MS Excel instructor/Tutor (only experts ready to teach)

I am looking for a MS Excel instructor. You are an EXPERT in Excel and you are ready to teach and record the course. You will add value and bring your experience. I will provide the content. You will review, and perhaps make the content better and teach. Attached is the course design. It maps to MS Excel beginner certification MO 210. Later will do MO 211 also. ⚠️ SCOPE NOTICE This design document covers only the domains and content that map directly to the certification(s) listed below, as defined by the official exam objectives and vendor-published course outlines. No additional, supplementary, or stretch content has been included beyond what is required by the certification blueprint(s). ================================================================================ MICROSOFT EXCEL ASSOCIATE (MICROSOFT 365 APPS) COMPLETE COURSE OUTLINE Target: Microsoft Excel Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps) (MO-210) ================================================================================ CAPSTONE PROJECT OVERVIEW -------------------------- Capstone: "Northwind Ops Workbook" - A multi-sheet business workbook (Budget, Sales, Inventory, Employees sheets plus a chart sheet and a Read-Me sheet) built incrementally across 20 labs. By the end, the workbook imports real data, uses named ranges and structured formulas, summarizes results in an Excel Table, visualizes trends with Sparklines and charts, and is fully prepared for printing, export, and collaborative review. Free Tools Used Throughout the Course: - Excel for the web - free with a Microsoft account - https://www.office.com (browser-based; runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chromebook) - Microsoft 365 free 1-month trial (optional, for full desktop parity on print layout, Sparklines, and chart-sheet features) - https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/try - A plain-text editor (already built into every OS) - for creating the sample .csv/.txt files imported in Lesson 5 ================================================================================ EXCEL FUNDAMENTALS FOR BUSINESS "From Blank Workbook to Data-Driven Report" ================================================================================ Prerequisites: None. No prior spreadsheet experience needed, not even adjacent tools. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 1: What Is Excel? The Big Picture -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Explain what a spreadsheet application is and describe common business uses (budgets, trackers, invoices, reports) 2. Identify the core parts of the Excel interface at a glance: ribbon, formula bar, worksheet grid, sheet tabs, status bar 3. Distinguish a workbook from a worksheet and explain how the two relate 4. Describe the difference between desktop Excel and Excel for the web, and identify which this course will use 5. Identify examples of real workbook types this course will build toward (budgets, financial statements, sales trackers, data-entry logs) Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 2): Create a free Microsoft account if you don't already have one, then sign in at https://www.office.com and open Excel for the web. Do NOT build anything yet - just explore the Home screen, open a blank workbook, and locate the ribbon, formula bar, and sheet tabs. Note three things you noticed that differ from a plain document editor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 2: Setting Up and Navigating Your Workbook -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Create, name, and save a new workbook (Northwind_Ops_Workbook.xlsx) 2. Insert, rename, and color-code multiple worksheet tabs (Budget, Sales, Inventory, Employees) 3. Search for data within a workbook and navigate to named cells, ranges, or workbook elements using the Name Box and Go To 4. Insert and remove hyperlinks between worksheets and to external pages 5. Navigate a large worksheet efficiently using keyboard shortcuts and the scroll/zoom controls Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 3): In Northwind_Ops_Workbook.xlsx, create four worksheet tabs: Budget, Sales, Inventory, and Employees. Color-code each tab a different color. On the Budget sheet, type a title in cell A1. Add a hyperlink from A1 on the Budget sheet that jumps to the Sales sheet. Use the Name Box to jump between all four sheets and confirm each hyperlink works. Save the workbook - it will be used in every remaining lesson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 3: Formatting Worksheets and Workbooks I - Layout and Page Setup -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Modify page setup options (margins, orientation, size) for a worksheet 2. Adjust row height and column width manually and with AutoFit 3. Customize headers and footers with page-specific information 4. Customize Excel options and views to fit a working preference 5. Display and modify a worksheet using different views (Normal, Page Layout, Page Break Preview) Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 