This page shows what we will learn each week, including topics, skills covered, quizzes, and project milestones. Use this page to understand the overall flow of the course and stay on track throughout the program.
Topic: Manage Worksheets and Workbooks
I. Welcome & Course Overview
Introductions
Overview of Program Schedule
Overview of Learning Objectives
II. Pre-Assessment
Pre-quiz on managing worksheets and workbooks
(Optional for Basic and Beginner, but highly recommended for Intermediate and advanced level students)
Purpose: To establish baseline knowledge and identify areas requiring emphasis
III. Class Instruction - Manage worksheets and workbooks
Live demonstration of the following Excel features
Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar.
Freezing Worksheet Rows and Columns.
Modifying Basic Workbook Properties.
Inserting and Removing Hyperlinks.
Adjusting Row Height and Column Width.
Displaying Formulas.
Display and modify worksheets in different views.
Searching for Data Within a Workbook.
Setting a Print Area.
Managing Comments and Notes.
IV. Assessment and Homework
Post-Assessment: Complete post-quiz covering lesson content
Due Date: Before the next scheduled class session
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition
V. Note:
It’s completely normal not to get every question right on the first attempt or to redo a task in the post-quiz. This is a natural and important part of the learning process. You can take the graded quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.
Topic: Managing Data Cells and Ranges
I. Check-In
Brief review of week 1 content: Manage Worksheets and Workbooks
Address questions from the post-quiz or homework
Student feedback and discussion
Preview of week 2 learning objectives
II. Pre-Assessment
Pre-quiz on managing data cells and ranges
(Optional for Basic and Beginner, but highly recommended for Intermediate and advanced level students)
Purpose: Establish baseline knowledge and identify areas requiring emphasis
III. Class Instruction - Manage Data Cells and Ranges
Live demonstration of the following Excel features:
Pasting Data Using Paste Special Options
Filling Cells Using Auto Fill
Inserting and Deleting Multiple Columns or Rows
Formatting Cells and Ranges
Merging and Unmerging Cells
Modifying Cell Alignment, Orientation, and Indentation
Formatting Cells Using Format Painter
Wrapping Text Within Cells
Applying Cell Styles
Clearing Cell Formatting
IV. Assessment and Homework
Post-Assessment: Complete post-quiz covering lesson content
Due Date: Before the next scheduled class session
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition
V. Note:
It’s completely normal not to get every question right on the first attempt or to redo a task in the post-quiz. This is a natural and important part of the learning process. You can take the graded quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.
Topic: Manage Tables and Table Data
I. Check-In
Brief review of week 2 content: Managing Data Cells and Ranges
Address questions from the post-quiz or homework
Student feedback and discussion
Preview of week 3 learning objectives
II. Pre-Assessment
Pre-quiz on managing tables and table data
(Optional for Basic and Beginner, but highly recommended for Intermediate and advanced level students)
Purpose: Establish baseline knowledge and identify areas requiring emphasis
III. Class Instruction - Manage Tables and Table Data
Live demonstration of the following Excel features:
Creating and Formatting Tables
Creating Excel Tables from Cell Ranges
Applying Table Styles
Converting Tables to Cell Ranges
Adding or Removing Table Rows and Columns
Configuring Table Style Options
Adding Banded Rows and Columns
Inserting and Configuring Total Rows
Filtering Records
Sorting Data by Multiple Columns
IV. Assessment and Homework
Post-Assessment: Complete post-quiz covering lesson content
Due Date: Before the next scheduled class session
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition
V. Note:
It’s completely normal not to get every question right on the first attempt or to redo a task in the post-quiz. This is a natural and important part of the learning process. You can take the graded quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.
Topic: Performing Operations Using Formulas and Functions - Part 1
I. Check-In
Brief review of previous content: Managing Tables and Table Data
Address questions from the post-quiz or homework
Preview of Week 4 learning objectives
II. Pre-Assessment
Pre-quiz on formulas and functions
(Optional for Basic and Beginner, but highly recommended for Intermediate and advanced level students)
Purpose: Establish baseline knowledge and identify areas requiring emphasis
III. Class Instruction - Performing Operations Using Formulas and Functions - Part 1
Live demonstration of the following Excel features:
A. Statistical Functions
Performing Calculations Using the AVERAGE() Function
Identifying Maximum Values Using the MAX() Function
Identifying Minimum Values Using the MIN() Function
Calculating Totals Using the SUM() Function
B. Counting Functions
Counting Numeric Values Using the COUNT() Function
Counting Non-Empty Cells Using the COUNTA() Function
Counting Empty Cells Using the COUNTBLANK() Function
C. Logical Functions
Performing Conditional Operations Using the IF() Function
Try Pre-Quiz: Complete pre-quiz covering lesson content
(Optional for Basic and Beginner, but highly recommended for Intermediate and advanced level students)
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition, establish baseline knowledge, and identify areas requiring emphasis.
V. Note:
It’s completely normal not to get every question right on the first attempt or to redo a task in the post-quiz. This is a natural and important part of the learning process. You can take the graded quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.
Topic: Performing Operations Using Formulas and Functions - Part 2
I. Check-In
Brief review of previous content: Formulas and Functions - Part 1
Address questions from the post-quiz or homework
Preview of Week 5 learning objectives
II. Class Instruction - Performing Operations Using Formulas and Functions - Part 2
Live demonstration of the following Excel features:
A. Text Extraction Functions
Extracting Text Using the RIGHT() Function
Extracting Text Using the LEFT() Function
Extracting Text Using the MID() Function
B. Text Case and Length Functions
Converting Text to Uppercase Using the UPPER() Function
Converting Text to Lowercase Using the LOWER() Function
Determining Text Length Using the LEN() Function
C. Text Combination Functions
Combining Text Using the CONCAT() Function
Joining Text with Delimiters Using the TEXTJOIN() Function
III. Assessment and Homework
Post-Assessment: Complete post-quiz covering lesson content
Due Date: Before the next scheduled class session
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition
IV. Mid-Course Feedback and Progress:
I value your feedback and would love to hear about your progress so far. If you'd like to discuss your experience or have any questions, please feel free to email me or visit during my office hours.
V. Note:
It’s completely normal not to get every question right on the first attempt or to redo a task in the post-quiz. This is a natural and important part of the learning process. You can take the graded quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.
Topic: Manage Charts
I. Check-In
Brief review of previous content: Formulas and Functions - Part 2
Address questions from the post-quiz or homework
Preview of Week 6 learning objectives
II. Pre-Assessment
(Optional for Basic and Beginner, but highly recommended for Intermediate and advanced level students)
Purpose: Establish baseline knowledge and identify areas requiring emphasis
III. Class Instruction - Manage Charts
Live demonstration of the following Excel features:
A. Chart Creation
Creating Charts from Data Ranges
Creating Chart Sheets
B. Chart Data Management
Adding Data Series to Charts
Switching Between Rows and Columns in Source Data
C. Chart Formatting and Customization
Adding Chart Elements (titles, labels, legends, gridlines)
Modifying Chart Elements
Applying Chart Layouts
Applying Chart Styles
D. Chart Accessibility
Adding Alternative Text to Charts for Accessibility
IV. Assessment and Homework
Post-Assessment: Complete post-quiz covering lesson content
Post-Assessment: Quiz All Modules
Due Date: Before the next scheduled class session
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition
V. Note:
It’s completely normal not to get every question right on the first attempt or to redo a task in the post-quiz. This is a natural and important part of the learning process. You can take the graded quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.
Topic: Data Analysis and Visualization Using Excel - Part 1
I. Check-In
Brief review of previous content: Manage Charts
Address questions from the post-quiz or homework
Student feedback and discussion
Preview of Week 7 objectives
II. Class Instruction - Data Analysis and Visualization Using Excel - Part 1
Live demonstration of the following Excel features:
A. Data Preparation and Organization
Download Data from External Source
Cleaning and Organizing Data
B. Data Analysis Fundamentals
Creating a PivotTable to Summarize Data
C. Advanced PivotTable Techniques
Customizing PivotTable Layouts and Formatting
III. Homework
Class Project Work: Data Analysis using the dataset provided by the instructor.
Post-Assessment: Quiz All Modules
Due Date: Before the next scheduled class session
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition
IV. Note:
It’s completely normal not to get every question right on the first attempt or to redo a task in the post-quiz. This is a natural and important part of the learning process. You can take the graded quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.
Topic: Data Analysis and Visualization Using Excel - Part 2
I. Check-In
Brief review of previous content: Data Analysis and Visualization - Part 1
Address questions from homework
Student feedback and discussion
Preview of Week 8 objectives
II. Class Instruction - Data Analysis and Visualization Using Excel - Part 2
Live demonstration of the following Excel features:
A. Dashboard Development
Pivot Charts
Building Interactive Dashboards with Multiple Visualizations
Adding Slicers
Data Storytelling & Presentation
III. Homework
Class Project Work: Data Analysis & Visualization using the dataset provided by the instructor.
Due Date: Before the next scheduled class session
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition
Topic: Project Phase - Excel Data Analysis Project Work
I. Check-In
Brief review of the previous week's content
Address questions from the class Project Work
Student feedback and discussion
Preview of Week 9 learning objectives
II. Final Project Introduction
Explanation of group project requirements
Introduction to publicly available data sources
Team formation
III. Project Planning and Initiation
A. Team Formation
Teams/Individual - Project
B. Dataset Selection and Exploration
Publicly Available Data Sources:
Data.gov
Kaggle Datasets
World Bank Open Data
Google Dataset Search
U.S. Census Bureau
Selecting an Appropriate Dataset based on:
Team interest and relevance, approved by the Instructor
Data complexity suitable for analysis
Sufficient variables for meaningful insights
Clear potential for visualization
Initial Data Exploration:
Get data into Excel Format
Reviewing data structure and quality
Identifying key variables and patterns
C. Project Planning
Defining Analysis Questions:
What insights do you want to discover?
What questions will your analysis answer?
Who is your intended audience?
D. Data Preparation and Analysis
Implementing Skills:
Clean and organize data
Create and format tables
Apply formulas and functions (if required)
Build PivotTables and analysis
Create charts and visualizations
Design an interactive dashboard
Instructional Methods:
Implement only the Excel Skills covered in class
Team-based collaborative work/Independent Work
Instructor guidance and consultation with each team
Peer collaboration and knowledge sharing
Hands-on application of all learned skills
Progress monitoring and formative feedback
IV. Group Work Session
Activities:
Teams work collaboratively on their projects
Instructor circulates to provide guidance and answer questions
Teams apply technical skills learned throughout the course
Ongoing troubleshooting and problem-solving support
Progress checkpoints to ensure teams are on track
V. Final Project Work
Project Deliverables (Due Week 10):
Excel Workbook containing:
Clean, organized data
Data tables with proper formatting
Formulas and functions demonstrating analysis (if required)
PivotTables summarizing key findings
Professional charts and visualizations
Interactive dashboard
Proper documentation and labeling
Project Presentation Materials:
Summary of dataset and analysis questions
Key findings and insights
Visualization highlights
Conclusions and recommendations
Team Collaboration Guidelines
Respect all team members' contributions
Communicate openly and regularly
Share workload equitably
Support each other's learning
Meet deadlines collectively
Differentiation Strategies
Teams balanced by skill level
Roles assigned based on strengths and growth areas
Instructor support scaled to team needs
Additional resources provided as needed
Project Work Final:
Complete data cleaning and initial analysis
Answer Business questions, Create PivotTable & Charts
Create an interactive dashboard for presentation
Prepare for the Week 10 project review and presentation practice
Due Date: Before the next scheduled class session
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition
Topic: Project Work Review, Quality Enhancement, Presentation Development, and Practice
I. Check-In
Recap of Week 9 project work progress
Student feedback and discussion on challenges and successes
Overview of Week 10 objectives
Final presentation expectations
II. Final Presentation Overview
Timeline for final presentations
Audience composition (instructors, peers, guests)
Technical setup and logistics
Q&A protocol
Topic: Project Work Review and Quality Enhancement
A. Technical Review Session
Workbook Quality Check:
Data accuracy and completeness
Proper formatting and organization
Formula and function verification (if used)
PivotTable functionality
Chart and visualization clarity
Dashboard interactivity and design
Instructor Consultation:
Individual team meetings with the instructor
Identification of areas for improvement
Technical troubleshooting support
Guidance on enhancing analysis and visuals
B. Project Refinement Activities
Teamwork on Improvements:
Implement feedback from the instructor review
Polish visualizations and dashboard
Verify all formulas and calculations (if used)
Ensure professional formatting throughout
Add final touches and enhancements
Test dashboard functionality
Topic: Presentation Preparation and Rehearsal
A. Presentation Structure and Content
Organizing Presentation Content:
Introduction: Team members and project overview
Dataset: Source, description, and relevance
Analysis Questions: What do you want to discover?
