IKWEZI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE: Module 5

Module 5 | Microsoft Excel | Ikwezi E-Learning

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

✓ Explain what Microsoft Excel is used for.
✓ Understand rows, columns and cells.
✓ Enter and edit information in a worksheet.
✓ Create simple formulas.
✓ Use the SUM function.
✓ Format basic spreadsheet information.
✓ Sort and organise data.
✓ Create a simple personal budget.

📊 Lesson 1: What Is Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program used to organise, calculate and analyse information.

What Can You Use Excel For?

Creating budgets
Recording expenses
Managing lists
Calculating totals
Organising information
Tracking sales
Creating simple reports
Working with numbers and data

💡 Remember:
Excel is especially useful when you need to organise information and perform calculations.

🔲 Lesson 2: Rows, Columns and Cells

An Excel worksheet is made up of a grid of rows and columns.

Rows

Rows run horizontally across the worksheet and are identified by numbers such as 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Columns

Columns run vertically and are identified by letters such as A, B, C and D.

Cells

A cell is where a row and column meet. Each cell has a unique address.

Example:

Column A + Row 1 = Cell A1

Column B + Row 3 = Cell B3

⌨️ Lesson 3: Entering Data

You can enter different types of information into Excel cells.

Examples of Data

Names
Dates
Numbers
Prices
Descriptions
Quantities

Entering Information

Select a cell.
Type your information.
Press Enter.
The information is stored in the cell.

💡 Tip:
Keep related information organised in separate columns. For example, use one column for Item, one for Quantity and another for Price.

➕ Lesson 4: Formulas and Calculations

Excel can perform calculations using formulas. A formula normally begins with an equals sign (=).

Basic Calculation Examples

Addition: =10+5
Subtraction: =10-5
Multiplication: =10*5
Division: =10/5

💡 Important:
When creating a formula in Excel, start with =.

Σ Lesson 5: Using SUM

The SUM function adds numbers together.

Example

If cells B2 through B6 contain numbers, you can calculate their total using:

=SUM(B2:B6)

The colon means that Excel should include the range of cells from B2 through B6.

Why Use SUM?

SUM is useful for calculating totals such as monthly expenses, sales, quantities or marks.

🎨 Lesson 6: Formatting a Spreadsheet

Formatting can make a spreadsheet easier to read and understand.

Common Formatting Options

Bold headings
Changing font size
Changing text alignment
Adding borders
Changing number formats
Adjusting column width
Adjusting row height

💡 Tip:
Use clear headings and consistent formatting so that other people can easily understand your spreadsheet.

↕️ Lesson 7: Sorting and Organising Data

Excel can sort information so that it is easier to find and analyse.

Examples

Sort names alphabetically.
Sort prices from smallest to largest.
Sort prices from largest to smallest.
Organise dates.

⚠️ Important:
When sorting information, make sure you select the correct data range so that related information stays together.

💰 Lesson 8: Creating a Simple Budget

Excel can help you keep track of income and expenses.

Example Budget

Expense	Amount
Food	R1,500
Transport	R800
Electricity	R600
Data	R300
Total	R3,200

Instead of manually calculating the total, Excel can calculate it using a formula such as:

=SUM(B2:B5)

🎯 Real-world use:
A spreadsheet can help you understand where your money is going and plan your expenses.

💻 Practical Activity

If you have access to Microsoft Excel, complete the following activity.

Open Microsoft Excel.
Create a blank workbook.
In cell A1, type Expense.
In cell B1, type Amount.
Enter at least five household expenses.
Enter an amount for each expense.
Make the headings bold.
Adjust the column widths so the information is easy to read.
Use a SUM formula to calculate the total expenses.
Save the workbook as My Budget.
Close the workbook.
Open it again and check that your information is still there.

🎯 Goal:
You should be able to enter information into a spreadsheet and use a simple formula to calculate a total.

✅ Complete Module 5

After studying the lessons, completing the practical activity and passing the quiz, mark this module as complete.

Module 5

IKWEZI E-LEARNING

Microsoft Excel