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edX Boot Camps

Spreadsheets are a helpful tool for streamlining simple and complex tasks in your work and everyday life. With the right skills, you can do everything from simple calculations and list creation to qualitative and quantitative data analysis. In this free intro course, you will learn:

  • The anatomy of an Excel spreadsheet
  • Data formatting and cell formatting
  • Google Sheets access

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data
  • Perform calculations using spreadsheets
  • Apply your new knowledge to your career

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • The anatomy of an excel spreadsheet
  • Excel formulas to enter and format data
  • Basic calculations and cell formatting

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Appropriate for learners who need to manage and analyze data in their jobs or personal lives, this course teaches core skills
Beginners will appreciate the step-by-step lessons on organizing and analyzing data in spreadsheets
Teaches foundational spreadsheet skills in Microsoft Excel

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets with these activities:
Use Google Sheets' built-in help feature
Working with Google Sheets has a very low learning curve and using the built-in help feature will allow you to explore the available features
Show steps
  • Select any cell in a Google Sheet
  • Enter a formula or function into the formula bar
  • Click the small question mark icon next to the formula bar
Organize your course notes
There will be a lot of information provided in this course. Getting organized will help you easily find information later
Show steps
  • Review your notes from previous lessons
  • Identify the key concepts and terms
  • Create a summary of each lesson
Organize your to-do list
Spreadsheets are very useful for creating lists and sorting data based on specific parameters
Show steps
  • Create a one-week to-do list that includes tasks for work, school, and general life
  • Create a new Google Sheet and enter your tasks
  • Format the cells for better visualization
Nine other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 12 activities
Review previous spreadsheets experience
Refresh your knowledge of working with spreadsheets, ensuring you have the necessary foundation to excel in this course.
Browse courses on Spreadsheets
Show steps
  • Go through old spreadsheets or projects you have worked on
  • Identify areas where you need to brush up your skills
Read 'Excel for Dummies' by Greg Harvey
Establish a strong foundation in Excel concepts and operations by reviewing this beginner-friendly guide, setting the stage for successful completion of course assignments.
Show steps
  • Read through key chapters covering basic to intermediate Excel skills
  • Practice exercises and examples provided in the book
Practice using formulas
Formulas are an essential part of working with spreadsheets; you can practice using some basic ones
Show steps
  • Review the different types of formulas available in Google Sheets
  • Practice using formulas to perform simple calculations
  • Practice using formulas to create more complex calculations
Practice Excel formulas
Build familiarity with Excel formulas to prepare for using them in course projects and assignments.
Browse courses on Excel Formulas
Show steps
  • Identify the different types of Excel formulas
  • Practice entering formulas in Excel
  • Format formulas for readability and clarity
Explore Google Sheets tutorials
Enhance your understanding of Google Sheets' capabilities and features to maximize its potential for coursework and beyond.
Browse courses on Google Sheets
Show steps
  • Find tutorials for specific Google Sheets tasks
  • Follow step-by-step instructions to complete tasks
  • Apply new knowledge to course-related projects
Attend an 'Excel Power Tips and Tricks' workshop
Enhance your Excel proficiency by attending a workshop tailored to unlocking hidden features and time-saving techniques, maximizing your productivity in the course and beyond.
Browse courses on Excel
Show steps
  • Identify a relevant workshop in your area or online
  • Attend the workshop and actively participate in the activities
  • Apply the learned techniques to your coursework
Create a data visualization in Excel
Demonstrate the ability to use Excel to present data in a visually appealing and informative manner for course projects and workplace tasks.
Browse courses on Data Visualization
Show steps
  • Choose a suitable data set to visualize
  • Select an appropriate chart or graph type
  • Customize the data visualization for clarity and impact
Solve quantitative data analysis problems
Develop proficiency in using Excel for quantitative data analysis, strengthening analytical skills for course projects and real-world applications.
Show steps
  • Review statistical concepts and formulas
  • Apply Excel functions to perform data analysis
  • Interpret and draw insights from the analysis results
Contribute to an open-source spreadsheet project
Gain practical experience in collaborative development by contributing to an open-source spreadsheet project, fostering teamwork and software engineering skills.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Identify a suitable open-source spreadsheet project
  • Review the project's codebase and documentation
  • Make code contributions or improvements

