Excel Basics

WICshop handout June 2008
http://wic.library.upenn.edu/multimedia/tutorials/excelbasic.html

Description: Learn how to create spreadsheets, enter and format data, use mathematical calculations, and more. This is a basic course, addressed to users with no previous experience with the software.

Email for followup questions: wic1@pobox.upenn.edu

Learning Outcomes:

1. Become comfortable with Excel screen - Ribbon, cursors, worksheets
2. Entering and selecting data - cells, copy, paste, autofill
3. Formatting - colors, borders
4. Exploring formulas - sum and average
5. Exploring pie charts and bar graphs

Plan:

1. Introductions – what do you know already?
2. Defining terms and exploring the screen: (Excel 2007 Screen)
1. Cell, row, column, worksheet
2. Type in your name in cell A1 and then click in A2.
3. Type in a sentence in cell B1. Notice how display changes.
4. Click to select one cell. Click and drag to select adjacent cells.
3. Cursor Shapes:
1. Selection (wide white cross)
2. Moving (axes with four arrows)
3. Editing (Vertical line)
4. Resizing (Line with two arrows)
5. AutoFill (Thin black cross)
6. Menus (White slanted arrow)
7. Row and Column Selection (Thick black arrow)
4. Entering and selecting data
1. Click and drag
2. Shift and Click
3. Control and click
4. Selecting rows and columns - try changing background color
5. copy, move and paste
6. Simple series: 1, 2, …
7. Date series: 1/1/08, 2/1/08, … (Select two cells, then AutoFill)
5. Formatting Cells
1. Home / Format Cells
2. Editing a cell versus selecting a cell - options will change - notice ribbon color
3. Background fill color and borders
6. Hands-on M&M activity –
1. Sort M&Ms by color and create data table
2. Formulas - sum and average - Home tab on ribbon
3. Format rows by color
4. Graph - Insert / Pie Chart
5. Move Graph to a new sheet and change formats and colors
7. Questions and next steps

References:

Mouse Pointer discussion
MS Excel 2007 Training
Biomedical Library Online Excel Tutorial