Module One: Getting Ready with Copilot in Excel – Quick Review and Setup

“Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two” – Take your Excel skills to the next level

Module Introduction

Hello, young Excel explorer! Welcome to Level Two of Copilot in Microsoft Excel. In Level One, you learned the very basics of Excel: cells, rows, columns, and simple typing. You may have also met Copilot for the first time.

In this module, we will do a quick review and get fully set up. Think of it like cleaning your desk and sharpening your pencils before starting a big project. We will learn what Copilot is, how it lives inside Excel, how to open it, and how to ask it simple questions. We will also learn how to stay safe and private while using it.

By the end of this module, you will be comfortable using Copilot as your friendly helper inside Excel. You will be ready for the more exciting lessons in Module Two, where we will write formulas with Copilot.

No advanced maths is needed. Just bring your curiosity and a computer with Excel and Copilot.

Learning Objectives

After finishing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain what Microsoft Copilot is in simple words.
• Describe how Copilot works inside Microsoft Excel.
• Open the Copilot panel in Excel.
• Review basic Excel skills: cells, rows, columns, and sheets.
• Ask Copilot simple questions and understand its answers.
• Use Copilot suggestions safely.
• Follow basic privacy and safety rules.
• Complete a mini project and practical assignment.

Warm-up Story: Ada Meets a Helpful Robot Inside Excel

Ada is a bright girl in Lagos. She loves using Microsoft Excel to keep records of her school marks and her mother’s market sales. But sometimes Excel feels like a big, quiet library. Ada types numbers and formulas, but no one helps her when she gets stuck.

One day, Ada’s teacher told the class about a new helper inside Excel called Copilot. “Copilot is like a friendly robot that sits inside Excel,” the teacher said. “You can ask it questions, and it will help you write formulas, clean data, and even make charts.”

Ada was excited. She opened Excel and looked for Copilot. At first, she could not find it. Then she noticed a small button at the top with a colourful icon. She clicked it, and a panel opened on the right side of the screen.

“Hello!” said the panel. “I am Copilot. How can I help you today?”

Ada typed: “Help me add up the numbers in column B.” Copilot quickly replied with a formula: =SUM(B2:B10). Ada copied it into her sheet, and the total appeared. She was amazed!

Ada then asked: “What does this formula do?” Copilot explained it in simple words. Ada learned that Copilot can both do things and explain things. It is like having a patient teacher sitting beside her.

From that day, Ada used Copilot every time she worked in Excel. She became faster and more confident. Her teacher was proud. And Ada learned that a good helper makes any job easier.

Moral of the story: Copilot is a helpful robot inside Excel. It can answer questions, write formulas, and explain things. With Copilot, Excel becomes friendly and fun.

Main Lessons

Lesson 1: What is Microsoft Copilot?

Definition: Microsoft Copilot is an AI helper built into Microsoft apps like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. It can answer questions, write formulas, and suggest ideas.

Why it is important: Copilot saves time and helps you learn. It is like having a smart friend who knows Excel very well.

Simple explanation: Imagine you are doing homework and you have a friendly tutor beside you. You ask a question, and the tutor explains the answer. Copilot is that tutor, but inside your computer.

Real-life example: A shopkeeper wants to know total sales. Copilot can add the numbers in seconds.

School example: A student wants to calculate the average of test scores. Copilot writes the formula for them.

Home example: A parent wants to track monthly expenses. Copilot helps organise the numbers.

Nigerian example: A trader in Onitsha market wants to know how much profit she made this week. Copilot helps her calculate it quickly.

Illustration:

  +----------------------+
  |   Microsoft Excel    |
  |                      |
  |  +----------------+  |
  |  |   Copilot      |  |
  |  |  (AI Helper)   |  |
  |  +----------------+  |
  |                      |
  |  Your data and work  |
  +----------------------+
  

Mini summary: Copilot is an AI helper inside Microsoft apps. It can do tasks and explain them. It makes Excel easier and faster.

Lesson 2: How Copilot Works Inside Excel

Definition: Copilot works by reading your question in plain English and looking at your Excel data to give a helpful answer or action.

Why it is important: You do not need to memorise every formula. You can just ask Copilot in normal words.

Simple explanation: Think of Copilot as a translator. You speak in normal words, and Copilot translates your words into Excel formulas or actions.

Real-life example: You say, “Add up these numbers,” and Copilot gives you =SUM(...).

School example: You say, “Find the highest score,” and Copilot gives you =MAX(...).

Home example: You say, “Show my spending as a chart,” and Copilot makes a chart.

Nigerian example: You say, “Show me which customer bought the most,” and Copilot finds it for you.

Illustration:

  You type: "Add up column B"
        |
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  Copilot reads your data
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  Copilot writes: =SUM(B2:B10)
        |
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  Total appears in your sheet
  

Mini summary: Copilot reads your question and your data, then gives a helpful answer or action. You speak in plain English.

Lesson 3: Opening Copilot in Excel

Definition: Opening Copilot means finding and clicking the button that shows the Copilot panel inside Excel.

Why it is important: You cannot use Copilot until you open it.

Simple explanation: Like opening a door to let a helper into your room.

Real-life example: Turning on a fan before you feel the breeze.

School example: Opening your textbook before you start reading.

Home example: Switching on the light before you enter a room.

Nigerian example: Opening the shop door before customers come in.

Illustration:

  Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel
        |
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  Step 2: Look at the top ribbon
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  Step 3: Find the "Copilot" button
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  Step 4: Click it
        |
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  Copilot panel opens on the right side
  

Step-by-step:

1. Open Microsoft Excel on your computer.
2. Look at the top of the screen (the ribbon).
3. Find the button that says “Copilot” (it may have a colourful icon).
4. Click the button.
5. A panel will open on the right side of the screen.
6. You can now type questions in the box at the bottom of the panel.

Mini summary: Open Copilot by clicking the Copilot button in the Excel ribbon. The panel opens on the right side.

Lesson 4: Reviewing Basic Excel Skills

Definition: Before using Copilot, let us remember what a cell, row, column, and sheet are.

Why it is important: Copilot works with these basic parts. If you know them, you can understand Copilot’s answers.

Simple explanation: Excel is like a big table. A cell is one small box. A row goes across. A column goes down. A sheet is a page of cells.

Real-life example: A school register. Each student’s name is in a cell. Names go down a column. Subjects go across a row.

School example: Your class list. Name in column A, age in column B, score in column C.

Home example: A shopping list. Item in column A, price in column B.

Nigerian example: A market record. Trader name in column A, goods in column B, price in column C.

Illustration:

       A          B          C
   +--------+--------+--------+
   |  Name  |  Age   |  Score |
   +--------+--------+--------+
 1 |  Ada   |   13   |   85   |
   +--------+--------+--------+
 2 | Tunde  |   14   |   90   |
   +--------+--------+--------+
 3 | Chidi  |   13   |   78   |
   +--------+--------+--------+

  A, B, C are columns.
  1, 2, 3 are rows.
  Each box (e.g., A1) is a cell.
  

Table of basic terms:

Term	Simple Meaning
Cell	One small box in Excel.
Row	A line of cells going across.
Column	A line of cells going down.
Sheet	A page of cells.
Workbook	A file with one or more sheets.

Mini summary: Cells, rows, columns, and sheets are the basic parts of Excel. Copilot uses them to help you.

Lesson 5: Asking Copilot Simple Questions

Definition: Asking Copilot means typing a question in plain English in the Copilot box.

Why it is important: The better your question, the better Copilot’s answer.

Simple explanation: Like asking a teacher a clear question. If you mumble, the teacher may not understand.

Real-life example: Asking a shopkeeper, “How much is this rice?”

School example: Asking your teacher, “What is the formula for average?”

Home example: Asking your mum, “How do I cook rice?”

Nigerian example: Asking a trader, “How much for two cups of beans?”

Illustration:

  Good questions:
  - "Add up the numbers in column B"
  - "What is the average of C2 to C10?"
  - "Show me a chart of sales"
  - "Which student has the highest score?"

