Course Description

This foundational course teaches students how to create, organize, calculate, analyze, visualize, and share information using Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.

Students begin with spreadsheet navigation, data entry, formatting, and workbook organization before progressing into formulas, functions, data cleanup, charts, tables, collaboration, and practical workplace applications.

The course concludes with a comprehensive spreadsheet project based on a realistic personal, administrative, or small-business workflow.

Course Structure
Unit 1: Spreadsheet Foundations

10 hours — 5 class meetings

Understanding spreadsheet files, workbooks, worksheets, rows, columns, and cells
Navigating Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets
Entering and editing text, numbers, dates, and time
Formatting cells and worksheets
Managing rows, columns, ranges, and multiple worksheets
Saving, naming, organizing, and printing spreadsheet files
Creating a foundational workbook project
Unit 2: Formulas and Calculations

10 hours — 5 class meetings

Understanding formula syntax and order of operations
Using cell references
Performing arithmetic calculations
Using SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, and related functions
Working with relative, absolute, and mixed references
Using IF, AND, OR, and IFERROR
Creating a calculation-based workbook project
Unit 3: Data Organization and Analysis

10 hours — 5 class meetings

Sorting and filtering information
Cleaning and standardizing imported data
Removing duplicates and correcting inconsistent records
Using text functions
Creating tables and structured data ranges
Adding dropdowns and data validation
Applying conditional formatting
Creating charts and visual summaries
Building a basic pivot table or summary report
Completing a data-analysis project
Unit 4: Collaboration and Practical Workflows

10 hours — 5 class meetings

Sharing Excel and Google Sheets files
Managing viewing, commenting, and editing permissions
Using comments, notes, mentions, and version history
Protecting worksheets, ranges, and formulas
Importing and exporting Excel, Google Sheets, CSV, and PDF files
Understanding file compatibility
Creating reusable workplace templates
Developing, reviewing, and presenting a final spreadsheet project
Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

Navigate Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets
Create and organize multi-sheet workbooks
Format text, numbers, dates, currency, and percentages
Build formulas using cell references
Use common mathematical, statistical, and logical functions
Sort, filter, clean, and validate spreadsheet data
Create tables, charts, and summary reports
Collaborate through sharing, comments, and version history
Import and export common spreadsheet file formats
Create a functional spreadsheet for a real-world need
Final Course Project

Students create a complete spreadsheet solution such as a:

Personal or business budget
Sales and expense tracker
Inventory and reorder workbook
Employee schedule or timesheet
Customer relationship tracker
Project management workbook
Event planning and budgeting system
Attendance or grade tracker
Job application tracker

The final project should include:

At least three organized worksheets
Appropriate data and number formatting
Multiple formulas and functions
At least one logical formula
Sorting or filtering
Data validation or dropdown fields
Conditional formatting
At least one chart
A summary or reporting area
Clear instructions for another user