Old Excel Day 1

Objectives

General:

  • Students will be introduced to Microsoft Excel, learn how to navigate within the program, and create basic spreadsheets.

Specific:

  • Find, use and download Excel templates
  • Enter data and navigate within Excel
  • Find and use basic formulas
  • Copy data and formulas
  • Use relative and absolute cell references

Outline

Hook: Ask how many people have wanted to be able to automate long processes before. Show them some formulas to catch their interest in learning Excel.

Introduction:

  • Names, positions, goals for class, etc.

Setting up a Worksheet

  • Either can create your own spreadsheet or use a template
    • Open a new document and go through a few useful tmeplates based off of what the class would like to look at
  • Rows, Columns, Cells
  • Entering Data

Browsing for/Using a Template

  • Searching for useful templates
  • Pros and Cons of templates

Data Entry and Navigation

  • Using Shortcuts
    • Enter, Cmd+Enter, Shift+Enter, Tab, Shift+Tab, Cmd+Arrow Keys, Cmd+Shift+Arrow Keys
  • Naming Worksheets
  • Adding Worksheets
  • Copying Worksheets
  • Adding Color to Worksheet Tabs
  • Names of Locations (Ribbon, Tabs, Groups, Formula Bar)

Formulas and Functions

Copying Functions/Formulas & Absolute References

  • Copying functions/formulas
  • Absolute References
    • Shortcuts
      • fn+F2 to go into a cell
      • fn+F4 to make absolute references, press multiple times to toggle options

Conclusion

  • Recap
    • Setting up worsksheets
    • Browsing and Using Templates
    • Data Entry and Navigation
    • Formulas and Functions
    • Copying Functions/Formulas
    • Absolute References
  • Next time:
    • Formatting worksheets
  • Office/Facebook

Example Hook

Here is a link to a completed file uploaded to Google Sheets: Completed File

Example Questions

What are some possible solutions to this problem?

How do we make this an absolute reference?

Would anyone be willing to walk us through this process?

Example Activities and Files

Have students open a blank workbook to browse through and check out some of the useful templates in Excel (Personal Budgeting, Inventory, etc.)

Have students download Day 1_0.xlsx (Sheet 1) and follow along as you show them how to enter data and navigate Microsoft Excel

Have students download Day 1_0.xlsx (Sheet 2) and follow along as you show them how to use and create formulas and functions as well as apply absolute references.

Other Resources

Old Excel Day 2 Page