  Not-so-good questions:
  - "Do something"
  - "Help"
  - "Fix it"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Click inside the Copilot box.
2. Type your question in plain English.
3. Press Enter or click Send.
4. Read Copilot’s answer.
5. If needed, ask a follow-up question.

Mini summary: Ask Copilot clear, simple questions. The clearer the question, the better the answer.

Lesson 6: Understanding Copilot’s Answers

Definition: Copilot’s answers can be formulas, explanations, or suggestions.

Why it is important: You need to understand the answer before using it.

Simple explanation: Copilot is like a friend who gives you advice. You should think about the advice before following it.

Real-life example: A doctor gives you medicine. You should understand what it is for before taking it.

School example: A teacher gives you a formula. You should understand it before using it in an exam.

Home example: A recipe says “add salt.” You should know how much salt to add.

Nigerian example: A trader tells you the price of yams. You should check if it is fair before buying.

Illustration:

  Copilot answer types:
  +--> Formula (e.g., =SUM(B2:B10))
  +--> Explanation (e.g., "SUM adds numbers")
  +--> Suggestion (e.g., "Try a bar chart")
  +--> Step-by-step guide
  

Mini summary: Copilot gives formulas, explanations, and suggestions. Read and understand them before using them.

Lesson 7: Using Copilot Suggestions Safely

Definition: Using suggestions safely means checking Copilot’s answers before applying them.

Why it is important: Copilot is smart, but it can make mistakes. You are still in charge.

Simple explanation: Like wearing a seatbelt. The car is safe, but you still protect yourself.

Real-life example: A GPS gives directions. You still watch the road.

School example: A calculator gives an answer. You still check your work.

Home example: A recipe says “bake for 20 minutes.” You still check the oven.

Nigerian example: A POS machine shows an amount. You still confirm it before paying.

Illustration:

  Copilot suggests: =SUM(B2:B10)
        |
        V
  Check: Are B2 to B10 the right cells?
        |
        +-- Yes --> Use it
        |
        +-- No  --> Ask Copilot to fix it
  

Mini summary: Always check Copilot’s answers. You are the boss. Copilot is your helper.

Lesson 8: Privacy and Safety Tips

Definition: Privacy means keeping your personal information safe. Safety means using Copilot without causing harm.

Why it is important: Your data belongs to you. You should not share private information carelessly.

Simple explanation: Like not telling strangers your home address.

Real-life example: A bank tells you never to share your PIN with anyone.

School example: You do not share your exam answers with others.

Home example: You do not give your house keys to strangers.

Nigerian example: You do not share your BVN or bank details with unknown people.

Illustration:

  Privacy and Safety Rules:
  +-- Do not type passwords into Copilot
  +-- Do not share personal details (address, phone)
  +-- Do not share bank details
  +-- Only use Copilot in your Microsoft account
  +-- Ask a parent or teacher if unsure
  

Mini summary: Keep your private information safe. Do not share passwords, addresses, or bank details with Copilot.

Lesson 9: Copilot and Your Data

Definition: Copilot looks at the data in your Excel sheet to give helpful answers.

Why it is important: Copilot can only help if your data is organised.

Simple explanation: Like a librarian. If your books are organised, the librarian can find them quickly.

Real-life example: A shop with labelled shelves is easier to manage.

School example: A notebook with clear headings is easier to study.

Home example: A kitchen with labelled containers is easier to cook in.

Nigerian example: A market stall with goods arranged in sections is easier to sell from.

Illustration:

  Good data for Copilot:
  +--------+--------+--------+
  | Name   | Age    | Score  |
  +--------+--------+--------+
  | Ada    | 13     | 85     |
  | Tunde  | 14     | 90     |
  +--------+--------+--------+

  Headings in row 1.
  Data below.
  No empty rows in the middle.
  

Mini summary: Organise your data with clear headings. Copilot works best with tidy data.

Lesson 10: What Copilot Can and Cannot Do

Definition: Copilot can do many things, but it has limits.

Why it is important: Knowing the limits helps you use Copilot wisely.

Simple explanation: Like a bicycle. It can take you to school, but it cannot fly.

Real-life example: A calculator can add numbers but cannot cook food.

School example: A dictionary can give meanings but cannot write your essay.

Home example: A blender can make smoothies but cannot wash itself.

Nigerian example: A POS machine can take payments but cannot sell goods by itself.

Illustration:

  Copilot CAN:
  +-- Write formulas
  +-- Explain formulas
  +-- Suggest charts
  +-- Clean data
  +-- Answer Excel questions

  Copilot CANNOT:
  +-- Replace your thinking
  +-- Guarantee 100% correct answers
  +-- Access private data without permission
  +-- Work without Excel open
  

Table of abilities:

Can Do	Cannot Do
Write formulas	Think for you
Explain formulas	Guarantee perfect answers
Suggest charts	Use data without permission
Clean data	Replace your learning

Mini summary: Copilot is powerful but not perfect. It helps you, but you are still the boss.

Lesson 11: Getting Help from Copilot

Definition: Getting help means asking Copilot when you are stuck.

Why it is important: Everyone gets stuck sometimes. Copilot is there to help.

Simple explanation: Like raising your hand in class when you do not understand.

Real-life example: Asking a colleague for help at work.

School example: Asking a teacher to explain a difficult topic.

Home example: Asking an elder brother or sister for help.

Nigerian example: Asking a fellow trader for advice in the market.

Illustration:

  You are stuck on a formula
        |
        V
  Ask Copilot: "How do I add only the numbers above 50?"
        |
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  Copilot replies: "Use =SUMIF(B2:B10, ">50")"
        |
        V
  You try it and it works!
  

Mini summary: Ask Copilot when you are stuck. It is patient and always ready to help.

Lesson 12: Common Mistakes for Beginners

Definition: Mistakes happen. Knowing them helps you avoid them.

Why it is important: Learning from mistakes is part of becoming an expert.

Simple explanation: Like learning to ride a bike. You may fall, but you get up and try again.

Real-life example: Forgetting to save your work before closing.

School example: Forgetting to write your name on an exam.

Home example: Forgetting to turn off the tap.

Nigerian example: Forgetting to collect your change in a taxi.

Table of common mistakes:

Mistake	What Happens	How to Fix
Asking vague questions	Copilot gives unclear answers	Ask clearly
Using Copilot’s formula without checking	Wrong results	Check the range
Sharing private data	Privacy risk	Keep data safe
Not saving work	Lose data	Save often
Ignoring Copilot’s explanation	Don’t learn	Read and understand

Mini summary: Common mistakes include vague questions and unchecked formulas. Learn from them and improve.

Lesson 13: Best Practices for Using Copilot

Definition: Best practices are good habits that make using Copilot easy and safe.

Why it is important: Good habits save time and prevent problems.

Simple explanation: Like brushing your teeth daily. Small habits make a big difference.

Real-life example: Keeping your workspace tidy.

School example: Writing neatly in your notebook.

Home example: Washing plates after eating.

Nigerian example: Keeping your market stall organised.

List of best practices:

• Organise your data before asking Copilot.
• Ask clear, simple questions.
• Read Copilot’s explanations.
• Check formulas before using them.
• Save your work often.
• Keep private data safe.
• Practice every day.
• Ask a teacher or parent if unsure.

Mini summary: Good habits make Copilot easier and safer. Organise, ask clearly, check, and save.

Lesson 14: Your First Copilot Practice

Let’s do a simple practice with Copilot.

Step 1: Open Excel and type this data:

  +--------+--------+
  | Name   | Score  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Ada    | 85     |
  | Tunde  | 90     |
  | Chidi  | 78     |
  | Ngozi  | 92     |
  +--------+--------+
  

Step 2: Open Copilot.

Step 3: Ask: “What is the total of the scores?”

Step 4: Copilot will give a formula like =SUM(B2:B5).

Step 5: Ask: “What is the average score?”

Step 6: Copilot will give =AVERAGE(B2:B5).

Step 7: Ask: “Who has the highest score?”

Step 8: Copilot will explain and give =MAX(B2:B5).

Step 9: Read each explanation and check the formulas.

Step 10: Save your work.