4): On the Budget sheet of Northwind_Ops_Workbook.xlsx, set the page to Landscape orientation and adjust the margins. Add a header showing a sheet title and a footer showing the sheet name. Type a sample list of 6 budget line items with dollar amounts (Rent 2000, Utilities 350, Payroll 8000, Marketing 1200, Supplies 400, Software 600), then widen the columns so the list fits cleanly, using AutoFit where useful. Switch to Page Layout view to confirm the header/footer display, then back to Normal view. These six amounts will be used in every remaining Budget-sheet lesson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 4: Formatting Worksheets and Workbooks II - Windows and Properties -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Manage the Quick Access Toolbar by adding frequently used commands 2. Freeze worksheet rows and columns so headers stay visible while scrolling 3. Change window views, including splitting a window and viewing a workbook in multiple windows 4. Modify built-in workbook properties (title, author, tags, comments) 5. Display formulas in a worksheet instead of their calculated results, and explain when this view is useful Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 5): On the Sales sheet, type a header row (Date, Region, Product, Units, Revenue) in row 1 with 10 sample data rows below it. Freeze row 1 so it stays visible while scrolling. Add the Save and Quick Print commands to the Quick Access Toolbar. Set the workbook's Title property to "Northwind Operations FY Workbook" and Author to your name. Toggle Show Formulas on and off to see the difference. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 5: Importing Data into Workbooks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Import data from a delimited text file (.csv or .txt) into a worksheet 2. Import data from an online source into a worksheet 3. Preview and adjust delimiters and data types during an import 4. Choose where imported data lands (new sheet vs. existing sheet) 5. Verify imported data matches the source and correct any misaligned columns Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 6): Create a plain-text file named inventory_import.csv with columns Product, SKU, OnHand, ReorderLevel and 8 sample rows, using any text editor. Import this file into the Inventory sheet of Northwind_Ops_Workbook.xlsx. Then use Excel's "Get Data From Web" (or equivalent online-source import) to pull one small public table (for example, a simple reference table of country names) onto a new scratch sheet named WebImportTest. Verify both imports landed with correct column alignment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 6: Preparing Workbooks for Collaboration and Distribution -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Set a print area on a worksheet so only relevant data prints 2. Configure print settings (scaling, page order, gridlines, titles) 3. Save and export a workbook in alternative file formats (PDF, .csv) 4. Inspect a workbook for hidden data or personal information and correct issues found 5. Add and manage comments and notes to flag items for reviewers Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 7): On the Budget sheet, set the print area to just the budget line-item table and configure print settings so column headers repeat on every page. Export the whole workbook as a PDF named Northwind_Ops_Workbook.pdf. Run the Document Inspector, review any flagged hidden properties, and remove anything unnecessary. Add a comment on the Sales sheet flagging one data row for a teammate to double-check. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 7: Manipulating Data in Worksheets -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Paste data using special paste options (values only, formats only, transpose) 2. Fill cells automatically using Auto Fill for series and patterns 3. Insert and delete multiple columns or rows at once 4. Insert and delete individual cells, shifting neighboring cells correctly 5. Generate sample numeric data using the RANDBETWEEN() and SEQUENCE() functions Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 8): On the Inventory sheet, use Auto Fill to extend a SKU numbering pattern down 10 more rows. Use Paste Special (values only) to copy last week's OnHand counts into a new column without carrying over formatting. Insert two new columns for Supplier and LastRestocked, then delete one unused column. In a scratch area, use RANDBETWEEN() to generate 10 sample reorder-test quantities and SEQUENCE() to generate a matching list of row numbers 1-10. