Spreadsheet software remains one of the most ubiquitous pieces of software used in workplaces across the world. Learning to confidently operate this software means adding a highly valuable asset to your employability portfolio. In this third course of our Excel specialization Excel Skills for Business you will delve deeper into some of the most powerful features Excel has to offer. When you have successfully completed the course you will be able to
Check for and prevent errors in spreadsheets;
Create powerful automation in spreadsheets;
Apply advanced formulas and conditional logic to help make informed business decisions; and
Create spreadsheets that help forecast and model data.
Once again, we have brought together a great teaching team that will be with you every step of the way. Nicky, Prashan and myself will guide you through each week. As we are exploring these more advanced topics, we are following Alex who is an Excel consultant called in by businesses that experience issues with their spreadsheets.
This course is part of the Excel Skills for Business Specialization
Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate II
Offered By
About this Course
4.8
730 ratings
Skills you will gain
Lookup TableMicrosoft Excel VbaData ValidationMicrosoft Excel Macro
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
14 hours to complete
Data Validation
We kick off this course with data validation and conditional formatting. This module takes you through creating and applying data validation, as well as working with formulas in data validation. This is followed by basic and advanced conditional formatting.
8 videos (Total 42 min), 6 readings, 7 quizzes
8 videos
Week 1 Discussion4m
Practice Video: Data Validation6m
Practice Video: Creating Drop-down Lists6m
Practice Video: Using Formulas in Data Validation7m
Practice Video: Working with Data Validation7m
Practice Video: Advanced Conditional Formatting5m
Week 1 Wrap-Up2m
6 readings
Welcome10m
Course goals and weekly learning objectives10m
Read me before you start: Quizzes and navigation10m
Read me before you start: Versions and regions10m
Download the Week 1 workbooks5m
Keyboard Shortcuts, Excel Terminology, and Ninja Tips20m
7 practice exercises
Data Validation14m
Creating Drop-down Lists8m
Using Formulas in Data Validation6m
Working with Data Validation6m
Advanced Conditional Formatting6m
Week 1 Practice Challenge30m
Week 1 Final Assignment30m
Week
23 hours to complete
Conditional Logic
Excel has several logical functions and this module explores some of them. Start by learning the concept of conditional logic in formulas, followed by how to conduct logic tests and use conditional operations, to your benefit. We will also look at nested IF functions to evaluate data.
8 videos (Total 39 min), 2 readings, 7 quizzes
8 videos
Week 2 Discussion4m
Practice Video: Logical Functions I: IF7m
Practice Video: Logical Functions II: AND, OR5m
Practice Video: Combining Logical Functions I: IF, AND, OR5m
Practice Video: Combining Logical Functions II: Nested IFs5m
Practice Video: Handling Errors: IFERROR, IFNA6m
Week 2 Wrap-Up1m
2 readings
Download the Week 2 workbooks5m
Keyboard Shortcuts, Excel Terminology, and Ninja Tips20m
7 practice exercises
Logical Functions I: IF8m
Logical Functions II: AND, OR8m
Combining Logical Functions I: IF, AND, OR6m
Combining Logical Functions II: Nested IFs8m
Handling Errors: IFERROR, IFNA4m
Week 2 Practice Challenge30m
Week 2 Final Assignment30m
Week
33 hours to complete
Automating Lookups
How do find information from different parts of a workbook? This module introduces you to functions like CHOOSE, VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH and other dynamic lookups to find and display data from several sources.
8 videos (Total 39 min), 2 readings, 7 quizzes
8 videos
Week 3 Discussion4m
Practice Video: Introduction to Lookups: CHOOSE3m
Practice Video: Approximate Matches: Range VLOOKUP5m
Practice Video: Exact Matches: Exact Match VLOOKUP6m
Practice Video: Finding a Position: MATCH7m
Practice Video: Dynamic Lookups: INDEX, MATCH7m
Week 3 Wrap-Up1m
2 readings
Download the Week 3 workbooks5m
Keyboard Shortcuts, Excel Terminology, and Ninja Tips20m
7 practice exercises
Introduction to Lookups: CHOOSE8m
Approximate Matches: Range VLOOKUP8m
Exact Matches: Exact Match VLOOKUP8m
Finding a Position: MATCH8m
Dynamic Lookups: INDEX, MATCH6m
Week 3 Practice Challenge30m
Week 3 Final Assignment30m
Week
43 hours to complete
Formula Auditing and Protection
If you are worried that errors have crept into your worksheet, this module will show you how to check for errors, trace precedents and dependents, resolve circular references, and finally, protect your worksheets and workbooks from further harm.
