Becoming confident in digital skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (beginner)

What is the course about?

This course will give you all the confidence you need to start using Word, Excel and PowerPoint both inside and outside work. You will learn vital word processing skills, how to create spreadsheets, budgets and tables as well as develop presentation skills. You will focus on how to create and edit short documents such as letters, how to present data in simple tables and make attractive slide shows. You will focus on the key elements of Outlook so you can send, receive and organise emails.

What will we cover?

• identifying and recognising the key features of a Word, Exec, PowerPoint and Outlook window
• identifying and recognising what you use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook for
• creating, opening and saving Word documents such as letters and basic templates
• entering and editing text by inserting, deleting, moving, copying and pasting it.
• formatting a text to make it look good by changing font type, font size, font colour, bold, italics
• using spell check and grammar check so your documents are accurate
• printing documents successfully
• entering data and text in Excel
• presenting data effectively in table form and changing font, colour, size and style
• performing basic calculations in Excel e.g. to create a simple budget
• creating attractive well laid out presentations in PowerPoint
• adding text and images to slide
• using techniques to control what the viewer sees
• organising your files so they are easy to find
•maintaining the security of your files at all times
•sending, receiving and organising emails.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• identify and recognise the key features of a Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook window
• identify and recognise what you use Word, Exec, PowerPoint and Outlook for
• create, open and save Word documents such as letters and basic templates
• enter and edit text by inserting, deleting, moving, copying and pasting it.
• format a text to make it look good by changing font type, font size, font colour, bold, italics
• use spell check and grammar check so your documents are accurate
• print documents successfully
• enter data and text in Excel
• present data effectively in table form and changing font, colour, size and style
• perform basic calculations in Excel e.g. to create a simple budget
• create attractive well laid out presentations in PowerPoint
• add text and images to slide
• use techniques to control what the viewer sees
• organise your files so they are easy to find
• maintain the security of your files at all times
•send, receive and organise emails.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is part of our beginner Becoming Confident series. You should be able to use a computer for emailing and internet use, but needing to start learning about Word, Excel, PowerPoint and become more confident on Outlook. If you are a complete beginner, please do our Becoming confidence on the computer and online course before doing this one.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn in a supportive and welcoming environment with an emphasis on your discovering how to do and complete tasks and functions, with guidance from the tutor. You will learn in a step by step manner so you can achieve challenging aims in an enjoyable and productive way. You will have lots of opportunities to practise as well as understand what you are doing and why. Everyone will be encouraged to participate and interact in a way that is best for them, including working in pairs and groups, as well as on your own. You will need to do work outside the classroom and use Google Classroom to help you.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need a pen, some lined A4 paper and a file to keep your work in. Your tutor will provide handouts and a link for Google classroom so you can communicate with classmates and access materials, videos etc. online.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

There are many courses you can do before, at the same time or after this course. These include:
• Becoming confident on the cloud: OneDrive and Google drive - a new way of sharing and managing your files (foundation)
• Essential digital skills for the workplace: Word, Excel and PowerPoint (foundation-level 1)
• Digital skills for the workplace: using Excel (foundation)
• Getting started: learning about your smartphone (complete beginner)
• Getting started: becoming confident on Instagram and TikTok (complete beginners)
• Getting started: becoming confident on Facebook and Twitter (complete beginners)
• Becoming confident in file management and Windows 10 on your PC (beginners)
• Becoming confident in file management and Windows 11 on your PC (beginners)
• Becoming confident and secure with mobile data: safely managing and syncing your files and accounts across your computer, smartphone and tablet (foundation)
• Becoming confident in digital security: how to protect your data and privacy on your PC, Internet and smartphone
• Getting started: learning about your smartphone (complete beginner)

You can also do classes in the maths and English areas. These include:
• Workplace communication skills: how to be confident writing a CV and applying for jobs (level 1-level 2)
• Workplace communication skills: how to be confident and do well in interviews (level 1-level2)
• Workplace communication with digital skills: English for the office and business (intermediate level 1-level 2)


For more information, talk with your tutor or contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.