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 8: Formatting Cells and Ranges -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Merge and unmerge cells, and modify cell alignment, orientation, and indentation 2. Format cells using Format Painter to copy formatting quickly 3. Wrap text within cells and apply number formats (currency, percentage, date) 4. Apply cell formats from the Format Cells dialog box and apply built-in cell styles 5. Clear cell formatting when needed, and format multiple worksheets at once by grouping them Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 9): On the Employees sheet, first type 6 sample employee records with columns FullRecord (formatted "LastName, FirstName EmployeeID", e.g. "Smith, John E1001"), Salary, Bonus%, and Notes - leave one Salary cell intentionally blank. Then create a merged, centered title across the header row. Apply wrap text to the Notes column, a currency number format to Salary, and a percentage format to Bonus%. Use Format Painter to copy the header style across all four data sheets. Group the Budget and Sales sheets and apply a matching cell style to both title rows in a single action. This employee data will be reused in Lessons 14 and 15. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 9: Summarizing Data Visually -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Insert Sparklines to show a trend within a single row of data 2. Choose an appropriate Sparkline type for a given dataset 3. Apply built-in conditional formatting rule types - Highlight Cells Rules, Data Bars, Color Scales, and Icon Sets - to surface patterns 4. Remove conditional formatting from a range without affecting other formatting 5. Explain when Sparklines are more appropriate than a full chart, and vice versa Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 10): On the Sales sheet, add a small "Region Snapshot" table in a blank area: one row per region (e.g. North, South, East), with columns Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 - type in sample revenue figures by hand for now. Add a Sparkline column showing each region's revenue trend across Q1:Q4. On the Inventory sheet, apply Data Bars to the OnHand column and a Highlight Cells rule to flag any row where OnHand falls below ReorderLevel. Test the rule by lowering one OnHand value and confirming the highlight appears, then remove and reapply it to confirm it can be cleanly toggled. Keep the Region Snapshot table - it gets real formulas in Lesson 14 and powers the charts in Lessons 16-18. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 10: Creating and Formatting Tables -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Create an Excel Table from a cell range 2. Apply and switch between built-in table styles 3. Convert a table back to a normal cell range when a table is no longer needed 4. Explain how a Table differs from a plain formatted range (structured references, automatic formatting, banded rows) 5. Rename a Table to a meaningful, reusable name Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 11): Convert the Sales sheet's data range into an Excel Table named SalesTable and apply a table style that matches the workbook's color scheme. On a scratch copy of the range, practice converting a table back to a normal range to see what changes. Keep SalesTable in the main workbook for the next lesson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 11: Modifying, Filtering, and Sorting Tables -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Add and remove table rows and columns without breaking table formatting 2. Configure table style options (banded rows, first/last column emphasis, filter buttons) 3. Insert and configure a Total Row to summarize a table column 4. Filter table records to show only rows meeting a condition 5. Sort table data by multiple columns in a specified priority order Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 12): In SalesTable, add a new row for one more sale and a new column for SalesRep. Turn on the Total Row and set it to sum Revenue. Filter the table to show only one Region, confirm the total updates, then clear the filter. Sort the table by Region (A-Z) and then by Revenue (largest to smallest) within each region. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 12: Formula Foundations - Cell References and Structured References -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Distinguish relative, absolute, and mixed cell references and explain when each is needed 2. Write a formula using an absolute reference (the $A$1 dollar-sign notation) that stays fixed when copied across cells 3. Write a formula using a mixed reference ($A1 or A$1) to fix only a row or only a column 4. Use structured references - the Table[Column] and this-row [@Column] syntax - to point to SalesTable columns instead of raw cell addresses 5. Explain why structured references make formulas easier to read and maintain in a Table Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 13): On the Budget sheet, write a formula that multiplies each line item by a single tax-rate cell using $A$1-style absolute reference notation, then copy it down the column and confirm it doesn't shift. In SalesTable, add a calculated column that uses this-row structured reference syntax (for example, [@Units]*[@Revenue]) and confirm it fills automatically for every row. