AI

Advanced beginner course

AI for Spreadsheets, Data, and Analysis

Use AI to clean data, explain formulas, create summaries, build charts, and check analysis without trusting unverified numbers.

Learning outcome

Use AI to clean data, explain formulas, create summaries, build charts, and check analysis without trusting unverified numbers.

Course project

Create a small data report with cleaned table, formulas, chart recommendation, insight summary, and verification notes.

Safety rule

Do not paste passwords, payment data, private IDs, customer records, or illegal requests into AI tools.

Course syllabus

Learn, do, quiz, and save proof.

Module 1

Spreadsheet help

1Formula and table supportAsk AI for formulas, explanations, and troubleshooting while checking results manually.Start lab

1. Learn

This lesson teaches one practical AI habit: Ask AI for formulas, explanations, and troubleshooting while checking results manually. You will apply it to a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, compare the AI output with the goal, then save a reusable version only after review.

  1. 1Open Excel or the closest approved tool for this task family.
  2. 2Paste the lab prompt, replace the bracketed parts with a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, and answer any clarifying questions.
  3. 3Review the output for facts, missing context, privacy, risky claims, and whether it solves the original task.
  4. 4Improve one weak part, then save the prompt, final output, and review note as course evidence.

2. Study the example

Example: use Excel to complete this task: Generate formulas for lookup, totals, categories, and date cleanup. A strong result names the goal, gives enough context, asks for a specific format, marks assumptions, and includes a human review step before use.

Job seeker use

Use this skill to build safer job-search assets: tailored resumes, LinkedIn summaries, networking messages, company research notes, ethical interview preparation, and application tracking templates.

Student use

Use this skill for study plans, summaries, practice quizzes, class notes, project outlines, and revision checklists without submitting AI work as your own when your school rules prohibit it.

3. Proof to save

Formula prompt pack.

Copy-ready lab prompt

You are helping me complete a practical AI-for-work task.

Task: [describe your real task]
Goal: Ask AI for formulas, explanations, and troubleshooting while checking results manually.
Tool I may use: Excel, Google Sheets, Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT
Audience: [who will read or use the output]
Constraints: keep it accurate, private-data safe, and easy to review.

First ask up to 3 clarifying questions if needed. Then create the output in a clear structure. End with assumptions, risk checks, and a final checklist before I use the result.

Tools to try

ExcelGoogle SheetsCopilotGeminiChatGPT

4. Quick quiz and checklist

Find the formula that should be tested before use.

  • Does the prompt include goal, context, audience, and output format?
  • Did you remove private, sensitive, payment, legal, medical, or account data?
  • Did you check facts, numbers, claims, tone, and missing assumptions?
  • Did you save the final prompt, output, and review notes as proof?

Common mistakes

  • Asking a one-line prompt with no audience, source, format, or success criteria.
  • Pasting private customer, payment, account, legal, medical, or employer-confidential information.
  • Using the AI answer without checking facts, numbers, tone, assumptions, and missing steps.

Passing answer key

A passing answer explains which tool you chose, why it fits the task, what context you gave it, how you checked the output, and what you changed before saving the final spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note.

Rubric

  • Clear task and audience: 25%
  • Useful prompt structure and tool choice: 25%
  • Human review, privacy, and safety checks: 25%
  • Reusable saved template or work sample: 25%
2Data cleanup and summaryUse AI to plan cleanup steps, detect missing fields, and summarize patterns.Start lab

1. Learn

This lesson teaches one practical AI habit: Use AI to plan cleanup steps, detect missing fields, and summarize patterns. You will apply it to a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, compare the AI output with the goal, then save a reusable version only after review.

  1. 1Open Excel or the closest approved tool for this task family.
  2. 2Paste the lab prompt, replace the bracketed parts with a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, and answer any clarifying questions.
  3. 3Review the output for facts, missing context, privacy, risky claims, and whether it solves the original task.
  4. 4Improve one weak part, then save the prompt, final output, and review note as course evidence.

2. Study the example

Example: use Excel to complete this task: Write a data-cleaning checklist for a messy spreadsheet. A strong result names the goal, gives enough context, asks for a specific format, marks assumptions, and includes a human review step before use.

Job seeker use

Use this skill to build safer job-search assets: tailored resumes, LinkedIn summaries, networking messages, company research notes, ethical interview preparation, and application tracking templates.