Mini summary: Practice with simple data. Ask questions. Read explanations. Check answers. Save your work.

Lesson 15: Putting It All Together – A Small Workbook

Let’s create a small workbook using everything we learned.

Project: My Class Marks Sheet

Step 1: Open Excel and create a new sheet.

Step 2: Type these headings:

  A1: Name
  B1: Maths
  C1: English
  D1: Science
  E1: Total
  F1: Average
  

Step 3: Enter data for five students.

Step 4: Ask Copilot: “Add the Maths, English, and Science scores for each student in column E.”

Step 5: Ask Copilot: “Calculate the average for each student in column F.”

Step 6: Ask Copilot: “Which student has the highest total?”

Step 7: Ask Copilot: “Show the totals as a bar chart.”

Step 8: Save the workbook as “My_Class_Marks”.

Illustration:

  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+
  | Name   | Maths | English | Science | Total | Average |
  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+
  | Ada    | 85    | 90      | 88      | 263   | 87.7    |
  | Tunde  | 90    | 85      | 92      | 267   | 89.0    |
  | Chidi  | 78    | 80      | 75      | 233   | 77.7    |
  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+
  

Mini summary: This project uses headings, data, Copilot formulas, and a chart. It is a complete beginner’s workbook.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Simple Definition
Copilot	An AI helper inside Microsoft apps.
AI	Artificial Intelligence. A computer that can think and answer.
Cell	One small box in Excel.
Row	A line of cells going across.
Column	A line of cells going down.
Sheet	A page of cells.
Workbook	A file with one or more sheets.
Formula	A maths instruction in Excel (e.g., =SUM).
Prompt	The question you type to Copilot.
Ribbon	The bar at the top of Excel with buttons.
Panel	The side window where Copilot appears.
Privacy	Keeping your personal information safe.
Data	Information in your spreadsheet.
Check	To look at something carefully.
Save	To keep your work so you can use it later.

Important Concepts

• Copilot is a helper: It helps you do things in Excel.
• Plain English: You can ask Copilot in normal words.
• Formulas: Copilot can write and explain them.
• Data organisation: Tidy data helps Copilot help you.
• Safety: Keep private data private.
• Checking: Always check Copilot’s answers.
• Learning: Copilot can teach you as you work.
• Limits: Copilot is not perfect. You are still in charge.

Step-by-step Explanations

How to open Copilot step by step

1. Open Microsoft Excel.
2. Look at the ribbon at the top.
3. Find the “Copilot” button.
4. Click it.
5. The Copilot panel opens on the right.
6. Type your question in the box.

How to ask a good question step by step

1. Think about what you want.
2. Use simple, clear words.
3. Mention the columns or cells.
4. Type the question in the Copilot box.
5. Press Enter or click Send.
6. Read the answer.

How to check Copilot’s formula step by step

1. Read the formula Copilot gives.
2. Check the cell range (e.g., B2:B10).
3. Make sure the range covers the right cells.
4. Ask Copilot to explain the formula if unsure.
5. Try the formula in a small test.
6. If correct, use it in your sheet.

Real-life Examples

• Shops: Track sales and profits with Copilot help.
• Schools: Calculate student averages and totals.
• Homes: Track monthly budgets and expenses.
• Offices: Summarise reports and create charts.
• Farmers: Record harvest and sales.

Nigerian Examples

• Market traders: Track goods and prices with Copilot.
• POS operators: Summarise daily transactions.
• Schools in Lagos: Calculate student results.
• Transporters: Track fuel and fares.
• Church groups: Record donations and expenses.

Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

• Video game scores: Track your best scores with Copilot.
• Football league: Add up points for each team.
• Pocket money: Track how much you save each week.
• Chores: Make a chart of chores done.
• Snack list: Calculate total cost of snacks.

Everyday Examples

• Shopping list: Add prices with Copilot.
• School timetable: Organise subjects.
• Exercise log: Track daily minutes.
• Reading list: Count books read.
• Grocery budget: Track spending.

Parent Tips

• Encourage your child to explore Excel with Copilot.
• Let them make mistakes. Errors are learning opportunities.
• Use everyday examples (shopping list, budget) to explain.
• Set a small daily practice time.
• Celebrate small wins, like writing a first formula.
• Be patient. Copilot takes time to learn.
• Ask them to teach you what they learned.
• Keep it fun. Use games and stories.
• Remind them to keep private data safe.
• Encourage them to read Copilot’s explanations.

Interesting Facts

• Microsoft Copilot uses AI to understand plain English.
• Copilot can write formulas you have never seen before.
• Copilot can explain formulas in simple words.
• Copilot is built into Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Copilot can suggest charts based on your data.
• Copilot can help you clean messy data.
• Copilot learns from the data you give it in your sheet.
• Microsoft keeps improving Copilot every month.

Did You Know?

• Did you know that Copilot can write a formula just from your words?
• Did you know that Copilot can explain what a formula does?
• Did you know that Copilot can suggest a chart type for your data?
• Did you know that Copilot works best with tidy data?
• Did you know that you should never share passwords with Copilot?
• Did you know that Copilot can help you learn Excel faster?
• Did you know that Copilot is available in many Microsoft apps?
• Did you know that Copilot can save you hours of work?

Remember This

• Copilot is an AI helper inside Excel.
• You can ask Copilot in plain English.
• Copilot writes formulas, explains them, and suggests charts.
• Organise your data before asking Copilot.
• Always check Copilot’s answers.
• Keep private data safe.
• Save your work often.
• Practice every day.
• Copilot is a helper, not the boss.
• You are still in charge.

Common Mistakes

• Asking vague questions.
• Using formulas without checking the range.
• Sharing private data.
• Not saving your work.
• Ignoring Copilot’s explanations.
• Forgetting to open Copilot first.
• Typing in the wrong cell.
• Not reading error messages.

Best Practices

• Organise data with clear headings.
• Ask clear, simple questions.
• Read Copilot’s explanations.
• Check formulas before using them.
• Save your work often.
• Keep private data safe.
• Practice every day.
• Ask a teacher or parent if unsure.
• Use Copilot to learn, not just to get answers.
• Have fun while learning.

Illustrations and Diagrams

Excel Window with Copilot Panel

  +--------------------------------------------------+
  |  Ribbon: [Home] [Insert] [Copilot] ...           |
  +--------------------------------------------------+
  |                                                  |
  |   A       B       C       D                      |
  | +------+------+------+------+   +--------------+ |
  | | Name | Age  | Score|      |   |  Copilot     | |
  | +------+------+------+------+   |              | |
  | | Ada  | 13   | 85   |      |   | Ask me...    | |
  | | Tunde| 14   | 90   |      |   |              | |
  | | Chidi| 13   | 78   |      |   | [Send]       | |
  | +------+------+------+------+   +--------------+ |
  |                                                  |
  +--------------------------------------------------+
  

How Copilot Helps

  You ask a question
        |
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  Copilot reads your data
        |
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  Copilot gives an answer
        |
        V
  You check the answer
        |
        V
  You use it in Excel
        |
        V
  Task done 🎉
  

Decision Flowchart: Should I use Copilot?

  Start
    |
    V
  Do I need help with Excel?
    |
    +-- Yes --> Open Copilot
    |
    +-- No  --> Work directly
    |
    V
  Ask a clear question
    |
    V
  Read the answer
    |
    V
  Check the answer
    |
    +-- Correct --> Use it
    |
    +-- Wrong   --> Ask again
    |
    V
  Done
  

Your Learning Journey

  Module One: Getting Ready with Copilot
        |
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  Module Two: Writing Formulas with Copilot
        |
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  Module Three: Cleaning and Organising Data
        |
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  Module Four: Analysing Data with Copilot
        |
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  Module Five: Charts and Visuals with Copilot
        |
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  Module Six: Automation and Real-World Projects
        |
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  Copilot in Excel Expert 🎉
  

Comparison Tables

Copilot vs Doing It Yourself

Feature	Copilot	Doing It Yourself
Speed	Very fast	Slower
Learning	Explains as it goes	You must know it
Accuracy	Usually correct	Depends on you
Best for	Beginners and speed	Full control

Cell vs Row vs Column

Term	What It Is	Example
Cell	One box	A1
Row	Line across	Row 1
Column	Line down	Column A

Good vs Bad Questions

Good Question	Bad Question
“Add up column B”	“Do something”
“What is the average of C2 to C10?”	“Help”
“Show sales as a chart”	“Fix it”

Safe vs Unsafe Data to Share

Safe to Share with Copilot	Unsafe to Share
School marks	Passwords
Market prices	Bank details
Chore lists	Home address

Lesson Summaries

Lesson 1: Copilot is an AI helper inside Microsoft apps.