Career center

Learners who complete Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Operations Research Analyst
Operations Research Analysts strive to improve the performance and efficiency of organizations through the use of advanced analytical techniques. By identifying patterns, optimizing data, and streamlining processes, Operations Research Analysts drive strategic decision-making and create measurable results. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets will provide you with a strong foundation in data organization, analysis, and presentation, which are essential skills for success in this role. Gaining proficiency in spreadsheets is a requirement for anyone pursuing this fascinating and impactful career.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts help organizations improve their performance by identifying and solving business problems. They use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to analyze data, identify trends, and make recommendations for改进ments. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is a key skill for success as a Business Analyst. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts use a variety of tools and techniques to analyze financial data, including spreadsheets. They use this data to make recommendations on investments, advise companies on financial matters, and inform business decisions. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets will provide you with a strong foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is essential for success as a Financial Analyst. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze financial data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts use data to solve business problems and improve decision-making. They use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to collect, clean, and analyze data. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets will provide you with a strong foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an essential skill for success as a Data Analyst. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Market Researcher
Market Researchers use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to collect, analyze, and interpret data about markets, consumers, and competitors. They use this data to help businesses make informed decisions about product development, marketing campaigns, and other business strategies. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as a Market Researcher. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Statistician
Statisticians use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to collect, analyze, and interpret data. They use this data to make inferences about the world around us and to develop models that can be used to predict future events. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as a Statistician. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Actuary
Actuaries use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to analyze financial data and assess risk. They use this data to develop insurance products, set premiums, and advise businesses on financial matters. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as an Actuary. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Auditor
Auditors use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to examine financial records and ensure that they are accurate and complete. They also provide advice on how to improve financial controls and accounting procedures. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as an Auditor. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Budget Analyst
Budget Analysts use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to develop and manage budgets for organizations. They also analyze financial data to identify trends and make recommendations on how to allocate resources. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as a Budget Analyst. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Cost Accountant
Cost Accountants use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to analyze the costs of products and services. They use this data to help businesses make informed decisions about pricing, production, and other business strategies. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as a Cost Accountant. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Financial Manager
Financial Managers use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to manage the financial resources of organizations. They also develop and implement financial plans, and advise senior management on financial matters. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as a Financial Manager. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Investment Banker
Investment Bankers use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to analyze financial data and make investment recommendations. They also advise clients on mergers and acquisitions, and other financial transactions. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as an Investment Banker. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Managers use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to manage investment portfolios. They also analyze financial data to make investment decisions and monitor the performance of their portfolios. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as a Portfolio Manager. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Risk Manager
Risk Managers use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to identify and assess risks to organizations. They also develop and implement risk management plans, and advise senior management on risk-related matters. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as a Risk Manager. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Tax Accountant
Tax Accountants use a variety of tools and techniques, including spreadsheets, to prepare and file tax returns for individuals and businesses. They also provide advice on tax planning and tax-related matters. Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets can provide you with a valuable foundation in the use of spreadsheets, which is an important skill for success as a Tax Accountant. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data, perform calculations, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner.

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets.
It focuses on the basics of Google Sheets, including creating and editing spreadsheets, formatting cells, using formulas and functions, and sharing and collaborating with others.
A more advanced guide to data analysis using Excel, it covers topics such as data modeling, statistical analysis, and forecasting.
A guide to using spreadsheets for business applications, it provides templates and examples for tasks such as financial planning, budgeting, and data analysis.
A guide to using spreadsheets for personal finance, it provides tips and techniques for budgeting, tracking expenses, and planning for retirement.
A guide to using spreadsheets for statistical analysis, it provides tutorials on how to perform basic and advanced statistical tests.
A guide to using spreadsheets for big data analysis, it provides techniques for cleaning, preparing, and analyzing large datasets.

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