Student use

Use this skill for study plans, summaries, practice quizzes, class notes, project outlines, and revision checklists without submitting AI work as your own when your school rules prohibit it.

3. Proof to save

Data cleanup checklist.

Copy-ready lab prompt

You are helping me complete a practical AI-for-work task.

Task: [describe your real task]
Goal: Use AI to plan cleanup steps, detect missing fields, and summarize patterns.
Tool I may use: Excel, Google Sheets, Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT
Audience: [who will read or use the output]
Constraints: keep it accurate, private-data safe, and easy to review.

First ask up to 3 clarifying questions if needed. Then create the output in a clear structure. End with assumptions, risk checks, and a final checklist before I use the result.

Tools to try

ExcelGoogle SheetsCopilotGeminiChatGPT

4. Quick quiz and checklist

Identify data quality problems in a sample table.

  • Does the prompt include goal, context, audience, and output format?
  • Did you remove private, sensitive, payment, legal, medical, or account data?
  • Did you check facts, numbers, claims, tone, and missing assumptions?
  • Did you save the final prompt, output, and review notes as proof?

Common mistakes

  • Asking a one-line prompt with no audience, source, format, or success criteria.
  • Pasting private customer, payment, account, legal, medical, or employer-confidential information.
  • Using the AI answer without checking facts, numbers, tone, assumptions, and missing steps.

Passing answer key

A passing answer explains which tool you chose, why it fits the task, what context you gave it, how you checked the output, and what you changed before saving the final spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note.

Rubric

  • Clear task and audience: 25%
  • Useful prompt structure and tool choice: 25%
  • Human review, privacy, and safety checks: 25%
  • Reusable saved template or work sample: 25%
3Charts and insight reviewChoose charts, explain trends, and separate observations from recommendations.Start lab

1. Learn

This lesson teaches one practical AI habit: Choose charts, explain trends, and separate observations from recommendations. You will apply it to a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, compare the AI output with the goal, then save a reusable version only after review.

  1. 1Open Excel or the closest approved tool for this task family.
  2. 2Paste the lab prompt, replace the bracketed parts with a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, and answer any clarifying questions.
  3. 3Review the output for facts, missing context, privacy, risky claims, and whether it solves the original task.
  4. 4Improve one weak part, then save the prompt, final output, and review note as course evidence.

2. Study the example

Example: use Excel to complete this task: Create an insight summary with assumptions, risks, and next questions. A strong result names the goal, gives enough context, asks for a specific format, marks assumptions, and includes a human review step before use.

Job seeker use

Use this skill to build safer job-search assets: tailored resumes, LinkedIn summaries, networking messages, company research notes, ethical interview preparation, and application tracking templates.

Student use

Use this skill for study plans, summaries, practice quizzes, class notes, project outlines, and revision checklists without submitting AI work as your own when your school rules prohibit it.

3. Proof to save

Data report template.

Copy-ready lab prompt

You are helping me complete a practical AI-for-work task.

Task: [describe your real task]
Goal: Choose charts, explain trends, and separate observations from recommendations.
Tool I may use: Excel, Google Sheets, Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT
Audience: [who will read or use the output]
Constraints: keep it accurate, private-data safe, and easy to review.

First ask up to 3 clarifying questions if needed. Then create the output in a clear structure. End with assumptions, risk checks, and a final checklist before I use the result.

Tools to try

ExcelGoogle SheetsCopilotGeminiChatGPT

4. Quick quiz and checklist

Choose which insight is overstated.

  • Does the prompt include goal, context, audience, and output format?
  • Did you remove private, sensitive, payment, legal, medical, or account data?
  • Did you check facts, numbers, claims, tone, and missing assumptions?
  • Did you save the final prompt, output, and review notes as proof?

Common mistakes

  • Asking a one-line prompt with no audience, source, format, or success criteria.
  • Pasting private customer, payment, account, legal, medical, or employer-confidential information.
  • Using the AI answer without checking facts, numbers, tone, assumptions, and missing steps.

Passing answer key

A passing answer explains which tool you chose, why it fits the task, what context you gave it, how you checked the output, and what you changed before saving the final spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note.

