OVERVIEW

The laboratory provides an introduction to the use of Microsoft Excel as a tool for organizing, processing, and presenting data. Through hands-on activities, students will acquire the fundamental skills required to manage simple datasets, perform calculations using formulas and functions, create charts, and prepare summary tables. The course adopts a practical, application-oriented approach, with guided exercises that enable students to immediately apply the knowledge and skills acquired.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The laboratory aims to provide students with the fundamental skills required to use Microsoft Excel effectively for academic and basic professional purposes. By the end of the course, students will be able to organize data in spreadsheets, use basic formulas and functions, perform simple quantitative analyses, and present results through tables and charts.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the laboratory, students will be able to:

• use the Microsoft Excel interface and manage workbooks and worksheets;
• enter, edit, and organize data in spreadsheet format;
• apply basic formatting to cells, rows, columns, and tables;
• create and use formulas with relative and absolute cell references;
• use the most common Excel functions (e.g., SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, IF);
• sort and filter data;
• create and customize charts for data visualization;
• prepare simple summary tables and configure worksheets for printing;
• use Excel as a tool for basic data analysis.

PREREQUISITES

No previous knowledge of Microsoft Excel is required. Students are expected to have basic computer literacy and familiarity with the use of a personal computer and a Windows or macOS operating system.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is delivered through laboratory-based instruction, combining brief theoretical introductions with hands-on computer exercises. Students will complete guided practical activities and solve simple data analysis tasks using Microsoft Excel. Continuous interaction between the instructor and students is encouraged throughout the laboratory sessions.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Introduction to spreadsheets and the Microsoft Excel interface.
• Workbooks, worksheets, and data management.
• Data entry and editing.
• Formatting cells, rows, columns, and tables.
• Formulas and arithmetic operators.
• Relative and absolute cell references.
• Fundamental Excel functions (e.g., SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, COUNTA, IF, and other commonly used functions).
• Sorting, filtering, and searching data.
• Creating and customizing charts.
• Preparing worksheets for printing.
• Practical exercises based on real-world examples.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

No compulsory textbook is required. Teaching materials, including lecture slides, datasets, and practical exercises, will be provided by the instructor.

Recommended references:

• Floria G., Excel dal problema alla soluzione, Apogeo.
• Walkenbach, J. Excel Bible (latest available edition). Wiley.
• Microsoft. Microsoft Excel Documentation, available online.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ENRICO DI BELLA (President)

SARA PRETI

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Assessment is based on the successful completion of practical activities carried out during the laboratory. Students will be required to demonstrate their ability to use Microsoft Excel to organize data, apply basic formulas and functions, and produce simple tables and charts. The assessment is intended to verify the achievement of the learning outcomes through practical application rather than theoretical knowledge.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Student achievement will be assessed through a practical test or the completion of a laboratory assignment. The assessment will focus on the correct use of Microsoft Excel tools and functions covered during the course, including data management, basic calculations, formatting, and graphical representation of data. The final evaluation will be expressed as a pass/fail result, in accordance with the regulations governing laboratory activities, unless otherwise specified by the Degree Programme.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance is strongly recommended, as the laboratory is based on practical activities carried out during class. Teaching materials and datasets used in the laboratory sessions will be made available to students through the University's online learning platform Aulaweb.

Students with disabilities or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it), and the lecturer at the beginning of the course, to agree on the teaching methods and examinations that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.
Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it).

Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected"