About this course: "Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving, Part 1" is aimed at learners who are seeking to augment, expand, optimize, and increase the efficiency of their Excel spreadsheet skills by tapping into the powerful programming, automation, and customization capabilities available with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). This course is the first part of a three-part series and Specialization that focuses on the application of computing techniques in Excel/VBA to solve problems. In this course (Part 1), you will: 1) create macros to automate procedures in Excel; 2) define your own user-defined functions; 3) create basic subroutines to interface with the user; 4) learn the basic programming structures in VBA; and 5) automate Excel’s Goal Seek and Solver tools and use numerical techniques to create “live solutions” to solve targeting and optimization problems. New to computer programming? The extremely intuitive and visual nature of VBA lends itself nicely to teaching and learning - what a fun way to learn to code! No prior knowledge in programming nor advanced math skills are necessary yet seasoned programmers will pick up new and creative spreadsheet problem solving strategies. After you have learned the basics of VBA, each module will introduce foundational and broad problems inspired by situations that you might encounter in the real world. To pass each module, you'll need to pass a mastery quiz and complete a problem solving assignment. This course is unique in that the weekly assignments are completed in-application (i.e., on your own computer in Excel), providing you with valuable hands-on training.
Who is this class for: This course is aimed at science/engineering/business students and professionals wishing to unlock the vast potential of Visual Basic for Applications to help you automate and customize the Excel spreadsheet environment.
Created by: University of Colorado Boulder
Taught by: Charlie Nuttelman, Instructor
Chemical and Biological Engineering
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 3 in the Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving Specialization |
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 5 weeks of study, 2-4 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| Hardware Req | The Windows version of Microsoft Excel OR running Windows Excel on Mac with Boot Camp or Parallels. |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Macro recording, VBA procedures, and debugging
Week 1 will introduce you to visual basic for applications (VBA) and teach you the foundational tools required to create basic procedures in VBA. You'll learn about different data types and the scope of variables, how to troubleshoot your code when it's not working, and how to record basic macros using both absolute and relative referencing modes.
14 videos, 8 readings
- Video: What can you do with Excel/VBA?
- Reading: For Mac users
- Video: Is this course for you?
- Reading: The power of Excel/VBA
- Video: How the course works
- Reading: The importance of a Course Certificate and the future of higher education
- Reading: For business and finance folks
- Reading: Course improvement and my philosophy on learning
- Discussion Prompt: What about you?!
- Reading: Review of Excel (if you need it!)
- Video: Week 1 preview
- Video: Getting your feet wet
- Video: Saving your files as macro-enabled workbooks
- Video: Recording basic macros
- Video: Absolute vs. relative referencing during macro recording
- Video: Overview of procedures in VBA
- Video: Why use Option Explicit?
- Video: Declaration of variables, data types, and scope of variables
- Video: How to troubleshoot when your code is not working properly
- Reading: "Debugging.xlsm" file
- Discussion Prompt: (OPTIONAL) Week 1 reflection
- Reading: Assignment 1
- Video: Assignment 1 preview and instructions
- Discussion Prompt: Assignment 1 Discussion
Graded: Week 1 Quiz
Graded: Assignment 1 Submission
WEEK 2
User-Defined VBA Functions
In Week 2, you will learn basic VBA expression entry, how to create user-defined functions, how to convert functions to Add-Ins in Excel, how to borrow Excel's built-in functions, how to troubleshoot your VBA functions when they aren't working, and you'll learn about how to design your procedures in a modular fashion.
11 videos, 1 reading
- Video: How to write basic VBA expressions and use built-in functions
- Video: How to make your own user-defined function
- Video: Example of a user-defined function
- Video: How to convert a user-defined function to an Excel Add-In
- Video: Borrowing Excel functions
- Video: How to troubleshoot your user defined functions
- Video: Why you don't use input and message boxes in functions
- Video: An introduction to modular programming
- Video: Running a subroutine that resides in another file
- Discussion Prompt: (OPTIONAL) Week 2 reflection
- Reading: Assignment 2
- Video: Assignment 2 preview and instructions
- Discussion Prompt: Assignment 2 Discussion
Graded: Week 2 Quiz
Graded: Assignment 2 submission
WEEK 3
Exchanging Information Between Excel and VBA
Week 3 teaches you all about how to reference and move information to VBA from Excel and vice versa. You'll learn about the various objects, properties, methods, and events in VBA. Some of the most important properties and methods will be learned in this module that will make future problem solving in the course possible. You will also learn how to deal with errors that arise in your subroutines.