8 videos (Total 48 min), 2 readings, 7 quizzes
8 videos
Week 4 Discussion3m
Practice Video: Error Checking9m
Practice Video: Formula Calculation Options6m
Practice Video: Trace Precedents and Dependents5m
Practice Video: Evaluate Formula, Watch Window8m
Practice Video: Protecting Workbooks and Worksheets9m
Week 4 Wrap-Up1m
2 readings
Download the Week 4 workbooks5m
Keyboard Shortcuts, Excel Terminology, and Ninja Tips20m
7 practice exercises
Error Checking8m
Formula Calculation Options8m
Tracing Precedents and Dependents10m
Evaluate Formula, Watch Window6m
Protecting Workbooks and Worksheets6m
Week 4 Practice Challenge30m
Week 4 Final Assignment36m
4.8
151 Reviews14%
started a new career after completing these courses
17%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top Reviews
Love this course....It taught me a lot. It was little more challenging but I passed it. I definitely need more practice at doing these formulas and equations. Thank You for offering this great course
This course gives us a deep insight to many beautiful tools and features about excel which we never usually see. It greatly has increased my efficiency & makes me feel more professional!
Instructor
Dr Yvonne Breyer
Program Director, Design and Experience, Global MBAFaculty of Business and Economics
About Macquarie University
Macquarie is ranked among the top one per cent of universities in the world, and with a 5-star QS rating, we are recognised for producing graduates who are among the most sought-after professionals in the world. Since our foundation 54 years ago, we have aspired to be a different type of university: one focused on fostering collaboration between students, academics, industry and society.
About the Excel Skills for Business Specialization
This specialization is intended for anyone who seeks to develop one of the most critical and fundamental digital skills today. Spreadsheet software remains one of the most ubiquitous pieces of software used in workplaces across the world. Learning to confidently operate this software means adding a highly valuable asset to your employability portfolio. In the United States alone, millions of job advertisements requiring Excel skills are posted every day. Research by Burning Glass Technologies and Capital One shows that digital skills lead to higher income and better employment opportunities. At a time when digital skills jobs are growing much faster than non-digital jobs, completing this specialization will position you way ahead of others.
In this Specialization, learners develop advanced Excel Skills for Business. Upon completing the four courses in this Specialization, learners can design sophisticated spreadsheets, including professional dashboards, and perform complex calculations using advanced Excel features and techniques. Learners have acquired the skills to manage large datasets efficiently, extract meaningful information from datasets, present data and extract information effectively. In addition, learners have mastered the skills needed to validate data and prevent errors in spreadsheets, create automation, apply advanced formulas and conditional logic to help make decisions and create spreadsheets that help forecast and model data.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
What version of Excel do you teach?
In this course, we are using Microsoft Excel 2016 (Office 365) on a Windows PC with all options set to default. The Office 365 version of Excel is the latest version at the time of writing and developing this course. If you have a different version of Excel or you are using a Mac, some tools and buttons will look different, they may be located in a different spot, or some might be missing altogether. If there are any major differences, we usually point them out during the practice videos. If you cannot find a tool that we mention, you can always ask in the forums or search the Internet. Most of the functionality we demonstrate is also available in other spreadsheet programs, although the interface will look different. Most other spreadsheet software can import and export files in the Microsoft Excel format. If you are not sure which version of Excel you are using, check the Microsoft support pages for help.
If you cannot use Excel 2016 on a PC, you will be able to follow along with the videos, however, please note that some of the assessment tasks will require Excel. Where possible, we have designed assessment tasks so that users of older versions of Excel (such as 2013) can still solve them.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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