40

Understanding Depersonalising a spreadsheet by removing identifying columns in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: Saving a copy first means you can still use the original data, while the shared version has the identifying columns removed. This formula makes participant codes like P001, P002 and so on, so rows stay separate without showing real names. A home address identifies a person. Hours of sleep is the kind of data the analysis needs, so it stays. ID numbers don't reveal who the person is. Initials can still help someone work out who it is. A mix of details like birth date, suburb and year level can still point to one person, so check what is left.

Common mistakes: The Address column identifies people and must be deleted. Deleting Maths mark removes data the analysis needs and leaves the addresses in the file. Line 3 should be: delete column Address. survey_orig.xlsx is the untouched copy that still has the names. Sharing it leaks identifying data. Share the cleaned file, survey.xlsx, and keep the original private.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 876–944) and word search (Modules 860–944).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

What should you do FIRST before removing identifying columns from a spreadsheet?

Save a copy of the original fileDelete the Name column straight away

Matches

Hide the Name and Birth Date columns, then email the sheet to the whole class

↓

Hidden columns still hold the data and anyone can unhide them, so the identifying details are still shared

Applying

Meanings

Term

depersonalise

Meaning

Save a copy first, then delete columns that identify people (name, address, birth date) so only data needed for analysis remains. Hiding is not enough when sharing.

Practice

=COUNTIF(B2:B9,">=80")

Testing

Gaps

("Survey", "Surveyoriginal")

Check Answer

Spots

2delete column Name

3delete column Maths mark

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Quick Questions

1. What should you do FIRST before removing identifying columns from a spreadsheet?

A. Delete the Name column straight away

B. Save a copy of the original file ✓

Always save a copy first. Deleting columns from your only file means the original data is lost for good.

2. Which column should you remove to depersonalise a class survey spreadsheet?

A. Home address ✓

B. Hours of sleep per night

A home address identifies a person. Hours of sleep is the kind of data the analysis needs, so it stays.

3. You are sharing a spreadsheet with another class. Which is safer?

A. Hide the Name column

B. Delete the Name column ✓

Hidden columns still hold the data. Anyone who receives the file can unhide them, so delete the column instead.

4. Which statement about hiding a column is true?

A. The data is still in the file and can be unhidden ✓

B. The data is permanently removed from the file

Hiding only changes what you see on screen. The identifying data is still there.

5. You want to keep track of each row without using names. What could you do?

A. Replace each name with an ID number such as 101 ✓

B. Replace each name with the student's initials

ID numbers don't reveal who the person is. Initials can still help someone work out who it is.

Match the Pairs

Right-click column A > Delete → Permanently removes the Name column so the people in the sheet can no longer be identified by it

Right-click column C > Hide → Only conceals the Address column on screen; the data is still in the file and can be unhidden

Before deleting any columns, save a copy of the original so you keep the full data safe → File > Save a Copy > survey_original.xlsx

Replace names with ID numbers so each row can still be told apart without naming the person → A2: ="P"&TEXT(ROW()-1,"000")

Hide the Name and Birth Date columns, then email the sheet to the whole class → Hidden columns still hold the data and anyone can unhide them, so the identifying details are still shared

Delete the Name column from survey.xlsx and save, with no copy made first → No copy of the original was saved first, so the full data is lost and cannot be checked or used again

Key Term

depersonalise

Save a copy first, then delete columns that identify people (name, address, birth date) so only data needed for analysis remains. Hiding is not enough when sharing.

Fill in the Blanks

1. save_copy("Survey", "Survey_original")

Hint: Type the command you run first, before changing any data, to keep the original safe.

2. delete_column("Name")

Hint: Type the command that permanently removes a whole column that identifies people.

3. hide_column("Address") # Still readable if the file is shared

Hint: Type the command that only hides a column from view. The data is still in the file.

4. =ROW()-1

Hint: Type the function that returns a row's number, so each name can be replaced with an ID number.

5. =IF(D2=1,"Re-identifiable","Safe")

Hint: Type the number of matching rows that means one person stands out and could still be identified.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A save copy: survey_orig.xlsx

B delete column Name

C delete column Maths mark

D share the cleaned file

Line C — The Address column identifies people and must be deleted. Deleting Maths mark removes data the analysis needs and leaves the addresses in the file. Line 3 should be: delete column Address.

Question 2

A save copy: survey_orig.xlsx

B open survey.xlsx

C delete column Name

D share survey_orig.xlsx

Line D — survey_orig.xlsx is the untouched copy that still has the names. Sharing it leaks identifying data. Share the cleaned file, survey.xlsx, and keep the original private.

Question 3

A edit marks.xlsx without a copy

B delete column Name

C delete column Birth date

Line A — Save a copy of the original first. If you delete columns without a copy, the original data is lost for good. Line 1 should be: save copy: marks_orig.xlsx.

Question 4

A save copy: fitness_orig.xlsx

B add column ID: 1, 2, 3, ...

C delete column Name

D hide column Home address

Line D — Hiding a column only hides it from view. Anyone who receives the file can unhide it and see the addresses. To depersonalise before sharing, delete the column.

Question 5

A open class_orig.xlsx

B delete column Name

C delete column Birth date

D keep class_orig.xlsx private

Line A — You should do the deleting in the copy, not the original. Opening class_orig.xlsx means the edits would destroy the original data. Line 1 should open class_copy.xlsx.

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