General:

• Students will be introduced to Microsoft Excel, learn basic terms associated with the program, and learn basic tasks in Excel.
• Teachers will asses the interest and ability of students to enable planning of future classes

Specific:

• Create new Workbooks and Sheets
• Enter data and navigate within Excel
• Find and use basic formulas
• Copy data and formulas
• Use relative and absolute cell references
• Administer the Day 1 survey

Files

Day 1 files

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 Workbook

• Create a new Workbook
  
  • Create and rename new Sheets
  • Adding Color to Worksheet Tabs
• Rows, Columns, Cells
• Entering Data

Excel Layout and Data Navigation

• Names of Locations (Ribbon, Tabs, Groups, Formula Bar)
• Using Shortcuts
  
  • Enter, Cmd+Enter, Shift+Enter, Tab, Shift+Tab, Cmd+Arrow Keys, Cmd+Shift+Arrow Keys
  • Cmd+C/V, Cmd+X
  • Tab/Enter, Shift+Tab/Shift+Enter

Formulas and Functions

• Difference between a function and a formula
• Sum Function
• Average Function
• Multiplication in Excel

Copying Functions/Formulas & Absolute References

• Copying functions/formulas
  
  • Dragging the fill handle
  • Double Clicking the fill handle
  • CTRL+C/X/V
  • Paste Special options
• Absolute References
  
  • What they are and how they work
  • Shortcuts
    
    • fn+F2 to go into a cell
    • fn+F4 to make absolute references, press multiple times to toggle options

Have the students take this survey to assess their interest and previous experience so additional classes can be planned. Survey Link: tiny.cc/ExcelSurvey

Conclusion

• Recap
  
  • Setting up worksheets
  • Data Entry and Navigation
  • Formulas and Functions
  • Copying Functions/Formulas
  • Absolute References
• Next time:
  
  • Whatever the students are interested in
• Office/Facebook

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