In this lesson, students discover how Excel interprets different kinds of entries. They’ll learn the difference between text, numbers, dates, times, and formulas, and how alignment (left vs. right) gives a quick clue to the data type. Students will also see how Excel stores dates and times as numbers behind the scenes, and how formulas calculate results automatically. With the downloadable workbook Exercise_Datatypes.xlsx, they can practice identifying and working with each type.

In this lesson, students practice entering and managing text and numbers in Excel. They’ll use the Fill Handle to auto-complete sequences like months, build a small table with headers and values, and explore how TAB/ENTER navigation works within a selected range. Students will also format numbers into currency or adjust decimals, and learn how to copy styles quickly using Format Painter. By the end, they’ll be able to input and format data efficiently, creating neat, professional-looking tables.

In this lesson, students practice entering and managing text and numbers in Excel. They’ll use the Fill Handle to auto-complete sequences like months, build a small table with headers and values, and explore how TAB/ENTER navigation works within a selected range. Students will also format numbers into currency or adjust decimals, and learn how to copy styles quickly using Format Painter. By the end, they’ll be able to input and format data efficiently, creating neat, professional-looking tables.

In this lesson, students explore how Excel handles saving and version control. They’ll see the difference between cloud-saved files (OneDrive/SharePoint), which include full version history with the ability to view, restore, or compare edits, and local files, which only provide limited AutoRecover snapshots. By the end, students will know how to access version history, recover unsaved files, and understand why saving to the cloud is essential for collaboration and reliable backups.

In this lesson, students learn how to control the size of rows and columns to make data easier to read. They’ll practice manually resizing with drag handles, use AutoFit to adjust to the longest entry, and even apply AutoFit across the entire worksheet. The session also highlights how row height helps when wrapping text and why merged cells can sometimes cause issues. By the end, students will be able to format their worksheets so all content is clearly visible and well-organized.

In this lesson, students learn how to make their spreadsheets both professional and easy to read. They’ll explore cell styles, manual formatting, borders, text wrapping, and merged headings. The class covers powerful tools like Format Painter for copying designs, number formats that change appearance without altering values, and conditional formatting to highlight key data automatically. By the end, students will be able to apply, customize, and clear formatting so their worksheets look clean, consistent, and impactful.

A solution to the homework.

In this lesson, students discover how Flash Fill can instantly recognize patterns and transform data without formulas. They’ll practice splitting full names into first and last names, combining text into full names or email addresses, and reformatting values like phone numbers or capitalization. The shortcut CTRL+E (Windows) or ⌘+E (Mac) makes the tool quick and powerful. By the end, students will know how to use Flash Fill for fast, consistent data entry, while also understanding its limitations compared to formulas.

A run-through of the Flash Fill homework.

In this lesson, students learn why Excel Tables are more powerful than plain ranges. They’ll see how converting data into a Table unlocks features like built-in formatting, automatic filtering and sorting, structured references, and expansion as new rows or columns are added. Students will also practice applying table styles, using the Total Row for quick summaries, filtering by category, and rearranging columns. By the end, they’ll understand the key advantages of working with Tables for clean, dynamic, and analysis-ready data.

A run-through of the Tables homework.

In this lesson, students learn how to insert and adjust rows and columns in both normal ranges and Excel Tables. They’ll practice shifting cells right or down, adding entire rows or columns, and see how behavior changes inside Tables (where inserts apply to whole rows or columns only). By the end, students will understand when to use each method and how Excel maintains structure differently in Tables compared to plain ranges.

A run-through of the rows and columns homework.

In this lesson, students learn how to temporarily hide data without deleting it. They’ll practice hiding and unhiding rows and columns, recognize the skipped numbering/lettering indicators, and see how formulas still calculate hidden values. The class also compares how SUM always includes hidden data, while SUBTOTAL can ignore it. By the end, students will know how to manage hidden data effectively and troubleshoot common issues (like zero-height rows or filters).

A run-through of the homework on hiding and unhiding rows and columns

In this lesson, students explore tools that make large worksheets easier to navigate. They’ll practice using Freeze Panes to lock the top row, first column, or both—keeping headers visible while scrolling—and use Split View to divide the window into separate scrollable sections. By the end, they’ll be able to manage long tables with sticky headers and compare different parts of a worksheet side by side for easier analysis.

In this lesson, students learn how to use the status bar for quick insights, such as Average, Count, and Sum, without writing formulas. They’ll also see how to copy a quick total from the status bar, and why this result doesn’t update when values change. To create dynamic totals, students practice using the SUM function across ranges (e.g., Q1–Q4), ensuring results update automatically. This sets the stage for calculating totals based on formulas, covered in the next lecture.

