Becoming confident on Excel 365 (beginner)

What is the course about?

You will learn the basics of Excel so you can create and design your own spreadsheets – for example to make your own monthly budgets. You will learn how to input and manage data, perform calculations and create charts and graphs. You will also learn the basics of formatting to enhance the visual impact of your spreadsheets. The course includes a general overview of the concepts, terms and functions of spreadsheets.

What will we cover?

• recognising the key features of the Excel window and what you use Excel for
• entering data and text
•presenting data effectively in table form and changing font, colour, size and style
• performing calculations using basic formulae such as sum, average, count, min and max
•presenting data effectively by converting numerical data into visually appealing charts and graphs
•creating a weekly budget calculator.

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

• recognise the key features of the Excel window and what you use Excel for
• enter data and text accurately into a cells
•present data effectively in table form and change font, colour, size and style
• perform calculations using basic formulae such as sum, average, count, min and max
•present data effectively by converting numerical data into visually appealing charts and graphs
•create a weekly budget calculator.

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

Though this is an introductory course, you should be able to use a keyboard and mouse and understand the principles of file management. You should be able to follow spoken and written instructions and add, subtract, multiply and divide.

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, with guidance from the tutor. You will work on your own and with other students on different tasks so you are always practising important in-demand life and work skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, prioritising, negotiating, collaborating and independence. You will learn in a step by step manner so you can complete challenging tasks in enjoyable and relaxing ways. Your tutor will also work with you individually so you know how to improve and how to work in a way that improves your learning. 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 folder to keep your work in. Your tutor will provide handouts and a code 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 at the same time or after this course. These include:
• Becoming confident with digital skills: on your computer and online (beginner)
• Becoming confident in file management and Windows 10 on your PC (beginners)
• Becoming confident in file management and Windows 11 on your PC (beginners)
• Making sense of Windows 11
• Digital skills for the workplace: using Excel (foundation)
• Digital skills for the workplace: working with data - inputting, finding, sorting, filtering with Excel (foundation)
• Digital skills for business: analysing, handling and presenting data with Excel (intermediate)
• Digital skills for business: visualising data with Excel - from column charts to scatter plots (intermediate)
• Becoming confident on PowerPoint 365 (beginner)
• Becoming confident on Outlook 365 (beginner)
• Becoming confident on Word 365 (beginner)

You can also do classes in the maths and English areas. These include:
• Bitesize maths: becoming confident with numbers and calculations (level 1-2)
• Bitesize maths: becoming confident with shapes, space and measuring (level 1-2)
• Bitesize maths: becoming confident with algebra, problem-solving and equations (level 1-2)
• Becoming data literate: how to understand and interpret the data all around you (level 1-2)
• Becoming data literate: how to present data for work or study (level 2)
• Becoming data literate: understanding data and how it is presented from pie-charts to bell curves (level 2)
• English communication skills - for life and work (level 1)
• Workplace communication skills: letters, emails, memos, notes, meetings and presentations (level 1)
• Workplace communication skills: how to be confident writing a CV and applying for jobs (level 1-level 2)
• Workplace communication skills: how to write a successful CV and be confident in interviews (entry 3-level 1)

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