Short Course in Data Handling Using Excel

Short Course

Data Handling Using Excel

There is an ever-increasing demand for Excel skills in the workplace. Microsoft Excel is perhaps the most important computer software program used in the workplace today. From the viewpoint of the employer, particularly those in the field of information systems, the use of Excel as an end-user computing tool is essential.

Purpose of the course:

This short course aims to equip participants with the skills necessary to utilise the functionality of Microsoft Excel to manipulate, edit, summarise and work with data.

Admission requirements:

Very basic understanding of Excel and elementary computer skills.

Learning assumed to be in place:

National Senior Certificate or an equivalent NQF level 4 qualification

Course outcomes and assessment criteria :

Course outcomes and the associated assessment criteria:

Study Unit	Outcomes	Assessment Criteria
	After completion of this course, participants will:	Participant will be assessed on the following criteria:
	1) Demonstrate informed knowledge and understanding of basic spreadsheet data handling in Excel	1) Filter and sort data stored in an Excel spreadsheet
	2) Demonstrate an ability to select and apply standard Excel functions and tools for manipulating, summarising, and editing Excel spreadsheet data	2) Apply basic Excel functions (such as statistical, mathematical and text functions) and operators (such as multiply, divide, addition, etc.) to data values in a spreadsheet
		3) Create charts and plots of data, and alter the format of these graphs in Excel
		4) Format the values and appearance of data cells in a spreadsheet
		5) Make use of lookup and reference functions to find specific values in a spreadsheet
		6) Create pivot tables from spreadsheet data. Once created, calculate subtotals and various other summarising statistics using the pivot table, group pivot tables according to various categorical variables, filter and "slice" the table by using various variables, format the cells in the table, creating pivot charts, and creating calculated fields and items inside the pivot table
		7) Recording and running macros for sequences of operations

Assessment:

To pass the short course, a participant has to obtain a mark of 50% or more.

Method of assessment:

Learning objectives will be accomplished through the successful completion of assignments and participation in short course activities, proving insight into the topics at hand.