Rubric

  • Clear task and audience: 25%
  • Useful prompt structure and tool choice: 25%
  • Human review, privacy, and safety checks: 25%
  • Reusable saved template or work sample: 25%
4Pivot tables and dashboard planningUse AI to plan pivots, summaries, KPIs, and dashboard sections while verifying formulas.Start lab

1. Learn

This lesson teaches one practical AI habit: Use AI to plan pivots, summaries, KPIs, and dashboard sections while verifying formulas. You will apply it to a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, compare the AI output with the goal, then save a reusable version only after review.

  1. 1Open Excel or the closest approved tool for this task family.
  2. 2Paste the lab prompt, replace the bracketed parts with a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, and answer any clarifying questions.
  3. 3Review the output for facts, missing context, privacy, risky claims, and whether it solves the original task.
  4. 4Improve one weak part, then save the prompt, final output, and review note as course evidence.

2. Study the example

Example: use Excel to complete this task: Design a simple dashboard plan for sales, expenses, study results, or operations data. A strong result names the goal, gives enough context, asks for a specific format, marks assumptions, and includes a human review step before use.

Job seeker use

Use this skill to build safer job-search assets: tailored resumes, LinkedIn summaries, networking messages, company research notes, ethical interview preparation, and application tracking templates.

Student use

Use this skill for study plans, summaries, practice quizzes, class notes, project outlines, and revision checklists without submitting AI work as your own when your school rules prohibit it.

3. Proof to save

Dashboard planning worksheet.

Copy-ready lab prompt

You are helping me complete a practical AI-for-work task.

Task: [describe your real task]
Goal: Use AI to plan pivots, summaries, KPIs, and dashboard sections while verifying formulas.
Tool I may use: Excel, Google Sheets, Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT
Audience: [who will read or use the output]
Constraints: keep it accurate, private-data safe, and easy to review.

First ask up to 3 clarifying questions if needed. Then create the output in a clear structure. End with assumptions, risk checks, and a final checklist before I use the result.

Tools to try

ExcelGoogle SheetsCopilotGeminiChatGPT

4. Quick quiz and checklist

Choose which KPI needs a clear definition before analysis.

  • Does the prompt include goal, context, audience, and output format?
  • Did you remove private, sensitive, payment, legal, medical, or account data?
  • Did you check facts, numbers, claims, tone, and missing assumptions?
  • Did you save the final prompt, output, and review notes as proof?

Common mistakes

  • Asking a one-line prompt with no audience, source, format, or success criteria.
  • Pasting private customer, payment, account, legal, medical, or employer-confidential information.
  • Using the AI answer without checking facts, numbers, tone, assumptions, and missing steps.

Passing answer key

A passing answer explains which tool you chose, why it fits the task, what context you gave it, how you checked the output, and what you changed before saving the final spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note.

Rubric

  • Clear task and audience: 25%
  • Useful prompt structure and tool choice: 25%
  • Human review, privacy, and safety checks: 25%
  • Reusable saved template or work sample: 25%
5CSV cleanup and column dictionaryCreate a clean data dictionary and cleanup plan before asking AI for analysis.Start lab

1. Learn

This lesson teaches one practical AI habit: Create a clean data dictionary and cleanup plan before asking AI for analysis. You will apply it to a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, compare the AI output with the goal, then save a reusable version only after review.

  1. 1Open Excel or the closest approved tool for this task family.
  2. 2Paste the lab prompt, replace the bracketed parts with a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, and answer any clarifying questions.
  3. 3Review the output for facts, missing context, privacy, risky claims, and whether it solves the original task.
  4. 4Improve one weak part, then save the prompt, final output, and review note as course evidence.

2. Study the example

Example: use Excel to complete this task: Write cleanup rules for duplicates, missing values, dates, categories, and calculated columns. A strong result names the goal, gives enough context, asks for a specific format, marks assumptions, and includes a human review step before use.

Job seeker use

Use this skill to build safer job-search assets: tailored resumes, LinkedIn summaries, networking messages, company research notes, ethical interview preparation, and application tracking templates.

Student use

Use this skill for study plans, summaries, practice quizzes, class notes, project outlines, and revision checklists without submitting AI work as your own when your school rules prohibit it.

3. Proof to save

Data dictionary and cleanup plan.

Copy-ready lab prompt

You are helping me complete a practical AI-for-work task.