Lesson 2: Copilot reads your question and your data to help you.

Lesson 3: Open Copilot by clicking the Copilot button in the ribbon.

Lesson 4: Cells, rows, columns, and sheets are the basic parts of Excel.

Lesson 5: Ask Copilot clear, simple questions.

Lesson 6: Copilot gives formulas, explanations, and suggestions.

Lesson 7: Always check Copilot’s answers before using them.

Lesson 8: Keep private data safe. Never share passwords.

Lesson 9: Organise your data with clear headings.

Lesson 10: Copilot is powerful but not perfect.

Lesson 11: Ask Copilot when you are stuck.

Lesson 12: Common mistakes include vague questions and unchecked formulas.

Lesson 13: Best practices: organise, ask clearly, check, save.

Lesson 14: Practice with simple data and Copilot.

Lesson 15: Build a small class marks sheet with Copilot.

End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have finished Module One of Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two. You learned what Copilot is, how it works inside Excel, and how to open it. You reviewed basic Excel skills like cells, rows, columns, and sheets. You learned how to ask Copilot simple questions and how to understand its answers. You learned how to use Copilot safely and how to keep your private data safe. You practised with simple data and built a small class marks sheet. You now know common mistakes and best practices. Most importantly, you are ready to use Copilot as your friendly helper in Excel. Keep practising, and you will become a Copilot in Excel expert!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Copilot? An AI helper inside Microsoft apps like Excel.
2. How do I open Copilot in Excel? Click the Copilot button in the ribbon.
3. Do I need to know formulas? No. Copilot can write them for you.
4. Can Copilot make mistakes? Yes. Always check its answers.
5. Is Copilot safe? Yes, if you keep private data private.
6. What is a cell? One small box in Excel.
7. What is a formula? A maths instruction in Excel.
8. Can Copilot explain formulas? Yes, in simple words.
9. What should I not share with Copilot? Passwords, bank details, and home address.
10. How do I get better at using Copilot? Practice every day.

Matching Exercises

Match the word to its definition.

Word	Definition
1. Copilot	A. One small box in Excel.
2. Cell	B. An AI helper in Microsoft apps.
3. Formula	C. A page of cells.
4. Sheet	D. A maths instruction in Excel.
5. Ribbon	E. The bar at the top of Excel with buttons.

Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C, 5-E

Scenario-based Exercises

1. Scenario: You want to add up your pocket money for the week. What do you ask Copilot?
   Answer: “Add up column B.”
2. Scenario: You want to know the highest score in your class. What do you ask Copilot?
   Answer: “What is the highest score?”
3. Scenario: You are stuck on a formula. What do you do?
   Answer: Ask Copilot to explain it.
4. Scenario: You want to see your data as a chart. What do you ask Copilot?
   Answer: “Show this as a bar chart.”
5. Scenario: Copilot gives you a formula. What should you do before using it?
   Answer: Check the range and the formula.

Group Activity

Title: “Build a Class Marks Sheet Together”

Instructions: In groups of 3–4, create a class marks sheet in Excel. Use Copilot to add up scores, find averages, and make a chart. One person types, one person asks Copilot, one person checks the answers, and one person presents. Share your sheet with the class.

Goal: Practice opening Copilot, asking questions, and checking answers.

Individual Activity

Task: Create a small Excel sheet with your five favourite foods and their prices. Use Copilot to add up the prices. Then ask Copilot to explain the formula it used.

Hint: Type the foods in column A and prices in column B.

Mini Project

Project: “My Pocket Money Tracker”

Create an Excel sheet to track your pocket money for one week. Use columns for Day, Money In, Money Out, and Balance. Use Copilot to:

• Add up all money in.
• Add up all money out.
• Calculate your balance.
• Make a simple chart.

Example output:

  +--------+----------+-----------+---------+
  | Day    | Money In | Money Out | Balance |
  +--------+----------+-----------+---------+
  | Monday | 500      | 200       | 300     |
  | Tuesday| 300      | 100       | 200     |
  +--------+----------+-----------+---------+
  

Practical Assignment

Assignment: Create a new Excel workbook called About_Me. In the workbook, do the following:

1. Type your name, age, and three favourite subjects in cells A1 to A5.
2. Type three scores in cells B1 to B3.
3. Open Copilot.
4. Ask Copilot to add up the scores.
5. Ask Copilot to find the average score.
6. Ask Copilot to explain the average formula.
7. Save the workbook.

Submit: Your workbook file and a screenshot of the Copilot panel with the answers.

Key Takeaways

• Copilot is an AI helper inside Microsoft Excel.
• You can ask Copilot in plain English.
• Copilot writes formulas, explains them, and suggests charts.
• Organise your data before asking Copilot.
• Always check Copilot’s answers.
• Keep private data safe.
• Save your work often.
• Practice every day.
• Copilot is a helper, not the boss.
• You are on your way to becoming a Copilot in Excel expert.

Classroom Discussion Questions

1. What is Copilot?
2. How does Copilot help in Excel?
3. Why should we organise our data?
4. Why should we check Copilot’s answers?
5. What data should we never share with Copilot?
6. What is the difference between a cell and a sheet?
7. How do you open Copilot in Excel?
8. What makes a good question for Copilot?
9. What can Copilot do and what can it not do?
10. What did Ada learn from her first day with Copilot?

Preparation for Module Two

In Module Two, we will learn how to write formulas with Copilot. We will cover:

• Asking Copilot to create formulas.
• SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, and MAX with Copilot.
• IF and IFERROR formulas.
• COUNTIF and SUMIF formulas.
• VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP basics.
• Fixing broken formulas with Copilot.
• Explaining formulas in simple words.
• Building a marks sheet with Copilot.

To prepare, make sure you have completed the practical assignment and can open Copilot in Excel. Review your notes on cells, rows, columns, and sheets. Bring your curiosity!

See you in Module Two!

---

End of Module One – Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two

Module Two: Writing Formulas with Copilot – Let the Robot Do the Maths

“Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two” – Take your Excel skills to the next level

Module Introduction

Welcome back, young Excel explorer! In Module One, you learned what Copilot is, how to open it, and how to ask simple questions. You also reviewed cells, rows, columns, and sheets.

Now it is time for the fun part: writing formulas. Formulas are the maths instructions in Excel. They tell Excel what to calculate. In the old days, you had to memorise every formula. But with Copilot, you can just ask in plain English, and Copilot writes the formula for you.

In this module, we will learn how to use Copilot to write formulas for adding, averaging, counting, and making decisions. We will learn SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, IF, IFERROR, COUNTIF, SUMIF, VLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP. We will also learn how to fix broken formulas and how to ask Copilot to explain formulas in simple words.

By the end, you will be able to build a complete marks sheet using Copilot. You will be faster and more confident in Excel. Let’s begin!

Learning Objectives

After finishing this module, you will be able to:

• Ask Copilot to create formulas in plain English.
• Use SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, and MAX with Copilot.
• Use IF and IFERROR formulas with Copilot.
• Use COUNTIF and SUMIF formulas with Copilot.
• Understand VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP basics.
• Fix broken formulas with Copilot.
• Ask Copilot to explain formulas in simple words.
• Build a complete marks sheet with Copilot.
• Recognize common mistakes and best practices.
• Complete a mini project and practical assignment.

Warm-up Story: Tunde’s Marks Sheet Trouble

Tunde is a clever boy in Abuja. His teacher asked him to prepare a marks sheet for the class. Tunde has 40 students and 5 subjects. He needs to add up each student’s scores, find the average, and decide who passed and who failed.

Tunde started typing formulas by hand. He typed =SUM(B2:F2) for the first student. Then he dragged it down. But some students had missing scores, and the average was wrong. Then he tried IF for pass or fail, but he made a small mistake with the commas. The whole sheet showed errors!

Tunde was frustrated. Then his friend Ada said, “Tunde, why don’t you ask Copilot? It can write the formulas for you.”

Tunde opened Copilot and typed: “Add up the scores from column B to column F for each student.” Copilot gave him the correct formula. He asked: “What is the average?” Copilot gave him =AVERAGE(B2:F2). He asked: “Show PASS if the average is 50 or above, else FAIL.” Copilot gave him =IF(G2>=50, "PASS", "FAIL").

In minutes, Tunde’s marks sheet was complete. Every student had a total, an average, and a pass or fail result. His teacher was impressed. Tunde learned that Copilot is like a patient maths tutor who never gets tired.

Moral of the story: Copilot can write any formula for you if you ask clearly. It saves time and prevents mistakes. You just need to know what you want to calculate.

Main Lessons

Lesson 1: Asking Copilot to Create a Formula

Definition: Asking Copilot to create a formula means typing what you want to calculate in plain English, and Copilot gives you the Excel formula.

Why it is important: You do not need to memorise formulas. Copilot writes them for you.

Simple explanation: Imagine you want to know the total of your pocket money. You tell Copilot, “Add up my money,” and it gives you the formula.

Real-life example: A shopkeeper says, “Add up all sales today.” Copilot gives the formula.

School example: A teacher says, “Find the average score.” Copilot writes it.

Home example: A parent says, “Add up the grocery prices.” Copilot helps.

Nigerian example: A trader says, “Add up the price of all the yams I sold.” Copilot gives the total formula.

Illustration:

  You type: "Add up the numbers in B2 to B10"
        |
        V
  Copilot gives: =SUM(B2:B10)
        |
        V
  You paste it into the cell
        |
        V
  Total appears
  

Step-by-step:

1. Click inside the Copilot box.
2. Type what you want to calculate in plain English.
3. Press Enter.
4. Read Copilot’s formula.
5. Copy the formula into the cell you want.
6. Press Enter to see the result.

Mini summary: Ask Copilot in plain English. It gives you the formula. Copy it into your sheet and see the result.

Lesson 2: SUM – Adding Numbers with Copilot

Definition: SUM is a formula that adds numbers together.

Why it is important: Adding is the most common calculation in Excel.

Simple explanation: Imagine you have five plates of rice. Each plate has some grains. SUM counts all the grains together.

Real-life example: Adding the prices of items in a shopping basket.

School example: Adding test scores to get a total.

Home example: Adding your weekly pocket money.

Nigerian example: Adding the money from all your sales in the market today.

Illustration:

  +--------+--------+
  | Item   | Price  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Rice   | 500    |
  | Beans  | 300    |
  | Oil    | 700    |
  +--------+--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Add up the prices"
  Copilot gives: =SUM(B2:B4)
  Result: 1500
  

Step-by-step:

1. Type the numbers in a column.
2. Ask Copilot: “Add up the prices in column B.”
3. Copilot gives =SUM(B2:B4).
4. Click an empty cell below the numbers.
5. Type the formula and press Enter.
6. The total appears.

Mini summary: SUM adds numbers. Ask Copilot to write it. Type =SUM(range) in a cell.

Lesson 3: AVERAGE, MIN, and MAX with Copilot

Definition: AVERAGE finds the middle value. MIN finds the smallest. MAX finds the largest.

Why it is important: These three help you understand your data quickly.

Simple explanation: Imagine a race. MIN is the slowest runner. MAX is the fastest. AVERAGE is the typical speed of all runners.

Real-life example: Finding the cheapest item in the market.

School example: Finding the highest score in the class.

Home example: Finding the average electricity bill for three months.

Nigerian example: Finding the highest price a customer paid for your goods.

Illustration:

  Scores: 85, 90, 78, 92

  Ask Copilot: "What is the average?"
  Copilot: =AVERAGE(B2:B5)
  Result: 86.25

  Ask Copilot: "What is the lowest score?"
  Copilot: =MIN(B2:B5)
  Result: 78

  Ask Copilot: "What is the highest score?"
  Copilot: =MAX(B2:B5)
  Result: 92
  

Step-by-step:

1. Type the numbers in a column.
2. Ask Copilot for the average, minimum, or maximum.
3. Copilot gives the formula.
4. Type it in an empty cell.
5. Press Enter to see the result.

Mini summary: AVERAGE, MIN, and MAX help you understand your data. Ask Copilot to write them.

Lesson 4: IF – Making Decisions in Excel

Definition: IF checks a condition and shows one thing if true and another if false.

Why it is important: It lets your sheet make decisions automatically.

Simple explanation: Like a teacher saying, “If you score 50 or more, you pass. If not, you fail.”

Real-life example: A shop giving a discount if the customer buys more than 10 items.

School example: Showing PASS or FAIL based on score.

Home example: Showing “Buy more” if milk is finished, else “Enough milk.”

Nigerian example: A trader saying, “If the customer buys 5 or more, give a discount.”

Illustration:

  +--------+--------+
  | Name   | Score  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Ada    | 85     |
  | Tunde  | 45     |
  +--------+--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Show PASS if score is 50 or above, else FAIL"
  Copilot: =IF(B2>=50, "PASS", "FAIL")
  

Step-by-step:

1. Type the data in columns.
2. Ask Copilot for the IF formula.
3. Copilot gives =IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false).
4. Type it in the cell next to the first row.
5. Drag it down for all rows.

Mini summary: IF makes decisions. Use =IF(condition, true_value, false_value). Ask Copilot to write it.

Lesson 5: IFERROR – Handling Errors Gracefully

Definition: IFERROR shows a friendly message instead of an error like #DIV/0! or #N/A.

Why it is important: Errors look ugly. IFERROR makes your sheet clean and professional.

Simple explanation: Like a polite person who says, “Sorry, I don’t know,” instead of shouting.

Real-life example: An ATM saying “Insufficient funds” instead of showing a scary error code.

School example: A teacher writing “Absent” instead of leaving the score blank.

Home example: A fridge showing “Empty” instead of a blinking light.

Nigerian example: A POS machine showing “Transaction failed” instead of a confusing code.

Illustration:

  Without IFERROR:
  =A2/B2  -->  #DIV/0!

  With IFERROR:
  =IFERROR(A2/B2, "Not available")
  -->  Not available
  

Step-by-step:

1. Write the formula that might fail.
2. Wrap it in IFERROR.
3. Give a friendly message as the second part.
4. Ask Copilot: “Wrap this formula in IFERROR.”

Mini summary: IFERROR replaces errors with friendly messages. Use =IFERROR(formula, "message").

Lesson 6: COUNTIF – Counting with a Condition

Definition: COUNTIF counts how many cells meet a condition.

Why it is important: It helps you count specific things quickly.

Simple explanation: Like counting how many students scored above 70 in a class.

Real-life example: Counting how many customers bought rice today.

School example: Counting how many students passed.

Home example: Counting how many days it rained this month.

Nigerian example: Counting how many bags of rice you sold above ₦10,000.

Illustration:

  Scores: 85, 45, 90, 78, 92

  Ask Copilot: "Count how many scores are above 70"
  Copilot: =COUNTIF(B2:B6, ">70")
  Result: 4
  

Step-by-step:

1. Type the numbers in a column.
2. Ask Copilot for the COUNTIF formula.
3. Copilot gives =COUNTIF(range, condition).
4. Type it in an empty cell.
5. Press Enter.

Mini summary: COUNTIF counts cells that meet a condition. Use =COUNTIF(range, condition).

Lesson 7: SUMIF – Adding with a Condition

Definition: SUMIF adds numbers that meet a condition.

Why it is important: It lets you add only the numbers you care about.

Simple explanation: Like adding only the prices of items that cost more than ₦500.

