Word and Excel course

Lesson 1 • Creating and Managing Files

Teaches file creation, saving formats, and version control basics. Connects to all later work by ensuring documents and workbooks are stored reliably.

Lesson 2 • Customising Your Work Environment

Adjusts application settings to match individual workflows. Reduces friction in later chapters by establishing a personalised, efficient workspace.

Lesson 3 • Understanding the Office Interface

Covers the Ribbon, Quick Access Toolbar, and backstage view shared by Word and Excel. Establishes the visual language used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Proofing and Reviewing Text

Uses spelling, grammar, and readability tools to polish documents. Ensures professional quality before sharing or printing.

Lesson 2 • Page Layout and Document Setup

Controls margins, orientation, paper size, and section breaks. Prepares students to produce print-ready documents in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Working with Lists and Symbols

Creates bulleted, numbered, and multilevel lists plus special characters. Supports structured content used in reports and procedures.

Lesson 4 • Entering and Editing Text

Covers typing, cursor movement, selection techniques, and basic editing commands. Forms the bedrock of all Word document work.

Lesson 1 • SmartArt and Charts in Word

Creates SmartArt diagrams and embedded charts to visualise concepts and data. Complements table skills with graphical data representation.

Lesson 2 • Inserting Images and Shapes

Places and formats images, shapes, and icons within document layouts. Enhances visual communication in reports and proposals.

Lesson 3 • Building and Formatting Tables

Inserts, resizes, and formats tables to organise data within Word documents. Bridges text-based content with structured data presentation.

Lesson 4 • Using and Customising Styles

Applies built-in heading and paragraph styles and modifies them for brand consistency. Enables automatic table of contents generation covered later.

Lesson 1 • Sorting and Filtering Data

Sorts datasets by single or multiple columns and applies AutoFilter to isolate records. Enables quick data exploration before formal analysis.

Lesson 2 • Entering and Editing Data

Covers text, number, date, and time entry with validation and AutoFill. Ensures accurate, consistent data as the foundation for analysis.

Lesson 3 • Formatting Cells and Ranges

Applies number formats, fonts, borders, and fill colours to cells. Improves readability and prepares data for charts and reports.

Lesson 4 • Understanding the Excel Grid

Explains cells, rows, columns, and sheets as the structural units of Excel. Establishes spatial reasoning needed for all formula and data work.

Lesson 1 • Formula Fundamentals

Builds formulas using arithmetic operators, cell references, and operator precedence. Establishes the logic underlying every Excel calculation.

Lesson 2 • Text and Date Functions

Manipulates strings with LEFT, RIGHT, MID, CONCATENATE, and manages dates with TODAY and DATEDIF. Supports data cleaning and reporting tasks.

Lesson 3 • Lookup and Reference Functions

Retrieves data with VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, and MATCH. Connects separate data tables and reduces manual cross-referencing.

Lesson 4 • Essential Math and Statistical Functions

Applies SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MIN, MAX, and ROUND to summarise datasets. Provides the core toolkit for quantitative reporting.

Lesson 1 • Building PivotTables

Creates PivotTables to summarise, group, and cross-tabulate large datasets. Serves as the primary tool for interactive data analysis in Excel.

Lesson 2 • Creating and Formatting Charts

Builds column, bar, line, and pie charts with proper labels and formatting. Translates numerical data into visual stories for presentations.

Lesson 3 • Calculated Fields and PivotCharts

Adds custom calculations inside PivotTables and links them to PivotCharts. Extends analytical depth beyond standard aggregation.

Lesson 4 • Building a Simple Dashboard

Combines charts, slicers, and key metrics on a single sheet for executive reporting. Integrates all visualisation skills into a cohesive deliverable.

Lesson 1 • Building and Using Forms

Designs fillable forms with content controls for structured data collection. Supports standardised intake and survey documents.

Lesson 2 • Document Protection and Sharing

Applies passwords, permissions, and digital signatures to secure documents. Prepares students to share sensitive files safely.

Lesson 3 • Mail Merge for Mass Documents

Merges a Word template with a data source to produce personalised letters, labels, and emails. Eliminates manual repetition in high-volume communications.

Lesson 4 • Macros and Basic Automation

Records and runs macros to automate repetitive formatting and editing tasks. Introduces automation concepts without requiring programming knowledge.

Lesson 1 • Data Cleaning with Power Query

Imports, transforms, and reshapes data from multiple sources using Power Query. Automates the data preparation step before analysis.

Lesson 2 • Advanced Lookup and Dynamic Arrays

Uses XLOOKUP, FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUE to build dynamic, self-updating data outputs. Replaces legacy lookup workarounds with modern array functions.

Lesson 3 • Macros and VBA Introduction

Records macros and writes basic VBA procedures to automate repetitive Excel tasks. Bridges the gap between formula-based and programmatic automation.

Lesson 4 • Workbook Protection and Auditing

Locks cells, protects sheets, and traces formula dependencies to maintain data integrity. Supports shared workbooks used by multiple team members.