Getting Started with Excel
Class # 02 | March 22, 2025
Supported by Implementing Partners
What we will learn today
● Navigating and using Google Sheet, understanding basic functions, and organizing
data.
● Learn essential data functions, such as SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, and basic
formatting.
● Gain hands-on experience setting up a dataset, calculating basic summary
statistics, and practicing data entry.
● Begin to see how spreadsheets help organize and analyze data.
Introduction to Google Sheet
● Overview: Role of spreadsheets in data analysis
● Interface: Ribbon, Formula Bar, cells, rows, columns, sheets, and menus like "Home,"
"Insert," and "Data."
● Creating a New Workbook: How to create and save a new workbook.
Basic Spreadsheet Operations
● Entering Data: How to enter text and numerical data into cells and adjust row
height and column width.
● Organizing Data: Demonstrate essential data organization (e.g., creating headers,
formatting cells).
● Cell Referencing: Explain relative and absolute references (use $A$1 notation).
● Basic Formatting: Teach formatting basics, including bold, italic, background colors,
font colors, and number formats.
Essential Functions
We’ll be learning these functions:
● SUM: To sum values across a range.
● AVERAGE: Calculate the average of a range of values.
● COUNT and COUNTA: Explain the difference between COUNT (counts numbers) and
COUNTA (counts all entries).
● MIN and MAX: Demonstrate how to find a dataset's minimum and maximum values.
● Hands-On Activity: Provide a small dataset (e.g., monthly sales or expenses) and
ask students to apply each function.
Using Basic Conditional Formatting
● Conditional Formatting Basics: Learn conditional formatting and why it’s helpful in
highlighting trends.
● Applying Conditional Formatting: Learn how to use the "Conditional Formatting"
feature to highlight values above a threshold (e.g., >10,000).
Organizing and Sorting Data
● Sorting Data: Show how to
sort data using the "Sort"
feature
(ascending/descending order).
● Filtering Data: Introduce
filters using the "Filter" tool to
view subsets of data.
Creating Basic Charts
● Types of Charts: Briefly introduce chart
types (bar, line, pie) and their use cases.
● Creating a Chart: Demonstrate how to
make a bar chart using the "Insert Chart"
feature. Customize titles, labels, and
colors.
Activity: Monthly Expense Tracker
Steps we shall be doing for this activity:
1. Data Entry: Students input data for expenses across categories (rent, groceries,
transport, etc.).
2. Calculations: Use SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, and MAX to analyze monthly/category totals.
3. Conditional Formatting: Highlight high expenses.
4. Chart Creation: Visualize spending by category with a chart.
Assignment: Weekly Commute Tracker
Track your daily commute to and from your usual destinations (e.g., work, university,
grocery store). Record the following details for each day:
● Day: The day of the week (e.g., Monday, Tuesday, etc.).
● Mode of Transport: The type of transport you used (e.g., Bus, Car, Ride Share, Bike, Walk,
etc.).
● Distance Traveled (in km): The total distance traveled for the day.
● Cost (in BDT): The total expense for your commute that day (e.g., bus fare, ride share
cost, fuel).
● Time Spent (in minutes): The total time spent commuting that day.
● Weather Condition: The primary weather condition that day (e.g., Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy).
Assignment (Continued): Expected Table Structure
The resulting table should look like this, but for Sunday through Thursday:
Day Mode of Transport Distance (km) Cost (BDT) Time Spent (mins) Weather
Tuesday Rideshare 10.0 150 30 Rainy
Wednesd Bike 8.0 0 25 Cloudy
ay
Thursday Car 15.0 400 50 Sunny
Assignment (Continued): Analysis Tasks To-Do
Analysis Tasks:
1. Basic Calculations:
a. Total distance traveled in the week.
b. Total commute cost for the week.
c. Average time spent commuting per day.
2. Insights:
a. Identify the mode of transport with the highest total cost.
b. Highlight the days when the commute took longer than 40 minutes using Conditional Formatting.
3. Visualization:
a. Create a bar chart showing commute cost by mode of transport.
b. Create a line chart showing daily commute cost trend.
Please submit your assignment by next
Friday, January 31, 2025
What we have learned today:
● Basic Operations
● Essential Formulas
● Sorting and Filtering Data
● Creating Basic Charts
● Conditional Formatting
● Monthly Expense Tracker Walkthrough
See you all on the next class! 😄