Real-life example: Adding only the sales made by one trader.

School example: Adding only the scores of students in one class.

Home example: Adding only the expenses for food.

Nigerian example: Adding only the money from sales of rice, not beans.

Illustration:

  +--------+--------+
  | Item   | Price  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Rice   | 500    |
  | Beans  | 300    |
  | Rice   | 700    |
  +--------+--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Add only the prices of Rice"
  Copilot: =SUMIF(A2:A4, "Rice", B2:B4)
  Result: 1200
  

Step-by-step:

1. Type the data in columns.
2. Ask Copilot for the SUMIF formula.
3. Copilot gives =SUMIF(range, condition, sum_range).
4. Type it in an empty cell.
5. Press Enter.

Mini summary: SUMIF adds numbers that meet a condition. Use =SUMIF(range, condition, sum_range).

Lesson 8: VLOOKUP – Finding Information

Definition: VLOOKUP looks for a value in the first column of a table and returns a value from another column in the same row.

Why it is important: It saves time when you need to look up information in a big table.

Simple explanation: Like looking up a student’s name in a register and finding their score.

Real-life example: Looking up a product price in a price list.

School example: Looking up a student’s score by their name.

Home example: Looking up a phone number in a contact list.

Nigerian example: Looking up the price of a good in a market price list.

Illustration:

  Price list:
  +--------+--------+
  | Item   | Price  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Rice   | 500    |
  | Beans  | 300    |
  +--------+--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Look up the price of Beans"
  Copilot: =VLOOKUP("Beans", A2:B3, 2, FALSE)
  Result: 300
  

Step-by-step:

1. Make a table with the lookup column first.
2. Ask Copilot for the VLOOKUP formula.
3. Copilot gives =VLOOKUP(value, table, column_number, FALSE).
4. Type it in an empty cell.
5. Press Enter.

Mini summary: VLOOKUP finds information in a table. Use =VLOOKUP(value, table, column, FALSE).

Lesson 9: XLOOKUP – The New and Better Lookup

Definition: XLOOKUP is a newer and more flexible way to look up values.

Why it is important: It can look left or right, and it handles errors better than VLOOKUP.

Simple explanation: Like VLOOKUP but smarter. It can look in any direction.

Real-life example: Looking up a customer’s name from their phone number.

School example: Looking up a subject from a subject code.

Home example: Looking up a recipe from an ingredient.

Nigerian example: Looking up a trader’s name from their stall number.

Illustration:

  Ask Copilot: "Look up the price of Beans using XLOOKUP"
  Copilot: =XLOOKUP("Beans", A2:A3, B2:B3)
  Result: 300
  

Step-by-step:

1. Have your lookup column and result column.
2. Ask Copilot for the XLOOKUP formula.
3. Copilot gives =XLOOKUP(value, lookup_range, result_range).
4. Type it in an empty cell.
5. Press Enter.

Mini summary: XLOOKUP is the modern lookup. Use =XLOOKUP(value, lookup_range, result_range).

Lesson 10: Fixing Broken Formulas with Copilot

Definition: Fixing broken formulas means asking Copilot to correct a formula that is not working.

Why it is important: Everyone makes mistakes. Copilot helps you fix them quickly.

Simple explanation: Like asking a teacher to correct your maths working.

Real-life example: A mechanic fixing a car engine.

School example: A teacher correcting your essay.

Home example: A parent fixing a broken toy.

Nigerian example: A technician fixing a faulty generator.

Illustration:

  Broken formula: =SUM(B2:B10
        |
        V
  Ask Copilot: "Fix this formula: =SUM(B2:B10"
        |
        V
  Copilot: =SUM(B2:B10)
        |
        V
  It works!
  

Step-by-step:

1. Copy the broken formula.
2. Paste it into the Copilot box.
3. Ask: “Fix this formula.”
4. Copilot gives the corrected formula.
5. Replace the old formula with the new one.

Mini summary: Copilot can fix broken formulas. Just paste the formula and ask for help.

Lesson 11: Asking Copilot to Explain a Formula

Definition: Explaining a formula means understanding what it does in simple words.

Why it is important: If you understand the formula, you can use it wisely and learn from it.

Simple explanation: Like a teacher explaining a maths rule step by step.

Real-life example: A doctor explaining what a medicine does.

School example: A teacher explaining a science experiment.

Home example: A parent explaining how to cook a dish.

Nigerian example: A trader explaining how to calculate profit.

Illustration:

  You ask Copilot: "Explain =IF(B2>=50, "PASS", "FAIL")"
        |
        V
  Copilot: "This formula checks if the value in B2 is 50 or more.
            If it is, it shows PASS. If not, it shows FAIL."
        |
        V
  You understand it!
  

Step-by-step:

1. Copy the formula you want to understand.
2. Paste it into the Copilot box.
3. Ask: “Explain this formula.”
4. Read Copilot’s explanation.
5. Ask follow-up questions if needed.

Mini summary: Ask Copilot to explain formulas. It breaks them down into simple words.

Lesson 12: Combining Formulas with Copilot

Definition: Combining formulas means using one formula inside another.

Why it is important: You can do more complex calculations with one formula.

Simple explanation: Like stacking blocks on top of each other to build a tower.

Real-life example: Calculating the average and then checking if it passes.

School example: Adding scores and then deciding pass or fail.

Home example: Adding expenses and then checking if you saved money.

Nigerian example: Adding all sales and then calculating the tax.

Illustration:

  Ask Copilot: "Show PASS if the average of B2 to F2 is 50 or above"
        |
        V
  Copilot: =IF(AVERAGE(B2:F2)>=50, "PASS", "FAIL")
        |
        V
  It works!
  

Step-by-step:

1. Think about the full calculation you want.
2. Ask Copilot for the combined formula.
3. Copilot gives the formula.
4. Type it in the cell.
5. Press Enter.

Mini summary: Combining formulas does more in one step. Ask Copilot for the full formula.

Lesson 13: Common Mistakes with Formulas

Definition: Mistakes happen. Knowing them helps you avoid them.

Why it is important: A small mistake can make the whole formula fail.

Simple explanation: Like forgetting a full stop in a sentence. It changes the meaning.

Real-life example: Forgetting to put the right price tag on an item.

School example: Forgetting a comma in a list.

Home example: Forgetting to add salt while cooking.

Nigerian example: Forgetting to add the last zero when writing a price.

Table of common mistakes:

Mistake	What Happens	How to Fix
Missing closing bracket	Formula error	Add )
Wrong cell range	Wrong result	Check the range
Missing comma	Formula error	Add comma
Wrong condition	Wrong result	Check the condition
Using text instead of numbers	Wrong result	Use numbers
Forgetting quotes around text	Error	Use "PASS" not PASS

Mini summary: Common mistakes include missing brackets, wrong ranges, and missing commas. Check your formula or ask Copilot.

Lesson 14: Best Practices for Writing Formulas with Copilot

Definition: Best practices are good habits that make formulas clean and correct.

Why it is important: Good habits save time and prevent errors.

Simple explanation: Like keeping your desk tidy before starting homework.

Real-life example: A chef preparing ingredients before cooking.

School example: A student reading the question carefully before answering.

Home example: A parent checking the shopping list before going to the market.

Nigerian example: A trader counting goods before opening the stall.

List of best practices:

• Organise your data with clear headings.
• Ask Copilot clear, specific questions.
• Check the cell ranges before using formulas.
• Read Copilot’s explanations.
• Use IFERROR to avoid ugly errors.
• Test formulas on a small set first.
• Save your work often.
• Ask Copilot to explain any formula you do not understand.
• Practice every day.
• Keep private data safe.

Mini summary: Good habits make formulas clean and correct. Organise, ask clearly, check, and test.

Lesson 15: Putting It All Together – A Marks Sheet with Copilot

Let’s build a complete marks sheet using Copilot.

Step 1: Open Excel and create this table:

  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
  | Name   | Maths | English | Science | Total | Average | Result |
  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
  | Ada    | 85    | 90      | 88      |       |         |        |
  | Tunde  | 90    | 85      | 92      |       |         |        |
  | Chidi  | 78    | 80      | 75      |       |         |        |
  | Ngozi  | 92    | 95      | 90      |       |         |        |
  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
  

Step 2: Ask Copilot: “Add up B2, C2, and D2 for column E.”

