Master essential tools, shortcuts, and formulas to navigate the Excel interface with confidence and build practical spreadsheets efficiently.
Join CPA David Ringstrom in Introduction to Spreadsheets Part 1, a comprehensive course designed to take you from ground zero to confident proficiency within Microsoft Excel. Whether you are a complete novice interacting with the software for the first time or an experienced user looking to fill knowledge gaps and unlearn inefficient habits, this course offers valuable insights for everyone. Excel is a vast program, and even seasoned professionals can fall victim to "death by a thousand cuts"—small, repetitive inefficiencies that compound over time. This course aims to eliminate those frustrations by teaching you the most effective techniques for building and managing spreadsheets.
Throughout this session, you will learn by doing as you construct a practical, real-world project: a loan amortization schedule. This example allows for the exploration of a wide variety of essential tools, from basic data entry to complex formulas. You will discover how to navigate the Excel environment, distinguish between different file formats, and master the art of formatting to ensure your data is clear and professional. The course also demystifies the logic behind Excel calculations, ensuring you understand how to control mathematical order of operations and cell references.
Key learning outcomes include:
By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in Excel for Windows, with skills that translate seamlessly to the Mac platform. You will be equipped to create, format, and print spreadsheets with confidence, ready to tackle more advanced topics in the future.
CPA, Author, Professional Excel Spreadsheet Trainer and Consultant
David H. Ringstrom, CPA, is the author of Microsoft 365 Excel for Dummies, and a nationally recognized instructor who has taught over 2,500 live webinars. His Excel courses are based on over 30 years of consulting and teaching experience. David’s catchphrase is “Either you work Excel, or it works you,” so he focuses on what he sees users don’t, but should know about Microsoft Excel. His goal is to empower you to use Excel more effectively. David has authored or co-authored 10 books, including Exploring Microsoft Excel's Hidden Treasures, QuickBooks Online for Dummies, and Idiot's Guide to Introductory Accounting.
This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.
If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.
