If I'm not to good with a pc, would a microsoft excel beginners course be right for me to do first?

Question

I can find my way around a pc, but I want and need some extra training in excel and sage. I'm worried that I'll go along to these courses and everybody there knows all the terms used in working with these kind of packages, and I'll not be able to pick up what I need to learn......I'm bound to be the one that constantly says "can you repeat that please" :-(
Am I expected to know more before I go on one of these courses?
I'm ok with Sage....I worked my way round most of that, but still need training on other parts. But, microsoft excel, I know nothing about.

Answer 1

Amanda: There are various free websites that can teach you online how to use Excel. Have a look here for one such site: http://www.computerhope.com/training/excel.htm Here is an excel forum (there are several such forums) that can help if you have a problem: http://www.excelforum.com/
By far the best way to learn excel is to keep having a go:
Use the excel help file.
Register on the above excel forum and try following the posts, seeing the problem and trying out the answer is good practise.
The advantage of learning on line is that you can progess at your own speed, don't have to travel to attend courses, and can learn to use excel - for free.

Answer 2

If the class is Introduction to Excel, you are not expected to know much. There may be people in the class that know more about Excel than you but it can't be a whole lot more or they wouldn't be in there. The bottom line is what is most important for you -getting your money's worth out of the class. Don't be afraid or embarassed to ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. If you don't know, then you're stupid not to ask.

If you still don't feel comfortable with the idea, try to find a tutor who can work with you one-on-one. Excel is not a very difficult program to learn. The best way to learn it is to use it every day. If you learn the basics from a tutor and start to experiment and explore, you'll be an expert in no time.

Answer 3

If it is a "beginner" course, then normally I assumes that the students will need help even turning on the PC. (LOL).

Normally a "beginner" course will mean just that - beginner. Most instructors do not assume any previous knowledge. But if you are uncomfortable, pick up a Beginner Excel book (An "Excel for Dummies" or "Excel in 21 Days") and do a quick read throught. That will give you the basics and probably put you at the head of the beginner's class. You can often find "last year's" version of the Excel book at any of the bargain bookstores for under $5.00. And once the class is over, it is a hunady reference for the future when you forget half the commands. ;)

Answer 4

I think that you can learn a lot by simply going in there and playing around. That's how I learned most programs. There is a help section on there, plus, you can find some books to read.

There shouldn't be anything wrong with a course, however.

Answer 5

I would recommend with Excel that you start at the very beginning with training in the basics of program. once you have that you can go on from there.

As for Sage, depends on what areas that you are needing some more learning about. i would imagine that there are courses out there that would cover those bits plus areas that you may have learnt already but you might find ways round that.

I hope that you are successful in your search and these should be available at your local education establishments.

Good luck with all that and hope your successful

Answer 6

Now don't you wish you were more friendly to the geeks? Unfortunately Excel is part of the Microsoft office family. That means you are paying for the full suite. The basic is word,excel,powerpoint and outlook. Not ure if you can purchase separately. Find a geek buy him or her lunch and your set.

Answer 7

Ex cel is a spreedsheet program that is designed to work with numbers and text. You learn the first step how to start Excel and how you go about it by looking at the screen. You will learn how to enter data, moved around, save, close and open files and exit the program. The menu bar helps you to access menus from which you select Excel's various commamds.

Answer 8

Before actually paying for a course, I'd check it out to see if there are any workshops available locally.

Answer 9

Go on to a clait course you meet all levels and we in the computer world are not so crass that no one will help you everyone usually likes to help someone it helps us to show off our skills so don't be afraid get stuck in

Answer 10

There are plenty good books available. Go to a library and borrow a book or go to a large bookshop where they don't mind you browsing, until you find a book in which the layout etc. appeals to you.
My favourite series is "easy....eg Windows XP), published by QUE. Their site is www.quecorp.com