Step 3: Copilot gives =SUM(B2:D2). Type it in E2 and drag down.

Step 4: Ask Copilot: “Calculate the average in column F.”

Step 5: Copilot gives =AVERAGE(B2:D2). Type it in F2 and drag down.

Step 6: Ask Copilot: “Show PASS if average is 50 or above, else FAIL.”

Step 7: Copilot gives =IF(F2>=50, "PASS", "FAIL"). Type it in G2 and drag down.

Step 8: Ask Copilot: “Which student has the highest total?”

Step 9: Copilot explains how to use =MAX(E2:E5) and =INDEX.

Step 10: Save your workbook.

Illustration:

  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
  | Name   | Maths | English | Science | Total | Average | Result |
  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
  | Ada    | 85    | 90      | 88      | 263   | 87.7    | PASS   |
  | Tunde  | 90    | 85      | 92      | 267   | 89.0    | PASS   |
  | Chidi  | 78    | 80      | 75      | 233   | 77.7    | PASS   |
  | Ngozi  | 92    | 95      | 90      | 277   | 92.3    | PASS   |
  +--------+-------+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
  

Mini summary: This marks sheet uses SUM, AVERAGE, and IF. Copilot wrote every formula. You are now a formula expert!

Key Vocabulary

Word	Simple Definition
Formula	A maths instruction in Excel.
SUM	A formula that adds numbers.
AVERAGE	A formula that finds the middle value.
MIN	A formula that finds the smallest value.
MAX	A formula that finds the largest value.
IF	A formula that makes decisions.
IFERROR	A formula that replaces errors with a friendly message.
COUNTIF	A formula that counts cells meeting a condition.
SUMIF	A formula that adds cells meeting a condition.
VLOOKUP	A formula that looks up values in a table.
XLOOKUP	A newer, smarter lookup formula.
Range	A group of cells (e.g., B2:B10).
Condition	A test that is true or false.
Cell reference	The name of a cell (e.g., A1).
Nested formula	A formula inside another formula.

Important Concepts

• Ask in plain English: Copilot turns your words into formulas.
• Ranges: Formulas work on ranges like B2:B10.
• Conditions: IF and COUNTIF use conditions.
• Errors: IFERROR makes errors friendly.
• Lookups: VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP find information.
• Nesting: Combine formulas for more power.
• Check: Always check Copilot’s formula before using it.
• Explain: Ask Copilot to explain formulas you do not understand.

Step-by-step Explanations

How to get a formula from Copilot step by step

1. Open Copilot in Excel.
2. Type what you want in plain English.
3. Press Enter.
4. Read Copilot’s formula.
5. Check the cell range.
6. Copy the formula into the cell.
7. Press Enter to see the result.

How to use IF step by step

1. Decide the condition (e.g., score >= 50).
2. Decide the true value (e.g., “PASS”).
3. Decide the false value (e.g., “FAIL”).
4. Ask Copilot for the IF formula.
5. Type it in the cell.
6. Drag it down for all rows.

How to use VLOOKUP step by step

1. Make a table with the lookup column first.
2. Decide what value you want to find.
3. Ask Copilot for the VLOOKUP formula.
4. Type it in the cell.
5. Press Enter.
6. Check the result.

How to fix a broken formula step by step

1. Copy the broken formula.
2. Paste it into the Copilot box.
3. Ask: “Fix this formula.”
4. Read Copilot’s corrected formula.
5. Replace the old formula with the new one.
6. Press Enter.

Real-life Examples

• Shops: Add sales, find averages, decide discounts.
• Schools: Calculate totals, averages, and pass/fail.
• Homes: Track budgets and expenses.
• Offices: Summarise reports with COUNTIF and SUMIF.
• Hospitals: Look up patient records with VLOOKUP.

Nigerian Examples

• Market traders: Add sales, count items sold, find best sellers.
• POS operators: Add daily transactions.
• Schools in Lagos: Calculate student results.
• Transporters: Add fuel costs and fares.
• Church groups: Add donations and expenses.

Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

• Video game scores: Add scores, find highest.
• Football league: Add points, find top team.
• Pocket money: Add savings, find average.
• Chores: Count how many chores done.
• Snack list: Add prices, decide if you can afford.

Everyday Examples

• Shopping list: Add prices with SUM.
• School timetable: Count subjects with COUNTIF.
• Exercise log: Average daily minutes.
• Reading list: Count books read.
• Grocery budget: Add expenses, check balance.

Parent Tips

• Encourage your child to explore formulas with Copilot.
• Let them make mistakes. Errors are learning opportunities.
• Use everyday examples (shopping list, budget) to explain.
• Set a small daily practice time.
• Celebrate small wins, like writing a first IF formula.
• Be patient. Formulas take time to learn.
• Ask them to teach you what they learned.
• Keep it fun. Use games and stories.
• Remind them to check Copilot’s answers.
• Encourage them to read Copilot’s explanations.

Interesting Facts

• SUM is one of the most used formulas in the world.
• VLOOKUP has been in Excel for over 30 years.
• XLOOKUP is newer and more powerful than VLOOKUP.
• IF can be nested inside another IF for many choices.
• IFERROR can make any error look friendly.
• COUNTIF and SUMIF are called “conditional” formulas.
• Copilot can write formulas you have never seen before.
• Copilot can explain formulas in simple words.

Did You Know?

• Did you know that Copilot can write a formula just from your words?
• Did you know that SUM can add hundreds of cells at once?
• Did you know that IF can show different messages for different scores?
• Did you know that VLOOKUP can only look to the right?
• Did you know that XLOOKUP can look left or right?
• Did you know that IFERROR can make your sheet look professional?
• Did you know that Copilot can explain any formula you paste?
• Did you know that you can nest many formulas together?

Remember This

• Ask Copilot in plain English to write formulas.
• SUM adds numbers.
• AVERAGE finds the middle value.
• MIN and MAX find the smallest and largest.
• IF makes decisions.
• IFERROR replaces errors with friendly messages.
• COUNTIF counts with a condition.
• SUMIF adds with a condition.
• VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP find information.
• Always check Copilot’s formulas.
• Ask Copilot to explain formulas you do not understand.

Common Mistakes

• Missing closing brackets.
• Wrong cell ranges.
• Missing commas.
• Wrong conditions.
• Forgetting quotes around text.
• Using text instead of numbers.
• Not checking Copilot’s formula.
• Forgetting to drag formulas down.

Best Practices

• Organise data with clear headings.
• Ask clear, specific questions.
• Check cell ranges before using formulas.
• Read Copilot’s explanations.
• Use IFERROR to avoid ugly errors.
• Test formulas on small data first.
• Save your work often.
• Ask Copilot to explain any formula you do not understand.
• Practice every day.
• Keep private data safe.

Illustrations and Diagrams

Formula Flow

  You ask Copilot
        |
        V
  Copilot reads your data
        |
        V
  Copilot gives a formula
        |
        V
  You check the formula
        |
        V
  You paste it into a cell
        |
        V
  Result appears 🎉
  

IF Decision Tree

  Start
    |
    V
  Is score >= 50?
    |
    +-- Yes --> Show "PASS"
    |
    +-- No  --> Show "FAIL"
    |
    V
  End
  

VLOOKUP Illustration

  Lookup value: "Beans"
        |
        V
  Table:
  +--------+--------+
  | Item   | Price  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Rice   | 500    |
  | Beans  | 300    |  <-- found here
  | Oil    | 700    |
  +--------+--------+
        |
        V
  Result: 300
  

Your Learning Journey

  Module One: Getting Ready with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Two: Writing Formulas with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Three: Cleaning and Organising Data
        |
        V
  Module Four: Analysing Data with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Five: Charts and Visuals with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Six: Automation and Real-World Projects
        |
        V
  Copilot in Excel Expert 🎉
  

Comparison Tables

SUM vs AVERAGE vs COUNT

Formula	What It Does	Example
SUM	Adds numbers	=SUM(B2:B10)
AVERAGE	Finds the middle value	=AVERAGE(B2:B10)
COUNT	Counts numbers	=COUNT(B2:B10)

VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP

Feature	VLOOKUP	XLOOKUP
Direction	Only right	Left or right
Error handling	Needs IFERROR	Built-in
Ease	Harder	Easier
Modern	Older	Newer

IF vs IFERROR

Formula	Purpose	Example
IF	Makes decisions	=IF(B2>=50, "PASS", "FAIL")
IFERROR	Replaces errors	=IFERROR(A2/B2, "Not available")

COUNTIF vs SUMIF

Formula	What It Does	Example
COUNTIF	Counts with a condition	=COUNTIF(B2:B10, ">70")
SUMIF	Adds with a condition	=SUMIF(A2:A10, "Rice", B2:B10)

Lesson Summaries

Lesson 1: Ask Copilot in plain English to write formulas.