Task: [describe your real task]
Goal: Create a clean data dictionary and cleanup plan before asking AI for analysis.
Tool I may use: Excel, Google Sheets, Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT
Audience: [who will read or use the output]
Constraints: keep it accurate, private-data safe, and easy to review.

First ask up to 3 clarifying questions if needed. Then create the output in a clear structure. End with assumptions, risk checks, and a final checklist before I use the result.

Tools to try

ExcelGoogle SheetsCopilotGeminiChatGPT

4. Quick quiz and checklist

Identify which data issue will make the insight unreliable.

  • Does the prompt include goal, context, audience, and output format?
  • Did you remove private, sensitive, payment, legal, medical, or account data?
  • Did you check facts, numbers, claims, tone, and missing assumptions?
  • Did you save the final prompt, output, and review notes as proof?

Common mistakes

  • Asking a one-line prompt with no audience, source, format, or success criteria.
  • Pasting private customer, payment, account, legal, medical, or employer-confidential information.
  • Using the AI answer without checking facts, numbers, tone, assumptions, and missing steps.

Passing answer key

A passing answer explains which tool you chose, why it fits the task, what context you gave it, how you checked the output, and what you changed before saving the final spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note.

Rubric

  • Clear task and audience: 25%
  • Useful prompt structure and tool choice: 25%
  • Human review, privacy, and safety checks: 25%
  • Reusable saved template or work sample: 25%
6Analysis review and decision memoTurn numbers into a cautious recommendation with assumptions, confidence, and next checks.Start lab

1. Learn

This lesson teaches one practical AI habit: Turn numbers into a cautious recommendation with assumptions, confidence, and next checks. You will apply it to a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, compare the AI output with the goal, then save a reusable version only after review.

  1. 1Open Excel or the closest approved tool for this task family.
  2. 2Paste the lab prompt, replace the bracketed parts with a real spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note, and answer any clarifying questions.
  3. 3Review the output for facts, missing context, privacy, risky claims, and whether it solves the original task.
  4. 4Improve one weak part, then save the prompt, final output, and review note as course evidence.

2. Study the example

Example: use Excel to complete this task: Write a short decision memo from a sample table and mark what must be verified. A strong result names the goal, gives enough context, asks for a specific format, marks assumptions, and includes a human review step before use.

Job seeker use

Use this skill to build safer job-search assets: tailored resumes, LinkedIn summaries, networking messages, company research notes, ethical interview preparation, and application tracking templates.

Student use

Use this skill for study plans, summaries, practice quizzes, class notes, project outlines, and revision checklists without submitting AI work as your own when your school rules prohibit it.

3. Proof to save

Verified analysis memo.

Copy-ready lab prompt

You are helping me complete a practical AI-for-work task.

Task: [describe your real task]
Goal: Turn numbers into a cautious recommendation with assumptions, confidence, and next checks.
Tool I may use: Excel, Google Sheets, Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT
Audience: [who will read or use the output]
Constraints: keep it accurate, private-data safe, and easy to review.

First ask up to 3 clarifying questions if needed. Then create the output in a clear structure. End with assumptions, risk checks, and a final checklist before I use the result.

Tools to try

ExcelGoogle SheetsCopilotGeminiChatGPT

4. Quick quiz and checklist

Spot the recommendation that overclaims from limited data.

  • Does the prompt include goal, context, audience, and output format?
  • Did you remove private, sensitive, payment, legal, medical, or account data?
  • Did you check facts, numbers, claims, tone, and missing assumptions?
  • Did you save the final prompt, output, and review notes as proof?

Common mistakes

  • Asking a one-line prompt with no audience, source, format, or success criteria.
  • Pasting private customer, payment, account, legal, medical, or employer-confidential information.
  • Using the AI answer without checking facts, numbers, tone, assumptions, and missing steps.

Passing answer key

A passing answer explains which tool you chose, why it fits the task, what context you gave it, how you checked the output, and what you changed before saving the final spreadsheet, formula, table, or insight note.

Rubric

  • Clear task and audience: 25%
  • Useful prompt structure and tool choice: 25%
  • Human review, privacy, and safety checks: 25%
  • Reusable saved template or work sample: 25%

Certificate evidence

This course contributes to your AI work portfolio.

Finish the lessons, save your prompts and outputs, then use the capstone checklist to show what AI did, what you reviewed, and where human judgment was required.

View certificate pathBack to all courses