Excel is a cornerstone to careers, businesses, and education. It has a wide range of uses, such as data analysis, planning, and reporting.
Thus, it has become imperative for almost everyone in the corporate world to learn Excel.
The best part of this software is it’s available and accessible without any purchases or subscriptions required.
And so, learning and using it is simple.
There are two primary ways of learning Excel: offline and online.
The offline method has been in practice for many years before internet usage became widespread.
In this case, people would attend in-person classes or other forms of training and be taught how to use Excel.
Internet usage, however, popularized online learning.
People in remote places with internet connectivity could easily access essential learning resources to help them master this software.
Also, online learning is more convenient, especially for people committed elsewhere, such as students and employees, as they may not get the time to attend physical classes.
This has made it the go-to option for many people, especially beginners.
How To Learn Excel Online
There are several resources available to help you take online excel training.
These resources have been compiled and made available through different platforms where learners can access them.
For example, this Microsoft Excel online course has the option of learning beginner, intermediate, and advanced Excel skills.
Getting these resources tailored to fit your skill level will help you advance with time even if you’re a beginner.
This article looks at how you can learn Excel online below:
Through Online Courses
Online courses are one of the most common ways to learn Excel online.
The courses can either be free or will require purchasing, though they are generally affordable.
The platforms offer a variety of Excel courses that can cover everything.
Therefore, you can start as a beginner or at an advanced level.
Besides the beginner to advanced training that most courses offer, you can also learn extra tools, such as power tools, financial modeling, and dynamic array formulas.
The trick to getting the best out of these courses is finding an affordable platform that suits your needs.
Here are some of the ways to find an excellent online course:
Check On Ratings And Reviews
Because these courses are online, then it’s easier to get their ratings online too.
When choosing the best course, you should check the ratings from different sites to determine which courses or providers are the best.
You can also check on reviews of other learners on their websites or social media platforms to compare and choose the one that suits your needs the most.
Ask For Referrals
There’s a slight chance that a family member, colleague, or friend has worked with an Excel course before.
They have experience with the course and can advise you on whether to enroll or choose another course.
Compare Prices
While some equate higher prices to quality courses, that will not always be the case. To get the best out of an online course, you should consider enrolling in one you can afford.
This will enable you to complete the course.
If you enroll in an expensive course, then you may fail to complete the course and miss out on so many essential tools in Excel.
Through Online Classes
While online courses and classes may seem similar, they are different in many ways.
In online courses, you can purchase the courses and learn them independently or follow the tutorials presented.
However, online classes work like one-on-one classes, only that this is conducted using collaborative tools.
For instance, a school that offers Excel courses could use online tools to teach students remotely.
Another difference is that while you purchase an online course, online classes can offer Excel courses as part of the curriculum where you have to complete it within a specific time.
The Excel course will be offered as part of a significant study like data analysis or statistics.
Therefore, you can enroll in an online class that includes Excel as part of the curriculum and study it to completion.
The only limitation of an online class is that the course being taught may not be as detailed as when purchasing an online course.
By Peer-To-Peer Learning
Another way to learn Excel as a beginner is through peer-to-peer study groups. This is where you form an online group consisting of people interested in learning Excel. The group could consist of several beginners and one expert. If you don’t have an expert, you can still work as beginners to tackle different areas until you master the skills.
Peer-to-peer learning is also a cheaper way to learn Excel online as you may not be required to pay. It’s also engaging, and as a beginner, it gives you an excellent opportunity to learn while practicing, and you master the skills much quicker.
Through Video Tutorials
If you prefer self-learning, then video tutorials are an excellent way to learn Excel online.
This is because there are several videos uploaded on digital media and personal portfolios from Excel experts.
As a beginner, you can use these videos to master your Excel skills.
Also, there are several videos that you can choose from, which makes it easier to understand Excel better.
Video tutorials are often free, though some will require you to pay to access them. So, you can take advantage of the free ones if you can’t afford to pay.
These videos also can be saved for future reference as you can use them to revise or sharpen your Excel skill.
The video tutorials can also help learners use other online methods to understand Excel as it is interactive.
Conclusion
Learning Excel is an excellent skill that anyone should consider having. It’s crucial in data analysis and reporting and can be combined with other tools in businesses and studies.
Learning it isn’t complex due to the various resources available both online and offline.
Online learning is convenient because you can learn remotely and also fix the classes according to your schedule.
The different online methods discussed in this article are worth trying if you’re a beginner and would want to learn Excel.