Everyday Excel, Part 1 from Coursera

"Everyday Excel, Part 1" is aimed at learners who are seeking to learn Excel from the ground up. No experience with Excel is necessary. While this course is meant for beginners of Excel, advanced users will undoubtedly pick up new skills and tools.

This course is the first part of a three-part series and Specialization that focuses on teaching introductory through very advanced techniques and tools in Excel. In this course (Part 1), you will: 1) learn how to effectively navigate around the Excel environment; 2) edit and format Excel worksheets; 3) implement basic to advanced Excel functions (including financial, logical, and text functions); 4) learn how to manage data sets (filter, remove duplicates, consolidate data, sort data, and validate data); and 5) learn how to effectively visualize data through scatterplots, column charts, and pie charts.

New to Excel? That is entirely fine! This course is meant to be fun, thought-provoking, and appeal to a wide audience. No prior knowledge in programming nor advanced math skills are necessary. The course is organized into 5 Weeks (modules).

To pass each module, you'll need to pass a mastery quiz and complete a problem solving assignment. This course is unique in that the weekly assignments are completed in-application (i.e., on your own computer in Excel), providing you with valuable hands-on training.

What's inside

Syllabus

Navigating Excel

In Week 1, you will learn basic worksheet navigation, how to open and save Excel files, and all about worksheets and workbooks. You will learn the difference between cells, columns, and rows in Excel, as well as cell references. You will learn how to move around the worksheet effectively using shortcut key combinations, and you will learn how to edit the worksheet. You will also learn how to format cells, conditionally format cells, and how to change between number, text, date, currency, and other cell formatting options. There will be particular emphasis on relative vs. absolute cell addressing modes and you will learn how to name cells and cell ranges. You will be introduced to basic macro recording using VBA and you will learn how to set personal preferences in Excel. Week 1 will conclude with a required quiz and an on-computer, in-application assignment. When you successfully complete Assignment 1, you will be given a "completion code", which you can input into the Assignment 1 submission quiz to earn credit for the assignment. The Week 2 material will be released when you have successfully passed Quiz 1 and Assignment 1. Good luck!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops intermediate to advanced Excel skills that are sought after in many different industries

Strong fit for beginners who have no prior Excel knowledge

Hands-on Excel assignments allow learners to practice skills in context

Taught by expert in Excel skills, Charles Nuttelman

Part of a specialization that offers a comprehensive study of Excel

Reviews summary

Practical excel for everyday tasks

According to students, this course offers a solid foundation in Excel, emphasizing practical, everyday skills. The hands-on, in-application assignments are a particular strength, allowing learners to immediately apply what they've learned. Many find the content clear and easy to follow, making it suitable for absolute beginners. While focused on fundamental concepts, it also provides a glimpse into more advanced functions and data management techniques, preparing students for subsequent parts of the specialization.

Pace may vary, some seek more advanced content.

"The initial weeks felt a bit slow, but it picked up significantly in later modules."

"I wished there was more in-depth coverage of certain advanced functions introduced briefly."

"As an advanced user, I found some parts repetitive, but still learned a few new tricks."

Skills directly applicable to professional tasks.

"I immediately started using the data filtering and sorting techniques at my job."

"The course taught me practical tools that I can apply to my daily work with spreadsheets."

"What I learned here is directly useful for managing data and creating reports professionally."

Covers essential Excel functions and data handling.

"I learned fundamental navigation, formatting, and essential functions like IF and VLOOKUP."

"The course covers a wide range of basic to intermediate Excel capabilities needed daily."

"It's a great overview of core Excel features, from simple formulas to data visualization."

Excellent starting point for new Excel users.

"As someone completely new to Excel, I found the explanations clear and easy to grasp."

"This course was perfect for me, a total beginner, building confidence step-by-step."

"I had no prior Excel experience, but this course gently guided me through the basics."

Practice with in-application Excel exercises.

"I really appreciated the in-application assignments; it made learning Excel so practical."

"The hands-on activities are a great way to solidify understanding, not just theory."

"I loved that I could work directly in Excel on my own computer for the assignments."

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 Everyday Excel, Part 1 with these activities:

Review basic spreadsheet concepts and terminology

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Ensures a solid understanding of fundamental spreadsheet concepts and terminology, providing a strong foundation for advanced Excel techniques.

Browse courses on Spreadsheet Basics

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Recall the components of a spreadsheet, such as cells, rows, and columns
Review common spreadsheet terminology, including formulas, functions, and charts
Understand the basics of data entry and formatting in spreadsheets

Review Basic Math

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Brush up on basic math skills to prepare for the course's quantitative aspects.

