Excel Basics Course

Lesson 1 • Understanding Worksheets and Workbooks

Explains the relationship between workbooks and worksheets and how to manage multiple sheets. Provides structural context for organizing data across a file.

Lesson 2 • Navigating Cells and Ranges

Teaches keyboard shortcuts and mouse techniques for moving within large sheets. Efficient navigation reduces errors and speeds up all data entry tasks.

Lesson 3 • The Excel Interface Overview

Identifies every major UI element: ribbon, formula bar, sheet tabs, and status bar. Establishes spatial awareness needed for all subsequent tasks.

Lesson 1 • Filling Data Automatically

Introduces Flash Fill and the fill handle for series, patterns, and repeated values. Automation reduces manual entry time and minimizes transcription errors.

Lesson 2 • Copying, Cutting, and Pasting Data

Explains clipboard operations and Paste Special options for values, formats, and transposing. Efficient data movement is essential for building structured spreadsheets.

Lesson 3 • Inserting and Deleting Rows and Columns

Covers structural edits: inserting, deleting, and hiding rows and columns. Proper structure management keeps data organized as spreadsheets grow.

Lesson 4 • Typing Data into Cells

Covers entering text, numbers, and dates and understanding how Excel interprets each type. Correct entry prevents formula errors introduced in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Formatting Dates and Times

Explains date serial numbers and how to apply custom date and time display formats. Correct date formatting prevents misinterpretation in reports and calculations.

Lesson 2 • Conditional Formatting Fundamentals

Introduces rules that automatically change cell appearance based on values. Conditional formatting surfaces trends and exceptions without manual inspection.

Lesson 3 • Formatting Text and Numbers

Covers font styles, sizes, bold, italic, and number formats including currency and percentages. Proper formatting communicates data meaning without altering underlying values.

Lesson 4 • Cell Alignment and Orientation

Teaches horizontal and vertical alignment, text wrapping, and cell merging. Alignment ensures data is legible and tables are visually structured.

Lesson 1 • Auditing and Tracing Formulas

Uses trace precedents, dependents, and the Evaluate Formula tool to inspect calculations. Auditing skills ensure formula logic is correct before sharing a file.

Lesson 2 • Cell References in Formulas

Distinguishes relative, absolute, and mixed references and when to use each. Reference types determine how formulas behave when copied across a sheet.

Lesson 3 • Using Basic Math Functions

Introduces SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, and COUNT for common calculations. These functions handle the majority of everyday numerical analysis tasks.

Lesson 4 • Understanding Formula Errors

Identifies common error types such as #DIV/0!, #VALUE!, and #REF! and their causes. Recognizing errors enables faster debugging and more trustworthy spreadsheets.

Lesson 1 • Statistical and Conditional Functions

Applies COUNTIF, SUMIF, AVERAGEIF, and their multi-criteria variants for filtered aggregation. These functions replace manual filtering for summary calculations.

Lesson 2 • Date and Time Functions

Covers TODAY, NOW, DATEDIF, YEAR, MONTH, and DAY for date-based calculations. Date functions enable deadline tracking, aging reports, and scheduling automation.

Lesson 3 • Lookup Functions for Finding Data

Introduces VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and INDEX-MATCH for retrieving values from tables. Lookup functions eliminate manual searching and reduce copy-paste errors.

Lesson 4 • Logical Functions for Decision Making

Covers IF, AND, OR, and NOT to build conditional logic into formulas. Logical functions automate decisions that would otherwise require manual data review.

Lesson 1 • Converting Data to Excel Tables

Explains how to format a range as an Excel Table and the benefits of structured references. Tables auto-expand and simplify formula writing across the dataset.

Lesson 2 • Sorting Data Effectively

Covers single-column and multi-level sorting by value, color, or custom list. Correct sorting order is essential before applying filters or building reports.

Lesson 3 • Removing Duplicates and Validating Data

Uses Remove Duplicates and Data Validation to maintain clean, consistent datasets. Data integrity at entry prevents downstream errors in formulas and reports.

Lesson 4 • Using Slicers for Visual Filtering

Adds slicers to tables for interactive, button-based filtering of data. Slicers make filtering accessible to non-technical users reviewing shared workbooks.

Lesson 1 • Dynamic Charts with Tables and Named Ranges

Links charts to Excel Tables or named ranges so they update automatically with new data. Dynamic charts eliminate manual updates when source data changes.

Lesson 2 • Choosing the Right Chart Type

Explains when to use column, bar, line, pie, and scatter charts based on data relationships. Selecting the correct chart type prevents misleading visual representations.

Lesson 3 • Applying Chart Styles and Colors

Uses built-in chart styles, color themes, and manual fill options to match branding. Consistent visual style increases credibility of reports and presentations.

Lesson 4 • Formatting Chart Elements

Customizes titles, axes, legends, gridlines, and data labels for clarity. Well-labeled charts communicate findings without requiring additional explanation.

Lesson 1 • Filtering and Grouping PivotTable Data

Applies report filters, slicers, and date grouping to focus PivotTable output. Grouping dates by month or quarter enables period-over-period comparisons.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to PivotTables

Explains PivotTable purpose, data requirements, and the field list interface. Understanding the layout before building prevents structural errors in summaries.

Lesson 3 • Refreshing and Formatting PivotTables

Covers refreshing data, changing PivotTable styles, and adjusting layout options. Proper formatting makes PivotTable output presentation-ready without extra steps.

Lesson 4 • Summarizing Values and Calculations

Changes value field settings to sum, count, average, or show percentages of totals. Choosing the right calculation type ensures the summary answers the right question.