Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program used to organize, analyze, and visualize data. It offers powerful tools for calculations, charting, and data management, making it essential for tasks like budgeting, reporting, and forecasting. Excel is useful for both simple lists and complex data models.
Please Note: The majority of these resources are curated, not created, by the MSU IT Training Team from external sources. If you experience issues with any of the resources or links, please reach out to us at train@msu.edu.
Full Course - Microsoft Excel
LearnFree.org (formerly GCFGlobal) provides free skills and software training resources. Pick the topics you're interested in or work your way through the entire 5 hour, 27 minute Excel Foundations course. Download the practice workbooks and follow along with either the tutorial video or article instructions.
Discover LearnFree's full Excel Foundations course and topics here
Getting Started
-
How to Use Excel (Video)
This YouTube video offers a step-by-step introduction to Excel and covers the following topics:
- Navigating workbooks
- Cells
- Ranges
- Cursor and mouse pointer shapes
- Changing the size of rows and columns
- Using the ribbon
- Entering data
- Formatting data
Modality: Video
Source: YouTube
Time: 15 minutes, 53 seconds -
Excel Shortcut Keys (Video)
In this YouTube video, you'll be introduced to fifty shortcut keys in Excel that will save you time, such as changing the formatting of cells or jumping to the start of the workbook.
Modality: Video
Source: YouTube
Time: 15 minutes, 38 seconds
-
Create a Drop-down List (Article)
In this article with accompanying video from Microsoft, learn how to format a cell into a drop-down list. Streamline processes and data collection for your team!
Modality: Article; Video
Source: Microsoft -
Add Color to Sheet Tabs for Organization (Article)
In this article from Microsoft, learn how to change the color of a sheet tab in Excel so you can organize, color coordinate, and find sheets more easily!
Modality: Article
Source: Microsoft
-
Formulas and Functions Overview (Article)
Microsoft provides a number of articles on formulas and functions. Check them out by clicking on the various horizontal tabs in the link (Formulas, Functions, Logical, Reference, More functions, Errors) as well as along the lefthand side.
Modality: Article
Source: Microsoft
-
Conditional Formatting (Video)
In this short YouTube video from Microsoft, learn how to use conditional formatting to not only visualize your data, but also make sense of it.
Modality: Video
Source: YouTube
Time: 1 minute, 6 seconds
-
Password Protect a Workbook (Article)
Protect your data by requiring a password to open or modify a workbook or sheet.
Modality: Article
Source: Microsoft
Want to Continue Learning?

Microsoft Help & Learning - Microsoft Excel
Discover Microsoft's Excel training resources here

LinkedIn Learning - Microsoft Excel
Note: Requires a paid membership to LinkedIn Learning
-
Excel Essential Training (Course)
Get up to speed with Microsoft Excel, the world's most popular spreadsheet program. Follow along with Excel expert Dennis Taylor as he demonstrates how to efficiently manage and analyze data with this powerful program. Learn how to enter and organize data, perform calculations with simple functions, and format the appearance of rows, columns, cells, and data. Plus, learn about accessibility features, how to work with multiple worksheets, build charts and PivotTables, sort and filter data, print in Excel, use Microsoft Copilot with Excel, and more.Learning Objectives:
- Describe the process for adding a command to the Quick Access toolbar.
- Cite the shortcuts for Undo and Redo.
- Name the keys commonly used to move, copy, and insert data.
- Explain how to create a chart.
- Summarize the process for freezing and unfreezing panes.
- Describe methods for sorting data.
- Explain how to create Pivot Tables.
Modality: Video
Source: LinkedIn Learning (Requires paid membership)
Time: 2 hours, 56 minutes -
Excel for Project Management (Video)
Excel is a powerful tool for managing projects, but it’s easy to be scared off by its hundreds of different formulas and functions. Many project managers barely scratch the surface of what Excel can really do. In this course, author and entrepreneur Jordan Goldmeier shows you how to track your projects in Excel easily and effectively. Learn the best way to set up your spreadsheet to visualize project progress, success, and even failures. Find out how to measure what's most important for projects and how to use that data to inform future decision making. By the end of the course, you'll know the best Excel features, tools, and functions to manage your projects.
Modality: Video
Source: LinkedIn Learning (Requires paid membership)
Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes

elevateU - Microsoft Excel
Note: MSU Faculty and Staff Only
Discover elevateU's vast selection of Excel training videos and courses here