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 13: Named Ranges - Defining and Referencing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Define a named range for a single cell or a multi-cell range, choosing workbook-level or worksheet-level scope 2. Reference a named range inside a formula in place of a cell address 3. Use the Name Box to quickly select or navigate to a named range 4. Explain how a named range improves formula readability compared to raw references 5. Rename or delete a named range and identify formulas that depend on it Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 14): On the Budget sheet, define a named range called TaxRate for the tax percentage cell and a named range called DiscountRate for a discount percentage cell. Rewrite the tax formula from Lesson 12 to reference TaxRate by name instead of by cell address. Use the Name Box to jump straight to TaxRate to confirm it points to the correct cell. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 14: Core Calculation Functions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Perform calculations using the SUM(), AVERAGE(), MAX(), and MIN() functions 2. Count cells using the COUNT(), COUNTA(), and COUNTBLANK() functions 3. Perform a conditional calculation using the IF() function 4. Combine SUM()/AVERAGE() with IF() to build a simple conditional summary 5. Identify and correct a common formula error (mismatched parentheses, wrong range) using Excel's error-checking cues Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 15): On the Budget sheet, add a summary row using SUM(), AVERAGE(), MAX(), and MIN() across the six line items. On the Employees sheet, use COUNTA() to confirm every employee has a FullRecord entry and COUNTBLANK() to confirm it finds the one blank Salary cell seeded in Lesson 9's lab. On the Budget sheet, add an IF() column that nests AVERAGE() directly inside it to flag any line item above the average of all six as "Above Average" - one formula combining both functions. Then return to the Sales sheet's Region Snapshot table from Lesson 9: since SalesTable is now sorted by Region, replace the hand-typed Q1:Q4 figures with real SUM() formulas over each region's contiguous block of rows, and add a Units total column using SUM() the same way. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 15: Data and Text Functions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Build a distinct, sorted list of values using the SORT() and UNIQUE() functions 2. Extract parts of a text string using RIGHT(), LEFT(), and MID() 3. Standardize text case and measure text length using UPPER(), LOWER(), and LEN() 4. Combine multiple text values into one using CONCAT() and TEXTJOIN() 5. Choose the right text or data function for a given cleanup task Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 16): On the Sales sheet, use UNIQUE() and SORT() to build an alphabetized list of distinct product names in a scratch column. On the Employees sheet, use LEFT()/MID()/RIGHT() to split the FullRecord field from Lesson 8 ("LastName, FirstName EmployeeID") into three clean columns, then use UPPER() to standardize the LastName column. Use TEXTJOIN() to rebuild a "FirstName LastName" display column from the cleaned parts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 16: Creating Charts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Create a chart from a selected range of worksheet data 2. Choose an appropriate chart type for a given comparison (column, line, pie) 3. Create a chart sheet to display a chart on its own dedicated sheet 4. Move a chart between being embedded on a worksheet and living on its own chart sheet 5. Explain how chart type choice affects how clearly the data communicates Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 17): Create a column chart on the Sales sheet comparing each region's Total Revenue, using the Region Snapshot table's totals from Lesson 14. Create a chart sheet named BudgetOverview and place a pie chart there showing the Budget sheet's line items as a share of total spend. Confirm both charts update automatically if a source number changes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 17: Modifying Charts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Add a new data series to an existing chart 2. Switch between rows and columns in a chart's source data to change what is compared 3. Add chart elements (axis titles, data labels, legend, gridlines) 4. Modify existing chart elements to improve clarity 5. Update a chart's source range when the underlying data changes shape Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 18): On the Sales sheet's Region column chart, add a second data series showing each region's Units total (from the Region Snapshot table) alongside Revenue. Switch rows/columns to see the comparison from the other angle and pick whichever reads more clearly. Add an axis title, data labels, and a legend so the chart is understandable without the underlying table. