MM209: Fundamentals of Microsoft Excel

Module code: MM209

Module provider: Henley Business School

Credits: 0

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Mr Nigel Spinks, email: nigel.spinks@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 6 February 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Microsoft (MS) Excel is a spreadsheet software widely used in business and management to manage, analyse, and present data.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the fundamentals of MS Excel from setting up a spreadsheet through basic data analysis and visualisation to more advanced analysis tools, including pivot tables. By the end of the course, students will have a fundamental grounding in the use of MS Excel in practical situations and a sound understanding on which to develop further Excel skills.

Module learning outcomes

1. Setup and manage basic datasets using core MS Excel worksheet functionality
2. Select and apply appropriate MS Excel formulas, functions and other tools to perform basic data analysis
3. Select and apply appropriate MS Excel tools to visualize data

Module content

Topics to be covered include:

1. Getting started with MS Excel: 

• Worksheets and workbooks
• Importing data
• Editing and formatting worksheets
• Sorting and filtering data

2. Using formulas and functions  

• Basic formulas
• Introduction to functions
• Using functions for calculations
• Using functions for data analysis 

3. Visualising data

• Conditional formatting
• Introduction to charts
• Advanced charting features
• Printing and sharing a workbook

4. Extending the analysis

• Introduction to PivotTables
• Introduction to data analysis with the AnalysisToolPak
• Introduction to XLOOKUP

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The sessions will be in-person and involve hands-on practical use of the software with different datasets built around an explanation, demonstration, imitation, practice model. Students will be expected to use their own laptops to apply the tools and techniques during the sessions. 

Study hours

At least At least eight hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.   hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

This is not an assessed module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Throughout the session, students will be encouraged to make use of MS Excel using practice datasets and to share their findings and raise questions.

Reassessment

Additional costs