In this lesson, students practice creating simple formulas using arithmetic operators for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They’ll build a Net Total column by multiplying unit price by quantity, then use the Fill Handle to copy formulas down the table. The session also introduces the formula bar for editing, and explains the BODMAS rule to ensure correct order of operations with brackets. By the end, students will be able to write and copy formulas confidently across a dataset.

A run-through of the homework on simple arithmetic formulas.

In this lesson, students learn the difference between relative references (which adjust automatically when formulas are copied) and absolute references (which stay fixed using the $ symbol, e.g., $A$1). They’ll practice creating formulas with both types and see how they behave when filled across rows and columns. The lesson also introduces cell names, making formulas easier to read and manage. By the end, students will understand when to use each referencing style for accuracy and efficiency.

In this lesson, students are introduced to functions, Excel’s built-in formulas that simplify calculations. They’ll learn the basic syntax =FUNCTION(arguments), practice typing a function manually, and then use the Insert Function tool on the Formula tab to search, browse by category, and insert functions with a point-and-click interface.
They’ll practice using SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT for quick calculations, apply the IF function for simple decision-making, and explore text tools like CONCAT, LEFT, RIGHT, PROPER to combine and clean up data. Finally, they’ll work with date functions such as TODAY and YEAR to generate and extract date information. By the end, students will see how functions make data analysis faster, more accurate, and dynamic.
By the end, students will understand how to find and apply functions efficiently.

A run-through of the homework on inserting functions.

In this lesson, students learn how to retrieve information from tables using lookup functions. They’ll start with VLOOKUP, understanding how it searches the first column and returns values from the right, while also seeing its common limitations. Then, they’ll move on to XLOOKUP, Excel’s modern replacement, which can look in any direction, handle missing values gracefully, and return multiple results. By comparing the two side by side, students will appreciate why XLOOKUP is more powerful and reliable for real-world analysis.

A run-through of the homework on Lookups.

In this lesson, students learn how to transform raw data into clear visuals with Excel charts. They’ll practice creating column, line, pie, and bar charts to show comparisons, trends, and proportions, then customize them with titles, axis labels, legends, and styles. Students will also experiment with chart elements, filters, and moving charts to separate sheets. A final challenge introduces combination charts, blending columns and lines to highlight comparisons. By the end, students will know how to choose and design charts that best communicate their data.

A run-through of the homework on Inserting Charts

In this lesson, students learn how to organize information by sorting values in Excel. They’ll practice basic A–Z/Z–A sorts for text, smallest-to-largest sorts for numbers, and advanced options like sorting by cell or font color. The session also introduces multi-level sorting, where data is ordered by more than one column (e.g., Region then Salary). By the end, students will understand how sorting affects entire rows, how to manage custom sort rules, and how to quickly undo mistakes with Ctrl+Z.

A run-through of the homework on Sorting Data

In this lesson, students learn how to use AutoFilter to display only the rows they need while keeping all data intact. They’ll practice filtering by text, numbers, and dates, combining multiple filters at once, and clearing/reapplying filters as needed. The session also covers custom filters like “greater than,” “contains,” and “between,” as well as using SUBTOTAL functions to calculate results that adapt to hidden or filtered rows. By the end, students will be able to quickly analyze subsets of data without deleting or rearranging anything.

A run-through of the homework on Filtering Data

In this lesson, students are introduced to PivotTables, Excel’s most powerful tool for summarizing and analyzing large datasets. They’ll learn how PivotTables can instantly group, filter, and total information without writing formulas, and how simple drag-and-drop fields make it easy to view data from different perspectives. By the end, students will understand why PivotTables are ideal for spotting trends, answering real-world questions, and saving time when working with big data.

A run-through of the homework on Pivot tables

In this lesson, students learn how to control Excel’s print settings to produce professional reports. They’ll practice setting a print area, adjusting page orientation, and using scaling options to fit content neatly on the page. The session also covers adding headers and footers, previewing before printing, and choosing between printing a selection, a sheet, or the entire workbook. By the end, students will know how to avoid messy printouts and ensure their spreadsheets look polished on paper.

In this lesson, students learn how to safeguard their work by applying protection at both the worksheet and workbook level. They’ll practice unlocking specific cells for data entry, protecting a sheet to prevent unwanted edits, and using workbook protection to control structural changes like adding or deleting sheets. The lesson also highlights the difference between password protection for editing and true security. By the end, students will know how to share workbooks confidently while keeping key data safe from accidental changes.

A run-through of the homework on Printing

In this lesson, students will learn about creating hyperlinks in their workbooks that can link to other resources, and other datasheets. We'll create a Welcome page with a table of hyperlinks to all of the datasheets in the workbook, and a link back from each datasheet to the Welcome tab.

This video contains a final exam workbook with multiple exercises for you to complete.