Excel for Beginners: Free Courses and Tips

Learning Microsoft Excel can seem daunting, but with the right resources, anyone can become proficient. Excel is a powerful tool for organizing and analyzing data, and understanding its basic functionalities is essential for efficiency in various tasks. Here, we present a curated list of free Excel courses and valuable tips designed specifically for beginners.

1. Useful Excel for Beginners – Udemy

Course Overview:

• Target Audience: Those who have never used Excel before and beginner-level users.
• Requirements: Knowledge of operating a personal computer and Microsoft Excel for Windows (preferably 2007, 2010, or 2013).
• Course Content: This course covers the fundamentals of Excel, including data entry, formatting, and basic formulas. It uses a bookstore dataset for practical exercises and includes 89 videos that run for a total of 9.5 hours.

Instructor: Dinesh Natarajan Mohan, an expert in Reporting and Analytics with over 20 years of experience. He has published over 60 Excel templates and has a YouTube channel with over 19,000 subscribers.

2. Excel Tips: Spreadsheets Don’t Have to Be Scary – Microsoft 365

Microsoft offers practical tips that can ease beginners into using Excel confidently:

• Click and Drag & Double-Click: Use the fill handle to quickly copy and paste data. Double-clicking the corner of a cell can also fill in a sequence of numbers.
• Formatting Numbers: Easily format numbers based on the type of data you’re dealing with, such as changing currency symbols or adjusting decimal places.
• Creating Simple Formulas: Start any equation with an equal (=) sign. Use the “Formulas” tab for assistance, and leverage the “AutoSum” feature for common calculations.
• Outlining Your Data: Use borders to visually separate different datasets in your spreadsheet.

Quick Keys for Enhanced Efficiency:

• Copy: Ctrl+C
• Cut: Ctrl+X
• Paste: Ctrl+V
• Select All: Ctrl+A
• Move Quickly Across Data: Ctrl+arrow
• Highlight Groups of Data: Ctrl+Shift+arrow

3. Excel for Beginners – A “Dummies” Guide

This comprehensive guide covers everything a newcomer needs to know about Excel:

• Why Use Excel: Excel provides a flexible platform for organizing and analyzing data with minimal training required.
• Important Functions: Focus on vital functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, and COUNT, which are essential for financial analysis.

4. Excel for Beginners – The Complete Course – YouTube

This video resource covers the basics of Excel with a focus on practical applications:

• Content Overview: It focuses on creating workbooks, entering cell values, using formulas, and formatting data.
• Anatomy of a Spreadsheet: Understand the layout of a spreadsheet and navigation tips for enhanced usage.
• By the end of this video, you’ll be able to effectively utilize Excel in various professional settings.

Additional Helpful Resources

For an even deeper understanding, check out support from Microsoft directly. They provide an in-depth guide for basic tasks, including how to open a workbook, enter and format data, and perform calculations.

Maximize Your Excel Skills

Learning Excel doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By engaging with these resources, beginners can quickly become proficient in using Microsoft Excel. Whether you aim to organize data, create simple formulas, or analyze complex information, these courses and tips will facilitate your learning journey.

Support our mission at Excel Foundations by donating or purchasing our ebook.

Explore More

To dive deeper into Excel training, consider the following articles from our site:

• Master Excel with Top In-Person Courses
• Ultimate Excel Tutorials for Beginners
• Master Advanced Excel Formulas
• Top Free Excel Courses for Beginners

Join the myriad of users who have enhanced their skills and unlocked their potential with Microsoft Excel. Start your journey today and explore the many options available for every skill level!

Next Steps

1. Enroll in a Free Course: Begin your Excel journey by enrolling in the Useful Excel for Beginners Course on Udemy. This course is perfect for complete newcomers to Excel.
2. Practice with Excel: Download a free sample data set and start practicing the techniques you’ve learned. Experiment with entering data, formatting cells, and using basic formulas to reinforce your skills.
3. Watch Tutorial Videos: Enhance your learning by watching YouTube tutorials on Excel for Beginners. These videos provide visual guidance and practical examples.
4. Explore Additional Resources: Check out our article on the Top Free Excel Courses for Beginners to discover even more learning opportunities.
5. Join Excel Communities: Engage with other learners by joining forums or online communities focused on Excel. Participating in discussions can provide support and enhance your understanding.