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Review the order of operations, exponents, and fractions.
Practice solving simple equations and inequalities.
Review basic geometry concepts, such as area and volume.

Review prior spreadsheet experience and knowledge

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Refreshes your prior experience and knowledge in spreadsheets, ensuring a stronger foundation for learning advanced Excel techniques in this course.

Browse courses on Excel

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Recall the basics of creating and editing spreadsheets
Review different spreadsheet functions and formulas
Examine examples of data analysis and visualization in spreadsheets

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Organize and review course materials regularly

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Promotes effective learning by encouraging regular review and organization of course materials, enhancing retention and understanding.

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Create a system for organizing notes, assignments, and other course materials
Review materials regularly to reinforce concepts and identify areas for improvement
Summarize key points and concepts from the materials

Explore Excel tutorials and online resources

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Provides additional support and guidance by directing you to valuable Excel tutorials and online resources, enhancing your learning experience.

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Search for Excel tutorials covering specific topics or skills
Explore online forums and communities for Excel users
Utilize interactive Excel simulations and exercises

Complete Excel practice problems

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Provides hands-on practice in applying Excel functions, manipulating data, and using formulas, solidifying your understanding of core Excel concepts.

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Solve practice problems involving basic Excel functions
Manipulate data using Excel's built-in tools
Create and apply custom Excel formulas

Start using Excel regularly for personal or professional tasks

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Encourages consistent practice and application of Excel skills, reinforcing your learning and improving your proficiency.

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Identify tasks in your personal or professional life where Excel can be useful
Create spreadsheets to manage tasks, track data, or perform calculations
Experiment with different Excel features and functions to solve problems

Develop an Excel project to showcase your skills

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Challenges you to apply your Excel knowledge and skills to a practical project, fostering deeper understanding and problem-solving abilities.

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Identify a real-world problem or scenario that can be solved using Excel
Design and develop an Excel solution to address the problem
Create visualizations and reports to present your findings

Career center

Learners who complete Everyday Excel, Part 1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts interpret large datasets, such as those that may be stored on an Excel spreadsheet, to find patterns and create reports that help make better decisions. This course provides the technical foundation for using the spreadsheet software Excel to analyze data, including how to perform calculations, build visualizations, and manage and clean datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use Excel to perform financial modeling and analysis. This course can help equip aspiring Financial Analysts with the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions for financial calculations, create charts and graphs to present financial data, and manage and analyze large datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Market Researcher

Market Researchers use Excel to collect, analyze, and interpret data about markets and customers. This course can help aspiring Market Researchers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to perform statistical analysis, create charts and graphs to present data, and manage and analyze large datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Operations Analyst

Operations Analysts use Excel to analyze business processes and identify areas for improvement. This course can help aspiring Operations Analysts develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to perform data analysis, create charts and graphs to present data, and manage and analyze large datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Analyst

Auditor

Auditors use Excel to examine financial records and ensure that they are accurate and compliant with regulations. This course can help aspiring Auditors develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to perform financial analysis, create charts and graphs to present data, and manage and analyze large datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use Excel to analyze business processes and identify areas for improvement. This course can help aspiring Business Analysts develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to perform data analysis, create charts and graphs to present data, and manage and analyze large datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers use Excel to plan, track, and manage projects. This course can help aspiring Project Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to create project plans, track progress, and manage budgets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Consultant

Consultants use Excel to analyze data and make recommendations to clients. This course can help aspiring Consultants develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to perform data analysis, create charts and graphs to present data, and manage and analyze large datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use Excel to analyze data and build machine learning models. This course can help aspiring Data Scientists develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to perform data analysis, create charts and graphs to present data, and manage and analyze large datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Software Engineer

Software Engineers use Excel to manage project data and track progress. This course can help aspiring Software Engineers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to create project plans, track progress, and manage budgets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Product Manager

Product Managers use Excel to track product development and manage budgets. This course can help aspiring Product Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to create product roadmaps, track progress, and manage budgets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers use Excel to track campaign performance and manage budgets. This course can help aspiring Marketing Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to create marketing plans, track progress, and manage budgets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers use Excel to track sales performance and manage budgets. This course can help aspiring Sales Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to create sales plans, track progress, and manage budgets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Customer Service Manager

Customer Service Managers use Excel to track customer interactions and manage budgets. This course can help aspiring Customer Service Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to create customer service plans, track progress, and manage budgets.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers use Excel to track employee data and manage budgets. This course can help aspiring Human Resources Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role, including how to use Excel functions to create employee records, track employee performance, and manage budgets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager