Excel Learning Path

Learning Paths
1

Excel Learning Path

Authors: @Benjamin_Lau, @Carter_Lee, @Dallin_Gardner

Introduction
This Excel learning path aims to provide practices and challenges for those who are still learning how to use Excel. Hopefully, it helps you learn and develop. It does not aim to provide teaching and tutorials for each function. We direct the learning of some specifics to existing materials, for example, YouTube videos and Microsoft webpages.

How This Page Works
The purpose of this Learning Path is to train you to a level sufficient to begin solving the beginner-level challenges on TechHub.

  • First, follow the instructions under Technology Access to download Excel.
  • Then, take some time to look through the resources provided under Background Learning. These modules will teach you the basic skills you’ll need to use Excel.
  • Next, work through the Intro Challenges section.

After completing these steps, you’ll be ready to tackle the Additional Challenges found on the TechHub website! We’ve listed them under Continue the Learning Journey in difficulty order to help you develop your skills. If you need help along the way, refer to the Background Learning links or the Additional Resources links for some direction. Good luck!

Background Learning
Click here if you need help downloading Excel. If you have never used Excel before, we recommend watching an intro video before starting the challenges to familiarize yourself with the layout. Additionally, here is a link to a youtube playlist on Excel Basics.

Dataset
We will use the same dataset of SmartHome Co. to walk through each topic of basic functions in Excel. SmartHome Co. sells smart home systems of three levels (Base, Plus, and Full). SmartHome has an international salesforce and generates millions of sales each year. This dataset of SmartHome employees includes their information, performance, and satisfaction scores in the sheet “Employee Data”. SmartHome Co.’s Japanese branch’s sales mix analysis is included in the sheet “Sales Mix Analysis”.

Text Manipulation and Lookups
  • RIGHT, LEFT, MID
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
      • Video: Click here
      • Left, Mid, Right: Click here
  • CONCAT
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
  • VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
  • TechHub.training challenge for this topic: 158|EXCEL – Text Manipulation
Statistics functions
  • IF, AND, OR
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
      • Video: Click here
      • If, And, Or: Click here
  • AVERAGE, SUM, STDDEV, VARIANCE
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
      • Video: Click here
      • Aggregate functions: Click here
  • SLOPE, INTERCEPT, RSQ
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
  • SUMIFs, AVERAGEIFs
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
      • Video: Click here
      • Sumifs: Click here
      • Averageifs: Click here
  • Graphing
    • Resouces external to TechHub.training
      • Video: Click here
      • Graphing: Click here
  • Analysis Toolpak
    • Resouces external to TechHub.training
      • How to load the Analysis Toolpak: Click here
      • Regression Video: Click here
      • How to use the Analysis Toolpak: Click here
  • TechHub.training challenge for this topic: 148|EXCEL – Statistics
Solver: Optimization
  • Basic elements (Constraints, decision variables, etc.)
    • Resources to external Techub.training
      • Video: Click here
        • First 13 Minutes for introduction to skills
  • Trouble Shooting
    • Resources to external Techub.training
      • Video: Click here
        • Minute 30 to the end
  • TechHub.training challenge for this topic: 144|EXCEL – Solver
Finance functions
  • NPV, IRR
    • Resources for external TechHub.training
      • Microsoft training: Click here
  • PV, FV, PMT, RATE
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
      • Video: Click here
      • PV Function: Click here
      • FV function: Click here
      • PMT function: Click here
      • RATE function: Click here
  • YIELD
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
      • Video: Click here
      • YIELD Function: Click here
  • Intro Challenge to be added soon!
Pivot Tables
  • Pivot Tables Basic
    • Resources external to TechHub.training
      • Pivot Tables: Click here
      • Sum, Average, Count: Click here
  • TechHub.training challenge for this topic: 146|EXCEL – Pivot Tables
Keyboard Shortcuts

TechHub Challenges

Beginner Challenges

2|EXCEL – Little Chicken
13|EXCEL – Transform Your Data!
75|EXCEL – Audit Schedule Solver
125|EXCEL – Debugging Escape Room
129|EXCEL – Passion for Payables

Intermediate Challenges

3|EXCEL – Advisory Revenue Pivot Tables
10|EXCEL – Budget Blitz
25|EXCEL – Tax Prep Startup
89|EXCEL – Charting Challenge
138|EXCEL – Chettinad Chaats and Curries

Additional Learning

Certifications

Microsoft provides a certificate for those who pass the exam for Excel. This can provide credible evidence that you are a Excel specialist.