An Introductory Lesson Plan for Learning to Use Microsoft Excel 2007

At end of a basic training course in Excel, a learner should be able to navigate their way around the Excel application. This will include being able to open and close Excel; to use the ribbon interface and the Microsoft Office button; to use keyboard shortcuts, short menus and Excel auto functions to speed up common tasks; to set up the application using basic options and preferences; to use different magnifications using the Zoom function and to switch between different views, worksheets, and tabbed ribbons.

Excel is based around worksheets which are stored in workbooks. A learner should be able to manage their worksheets and organize them within workbooks. This will require them to work with workbooks and to:

• open and close and create a workbook from the Microsoft Office button or by using the Close Window button or by using keyboard shortcuts [Ctrl]-O, [Ctrl]-[F4] or [Ctrl]-N;
• insert a new worksheet into an existing workbook using the new worksheet tab or by using the keyboard shortcuts [Shift]-[F11];
• save the current workbook to the current name and folder from the Microsoft Office button or by using keyboard shortcuts [Ctrl]-S;
• save the current book to a different name, folder, or file format from the Microsoft Office button;
• manage the worksheets within a workbook using the name tabs: make another worksheet visible; rename, move, and copy workbooks within a workbook or between workbooks;
• print a worksheet from an installed printer using default options from the Microsoft Office button or by using keyboard shortcut [Ctrl]-P;
• print a worksheet from the Microsoft Office button using a range of options: entire workbook, specific worksheet, specific cell range, number of copies, collate, change the default printer; and
  
• publish a worksheet as an electronic document from the Microsoft Office button: export as PDF, remove metadata.

A learner should be able to manipulate data and construct formulae to calculate values. This will require them to:

• select the contents of a worksheet, row, column, cell, or group of cells using the mouse or keyboard shortcuts;
• find a specific number, word or phrase, or function using the Find option on the Home tabbed ribbon or the [Ctrl]-F keyboard shortcut;
• replace a specific number, word or phrase, or function using the Replace option on the Home tabbed ribbon or the [Ctrl]-H keyboard shortcut;
• copy and move text within the same worksheet, between open worksheets, and into Microsoft Word as a table using drag and drop or the clipboard zone of the Home tabbed ribbon or using the [Ctrl]-C, [Ctrl]-V or [Ctrl]-X keyboard shortcuts;
• delete a number, word or phrase, function, cell, or group of cells using the [Del] or [backspace] key with selected text or keyboard combination;
• use the undo and redo functions from the arrows above the ribbons or the keyboard shortcuts [Ctrl]-Z or [Ctrl]-Y;
• construct a simple formula by making use of absolute and relative cell references, inbuilt and algebraic expressions by means of typing;
• construct a simple formula based around an inbuilt function from the Insert function option on the Formula tabbed ribbon or by using the Sum function on the Home tabbed ribbon to total a column of figures;
• construct a complex formula based around multiple inbuilt functions from the Insert function option on the Formula tabbed ribbon and/or a data array using [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Enter];
• copy a formula across a row or down a column using the Fill option on the Home tabbed ribbon;
• Sort and select data by a variety of criteria using the Sort and Filter option on the Home tabbed ribbon;
• change the text formatting including font sizes, font types, bold, italic and underline, subscript, superscript, and font color and the cell alignment options: text left, centre, right, merge and center using the Home tabbed ribbon, or keyboard shortcuts [Ctrl]-B, [Ctrl]-I or [Ctrl]-U; [Ctrl]-L, [Ctrl]-R or [Ctrl]-E;
• change the data formatting including data type and length using the Home tabbed ribbon or the Number menu found on the Home tabbed ribbon;
• change the borders and shading options: add a box border and shading/background color to a paragraph using the buttons on the Home tabbed ribbon;
• use the format paintbrush tool: apply an existing character style to selected text or paragraphs using the format paintbrush tool button on the Home tabbed ribbon.

Further lesson plans will define training programs to equip learners to handle charts and images and charts and to use productivity aids such as pivot tables, macros, and other advanced functions. For lots more information about Microsoft Excel 2007, check out the other items in Bright Hub's Where Can I Find Free Excel 2007 Training and Tutorials?