Excel 2026 - Beginner

Microsoft Excel (M365) is a powerful tool for managing, analyzing, and presenting data. In this course, you’ll build confidence by learning how to create, format, and organize spreadsheets from the ground up. Whether you’re handling budgets, tracking tasks, or preparing reports, this beginner course gives you the practical skills to use Microsoft Excel (M365) effectively in real-world situations.

Course Highlights

✔ Easy-to-follow introduction to Microsoft Excel (M365)
✔ Practical lessons for real-world tasks
✔ Essential formulas and functions
✔ Organizing and formatting data
✔ Adding visuals with SmartArt and images
✔ Printing and page layout tips
✔ Time-saving shortcuts and templates

Module 1 – Getting Started with Excel

Welcome to Microsoft Excel (M365)

Get introduced to Microsoft Excel (M365), its purpose, and how it helps people manage information, numbers, and data in daily work and personal tasks.

Understanding Spreadsheets

Learn the basics of rows, columns, and cells—the building blocks of every Excel spreadsheet—and understand how they are used to structure information.

Module 2 – First Steps in Excel

Opening Excel and Creating Workbooks

Discover how to launch Excel and start a new workbook from scratch or by using built-in templates.

Exploring the Start Screen

Familiarize yourself with the Start screen, where you can access recent files, templates, and options for creating new workbooks.

Navigating the Excel Workspace

Learn how to use the grid, menus, and command areas that make up the Excel workspace.

Quick Access Toolbar Essentials

Customize the Quick Access Toolbar to keep your most-used commands within easy reach.

Working with the Ribbon

Understand how the Ribbon organizes tools into tabs and groups, helping you complete tasks faster.

Creating New Workbooks

Practice creating blank workbooks and using templates for different types of tasks.

Saving and Managing Files

Learn how to save workbooks locally or to OneDrive and manage different versions of your files.

Opening Existing Files

Open recent and older files with ease, and explore different ways to find and access your documents.

Time-Saving Keyboard Shortcuts

Discover essential shortcut keys that help speed up your work in Excel.

Module 3 – Entering and Editing Data

Typing and Editing Text

Practice entering and editing text in cells, and learn quick ways to make corrections.

Entering and Formatting Numbers

Enter numbers in different formats like currency, percentages, and decimals.

Handling Dates and Times

Understand how Excel stores dates and times and how to format them for readability.

Find, Replace, and Select Tools

Quickly search, replace, and select data in large worksheets.

Sorting and Organizing Data

Sort data alphabetically, numerically, or by custom order for better organization.

Using Cell References

Learn how formulas link to cells and why this makes your worksheets dynamic.

Relative vs. Absolute References

Discover the difference between changing and fixed references in formulas.

Order of Operations in Formulas

Understand how Excel calculates formulas using standard math rules.

Module 4 – Essential Excel Functions

How Functions Work

Learn the structure of a function and how it automates calculations.

Using SUM Effectively

Add up ranges of numbers quickly with the SUM function.

Finding Minimum and Maximum Values

Identify the lowest and highest values in your data using MIN and MAX.

Calculating Averages

Use the AVERAGE function to find the mean of a group of numbers.

Counting Data with COUNT and COUNTA

Count cells containing numbers with COUNT, or anything with COUNTA.

Module 5 – Working with Worksheets

Moving and Copying Data

Move or copy data within a worksheet using simple techniques like drag-and-drop or copy-paste.

Adding and Removing Rows and Columns

Insert and delete rows or columns to adjust your spreadsheet layout.

Adjusting Column Widths and Row Heights

Resize rows and columns to make your data easier to read.

Hiding and Unhiding Worksheet Elements

Hide rows, columns, or entire sheets to focus on what matters.

Renaming Worksheets

Change worksheet names to keep your workbook organized.

Deleting Worksheets

Remove unwanted worksheets with ease.

Duplicating Worksheets

Create copies of worksheets to reuse structures or keep backups.

Module 6 – Formatting Your Data

Adding Borders to Cells

Apply borders to highlight or separate information in your worksheets.

Formatting Numbers and Percentages

Format numbers into readable percentages, currencies, and more.

Merging and Centering Content

Merge cells to create titles or headers and center content neatly.

Exploring Cell Styles

Apply pre-set styles or create your own to make data stand out.

Intro to Conditional Formatting

Automatically highlight data based on values using conditional formatting.

Module 7 – Visual Elements in Excel

Inserting Images and Shapes

Add images and draw shapes to make your worksheets more visual.

Creating with SmartArt

Use SmartArt graphics to present information in a clear and engaging way.

Module 8 – Printing and Page Layout

Print Preview Basics

Preview your work before printing to make sure it looks right.

Adjusting Margins, Scaling, and Orientation

Control how your worksheets fit on the page when printing.

Printing Workbooks

Print entire workbooks, specific worksheets, or selected areas.

Module 9 – Templates in Excel

Getting Started with Templates

Learn how templates save time by providing ready-to-use designs.

Using Built-In Templates

Open and customize Excel’s built-in templates for common tasks.

Designing Custom Templates

Create your own reusable templates for efficiency.

Module 10 – Wrapping Up

Course Summary & Next Steps