Methodology: Tools and techniques used
Findings: Key insights and patterns
Visualizations: Dashboard walkthrough
Conclusions: Recommendations and takeaways
Q&A: Prepared responses to potential questions
Creating Supporting Materials:
Presentation slides (if applicable)
Speaker notes and talking points
Visual aids and demonstrations
Backup materials for technical issues
B. Presentation Skills Development
Best Practices for Data Presentations:
Start with the "big picture" insight
Use clear, simple language
Explain technical terms when necessary
Tell a story with your data
Highlight key findings visually
Maintain eye contact with the audience
Speak clearly and at an appropriate pace
Manage time effectively
Handle questions professionally
Team Role Assignments for Presentation:
Who presents each section
Timing for each presenter
Transitions between speakers
Q&A responder
C. Presentation Rehearsal Sessions
Practice Presentations:
Each team delivers a full presentation to the instructor
Timed rehearsal (ensure within time limit)
Practice with an actual Excel workbook/dashboard
Simulate Q&A session
Peer Feedback:
Teams observe each other's rehearsals
Provide constructive feedback using a structured form
Identify strengths and areas for improvement
Share best practices and tips
Refinement Based on Rehearsal:
Adjust presentation based on feedback
Refine timing and pacing
Improve clarity of explanations
Enhance visual demonstrations
Prepare additional Q&A responses
Instructional Methods:
Guided presentation development
Modeling of effective presentation techniques
Structured rehearsal sessions
Peer observation and feedback
Individual coaching and support
Video recording for self-review (optional)
A. Final Checklist Review
The Excel workbook is complete and polished
All team members are prepared to present
Presentation materials organized
Technical setup tested
Time management confirmed
Q&A preparation complete
Professional attire planned (if applicable)
B. Logistics Confirmation
Presentation order determined
Technical requirements verified
Room setup confirmed
Audience invitations sent
C. Final Encouragement and Support
Address any remaining concerns or questions
Boost team confidence
Celebrate progress and learning
Remind students of their accomplishments
Before Final Presentation:
Complete all project refinements
Finalize presentation materials
Practice individual speaking parts
Review potential Q&A questions
Rest well and arrive prepared
Final Deliverables:
Completed Excel workbook (submitted electronically)
Presentation materials (slides, notes)
Team reflection document (optional)
Materials Required
Computers with Microsoft Excel
Projector/screen for presentations
Presentation timer
Video recording equipment (optional)
Support Strategies
Individual team coaching sessions
Presentation skill workshops
Language support for technical terminology
Confidence-building exercises
Stress management techniques
Celebration and Recognition
Acknowledge all teams' hard work
Highlight the unique strengths of each project
Emphasize growth and learning achieved
Prepare certificates or recognition for the finale
Final Presentation Schedule (Finale)
Date: May 4, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Providence Public Library
Audience: PPL Staff, peers, guests
Duration: 7 – 10 Minutes per team
"Your hard work, dedication, and collaboration have brought you to this moment. Present with confidence and pride!"
Date: May 4, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Providence Public Library
Audience: PPL Staff, Peers, Guests
Project Presentation: 7 – 10 Minutes per team
Date: May 4, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Providence Public Library
Audience: PPL Staff, Peers, Guests
Project Presentation: 7 – 10 Minutes per team