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 18: Formatting Charts and Accessibility -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Apply a built-in chart layout to reorganize a chart's elements 2. Apply a built-in chart style to change a chart's visual theme 3. Add alternative text to a chart to support screen-reader accessibility 4. Explain what makes alt text useful versus purely decorative 5. Finalize chart formatting so it is consistent with the rest of the workbook's visual style Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 19): Apply a chart layout and a chart style to both the Sales column chart and the BudgetOverview pie chart so they visually match. Write meaningful alt text for both charts describing what each one shows. Compare a chart with good alt text against one with generic alt text and explain the difference in usefulness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 19: Course Recap and Key Focus Areas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Summarize the five core skill areas covered in this course: worksheets and workbooks, cells and ranges, tables, formulas and functions, and charts 2. Explain how each area of Northwind_Ops_Workbook.xlsx demonstrates one or more of these skill areas 3. Identify the two heaviest-weighted skill areas covered in this course (worksheets/workbooks and cells/ranges) as priority areas to revisit 4. Distinguish between commonly confused features covered in this course - a Table vs. a formatted range, and a named range vs. a raw reference 5. Identify which specific lessons and labs in this course to revisit for any skill area that needs reinforcement [Covers: MO-210 — All Domains] Lab Suggestion (Setup for Lab 20): Do a full read-through of Northwind_Ops_Workbook.xlsx: confirm every sheet (Budget, Sales, Inventory, Employees) has consistent formatting, every named range still resolves correctly, SalesTable's filters/sort are cleared, and both charts display current data. List any rough edges to polish in the final lesson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON 20: Capstone Completion and What's Next -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Objectives: 1. Finalize Northwind_Ops_Workbook.xlsx by integrating all four sheets, the calculated Table, named ranges, and both charts into one cohesive, consistently formatted workbook 2. Add a Read-Me sheet documenting what each sheet contains and how the workbook is intended to be used 3. Demonstrate the completed workbook end-to-end, confirming every formula, filter, and chart still works after final edits 4. Reflect on the skills built across the course and articulate what the completed workbook demonstrates about that growth 5. Describe career paths and next-level learning directions this course prepares you for, including further Excel study Lab Suggestion (Final Capstone Completion): Finalize Northwind_Ops_Workbook.xlsx: - Add a Read-Me sheet summarizing each sheet's purpose - Confirm formatting is consistent across all sheets (fonts, number formats, header styles) - Re-export the finished workbook as a PDF for distribution - Do a final pass confirming every named range, Table calculation, and chart reflects current data Save the finished .xlsx and the exported .pdf as your Capstone deliverable: "Northwind Ops Workbook." ================================================================================ CAPSTONE DELIVERABLE: "Northwind Ops Workbook" A four-sheet business workbook (Budget, Sales, Inventory, Employees) plus a dedicated chart sheet and a Read-Me sheet, featuring: imported text-file and online-source data, an Excel Table with a Total Row and structured-reference formulas, named ranges used throughout, core calculation and text functions, a Region Snapshot summary table with Sparklines and live SUM() totals, two formatted and accessible charts built from that summary, and a print/ export-ready layout. Delivered as a finished .xlsx plus an exported .pdf. ================================================================================ ================================================================================ COURSE SUMMARY: TOPIC COVERAGE MAP ================================================================================ TOPIC LESSON ---------------------------------------------- ----------------- Excel overview / interface / workbook basics 1 Workbook setup, navigation, Name Box, hyperlinks 2 Page setup, row/column sizing, headers/footers 3 Quick Access Toolbar, freeze panes, views, 4 workbook properties, show formulas Import data (text file, online source) 5 Print area, print settings, export/PDF, 6 Document Inspector, comments and notes Paste special, Auto Fill, insert/delete 7 rows/columns/cells, RANDBETWEEN(), SEQUENCE() Merge/align cells, Format Painter, wrap text, 8 number formats, cell styles, group sheets Sparklines, conditional formatting 9 Create and format Excel Tables 10 Modify/filter/sort Tables, Total Row 11 Relative/absolute/mixed refs, structured refs 12 Named ranges (define and reference) 13 SUM/AVERAGE/MAX/MIN, COUNT family, IF() 14 SORT()/UNIQUE(), text functions 15 Create charts, chart sheets 16 Modify charts (series, elements) 17 Format charts, alt text/accessibility 18 Course recap and key focus areas 19 Capstone completion and course close-out 20 ================================================================================ END OF COURSE OUTLINE ================================================================================