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Introduction to objects, properties, methods, and events
- Video: Common objects, properties, and methods
- Video: Examples, Part 1: Basic input and output in subroutines
- Video: Examples, Part 2: Basic input and output in subroutines
- Video: Examples, Part 3: Basic input and output in subroutines
- Video: How to handle basic user error in your subroutines
- Discussion Prompt: (OPTIONAL) Week 3 reflection
- Reading: Assignment 3
- Video: Assignment 3 preview and instructions
- Discussion Prompt: Assignment 3 Discussion
Graded: Week 3 Quiz
Graded: Assignment 3 submission
WEEK 4
Programming structures in VBA
Week 4 begins the "meat" of programming in VBA, and we are finally moving into some exciting problem solving. You will learn about the common programming structures in VBA (sequence, selection, and repetition) that form the foundation for advanced programming procedures. Several examples will highlight the utility of these programming structures.
15 videos, 2 readings
- Video: How to implement One-Way If...Then selection structures
- Video: How to implement Two-Way If...Then selection structures
- Video: All about the Multi-Alternative If...Then
- Video: Variable iteration loops (Do...Loops)
- Video: Validating user input using a Do...Loop
- Video: Creating a guessing game using a Do...Loop
- Video: All about fixed iteration (For...Next) loops
- Video: Putting it all together: Example 1
- Video: Putting it all together: Example 2
- Video: Using the For Each... Next statement
- Video: Worked mini-project: Searching through high and low temperatures in an Excel workbook
- Reading: "Boulder High and Low Temperatures 2016 - STARTER.xlsm" file
- Video: (OPTIONAL) Advanced input validation and error handling: Part 1
- Video: (OPTIONAL) Advanced input validation and error handling: Part 2
- Discussion Prompt: (OPTIONAL) Week 4 reflection
- Reading: Assignment 4
- Video: Assignment 4 preview and instructions
- Discussion Prompt: Assignment 4 Discussion
Graded: Week 4 Quiz
Graded: Assignment 4 submission
WEEK 5
(OPTIONAL) Numerical techniques and live solution strategies
Week 5 is OPTIONAL! Those who complete the Week 5 assessments (Quiz 5 and Assignment 5) will earn an Honors designation on their Course Certificate (see the first reading "WEEK 5 IS OPTIONAL" below). Week 5 delves into some important numerical techniques that can be used in Excel without the use of VBA. You will also explore ways in which the targeting tools in Excel (Goal Seek and Solver tools) can be automated in VBA. Finally, you'll explore some exciting "live solution" methods that have distinct advantages, especially for case studies where you have multiple scenarios that must be solved. Week 5 represents the most math-heavy module of either part of "Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving" but will provide you with some extremely useful tools that you can implement in solving a variety of real world problems. Even if you choose to skip/forego Week 5, you can always use this material as reference in the future!
15 videos, 5 readings
- Reading: Week 5 is optional, but you can earn Honors designation
- Video: How to use the Goal Seek and Solver tools to solve targeting problems
- Video: How to solve optimization problems using the Solver tool
- Video: Fuel tank example and limitations of the Goal Seek and Solver Tools
- Reading: "Fuel Tank - STARTER.xlsx" file
- Video: Automating the Goal Seek and Solver Tools
- Video: Circular Calculations in Excel
- Video: Implementing the bisection method in Excel
- Video: Implementing a live solution of the bisection method to solve a case study
- Video: Using the Golden Section search technique for optimization problems in Excel
- Video: Live solution of the Golden Search technique for solving an optimization problem
- Video: Solving a case study for friction factor using a circular calculation
- Video: Implementing targeting and optimization algorithms in VBA subroutines
- Video: Bisection method in a VBA function
- Reading: Course wrap-up and I'd love to see what you are doing with VBA!
- Reading: Consider rating the course
- Discussion Prompt: (OPTIONAL) Week 5 reflection
- Video: Preview of Part 2 of the course
- Reading: Assignment 5
- Video: Assignment 5 preview and instructions
- Discussion Prompt: Assignment 5 Discussion
Graded: Week 5 Quiz
Graded: Assignment 5 submission
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
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Creators
University of Colorado Boulder
CU-Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
Pricing
| Purchase Course | |
|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
Very interesting eye-opener. Never thought I'd be that thrilled.
What a wonderful practice-oriented course! As an economist/financier I would love to have experienced more field-specific assignments, but I guess that's a bit too much to ask for.
super.
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I love how this course has been structured. VBA being a very expansive programming language can get very intimidating for beginners and there are plenty of course available about VBA where students quickly get overwhelmed or loose interest right from start. This course has been structured perfectly in getting rid of these two common issues.
Also, I love the solving/grading section (post quiz). It just allows the student to apply the knowledge gathered in a practical way, in order to pass on to the next level. Makes it fun and keeps the student interested in the course, needless to say that it inherently allows strengthening the fundamental concepts of VBA.
Great work professor Nuttelman, full marks to this course!