Lesson 2: SUM adds numbers.

Lesson 3: AVERAGE, MIN, and MAX help you understand data.

Lesson 4: IF makes decisions in Excel.

Lesson 5: IFERROR replaces errors with friendly messages.

Lesson 6: COUNTIF counts cells that meet a condition.

Lesson 7: SUMIF adds cells that meet a condition.

Lesson 8: VLOOKUP finds information in a table.

Lesson 9: XLOOKUP is the modern, smarter lookup.

Lesson 10: Copilot can fix broken formulas.

Lesson 11: Copilot can explain formulas in simple words.

Lesson 12: Combining formulas does more in one step.

Lesson 13: Common mistakes include missing brackets and wrong ranges.

Lesson 14: Best practices: organise, ask clearly, check, test.

Lesson 15: Build a complete marks sheet with SUM, AVERAGE, and IF.

End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have finished Module Two of Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two. You learned how to ask Copilot to write formulas in plain English. You learned SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, and MAX. You learned IF and IFERROR for decisions and error handling. You learned COUNTIF and SUMIF for conditional counting and adding. You learned VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP for finding information. You learned how to fix broken formulas and how to ask Copilot to explain formulas. You built a complete marks sheet using Copilot. You now know common mistakes and best practices. Most importantly, you are now a formula expert with Copilot as your helper. Keep practising, and you will become a Copilot in Excel expert!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a formula? A maths instruction in Excel.
2. How do I get a formula from Copilot? Ask in plain English.
3. What does SUM do? It adds numbers.
4. What does AVERAGE do? It finds the middle value.
5. What does IF do? It makes decisions.
6. What does IFERROR do? It replaces errors with friendly messages.
7. What does COUNTIF do? It counts cells that meet a condition.
8. What does SUMIF do? It adds cells that meet a condition.
9. What is VLOOKUP? It looks up values in a table.
10. What is XLOOKUP? A newer, smarter lookup.

Matching Exercises

Match the formula to what it does.

Formula	What It Does
1. SUM	A. Makes decisions
2. AVERAGE	B. Adds numbers
3. IF	C. Finds the middle value
4. COUNTIF	D. Looks up values
5. VLOOKUP	E. Counts with a condition

Answers: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-E, 5-D

Scenario-based Exercises

1. Scenario: You want to add up your pocket money for the week. What formula do you use?
   Answer: SUM.
2. Scenario: You want to know the average score of your class. What formula do you use?
   Answer: AVERAGE.
3. Scenario: You want to show PASS or FAIL based on score. What formula do you use?
   Answer: IF.
4. Scenario: You want to count how many students scored above 70. What formula do you use?
   Answer: COUNTIF.
5. Scenario: You want to find the price of Beans in a price list. What formula do you use?
   Answer: VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP.

Group Activity

Title: “Build a Class Results Sheet Together”

Instructions: In groups of 3–4, create a class results sheet in Excel. Use Copilot to add totals, find averages, and show PASS/FAIL. One person types, one person asks Copilot, one person checks the answers, and one person presents. Share your sheet with the class.

Goal: Practice SUM, AVERAGE, and IF with Copilot.

Individual Activity

Task: Create a small Excel sheet with five items and their prices. Use Copilot to:

• Add up the prices with SUM.
• Find the average price with AVERAGE.
• Find the highest price with MAX.
• Ask Copilot to explain the SUM formula.

Hint: Type items in column A and prices in column B.

Mini Project

Project: “My Weekly Pocket Money Tracker”

Create an Excel sheet to track your pocket money for one week. Use columns for Day, Money In, Money Out, and Balance. Use Copilot to:

• Add up all money in with SUM.
• Add up all money out with SUM.
• Calculate your balance with a formula.
• Show “SAVED” if balance is above zero, else “OVERS” with IF.
• Wrap any division in IFERROR.

Example output:

  +--------+----------+-----------+---------+--------+
  | Day    | Money In | Money Out | Balance | Status |
  +--------+----------+-----------+---------+--------+
  | Monday | 500      | 200       | 300     | SAVED  |
  | Tuesday| 300      | 100       | 200     | SAVED  |
  +--------+----------+-----------+---------+--------+
  

Practical Assignment

Assignment: Create a new Excel workbook called My_Marks_Sheet. In the workbook, do the following:

1. Create a table with Name, Maths, English, Science, Total, Average, Result.
2. Add five students with scores.
3. Use Copilot to add the Total with SUM.
4. Use Copilot to find the Average with AVERAGE.
5. Use Copilot to show PASS or FAIL with IF.
6. Use Copilot to wrap any error in IFERROR.
7. Ask Copilot to explain the IF formula.
8. Save the workbook.

Submit: Your workbook file and screenshots of the Copilot formulas and explanations.

Key Takeaways

• Ask Copilot in plain English to write formulas.
• SUM adds numbers.
• AVERAGE finds the middle value.
• MIN and MAX find the smallest and largest.
• IF makes decisions.
• IFERROR replaces errors with friendly messages.
• COUNTIF counts with a condition.
• SUMIF adds with a condition.
• VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP find information.
• Copilot can fix broken formulas.
• Copilot can explain formulas in simple words.
• Always check Copilot’s formulas.

Classroom Discussion Questions

1. Why are formulas important in Excel?
2. How does Copilot help you write formulas?
3. When would you use SUM instead of AVERAGE?
4. Why is IF useful for decisions?
5. Why should you use IFERROR?
6. What is the difference between COUNTIF and SUMIF?
7. When would you use VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP?
8. Why should you check Copilot’s formulas?
9. How can Copilot help you learn Excel?
10. What did Tunde learn from his marks sheet trouble?

Preparation for Module Three

In Module Three, we will learn how to clean and organise data with Copilot. We will cover:

• Removing duplicates.
• Splitting full names into first and last names.
• Joining text together.
• Changing text to upper or lower case.
• Fixing dates and numbers.
• Filling missing values.
• Sorting and filtering with Copilot.
• Cleaning a customer list.

To prepare, make sure you have completed the practical assignment and can write formulas with Copilot. Review your notes on SUM, AVERAGE, and IF. Bring your curiosity!

See you in Module Three!

---

End of Module Two – Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two

Module Three: Cleaning and Organising Data – Making Your Excel Sheet Tidy with Copilot

“Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two” – Take your Excel skills to the next level

Module Introduction

Welcome back, young Excel explorer! In Module One, you learned what Copilot is and how to open it. In Module Two, you learned how to write formulas with Copilot. You learned SUM, AVERAGE, IF, COUNTIF, SUMIF, VLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP.

Now it is time to learn something very important: cleaning and organising data. In real life, data is often messy. Names may have extra spaces. Dates may be in different formats. Some rows may be empty. Some entries may be repeated. If your data is messy, your formulas will give wrong answers.

In this module, we will learn how to use Copilot to clean and organise your data. We will learn how to remove duplicates, split full names into first and last names, join text together, change text to upper or lower case, fix dates and numbers, fill missing values, and sort and filter with Copilot.

By the end, you will be able to turn a messy sheet into a clean, organised, professional-looking sheet. Let’s begin!

Learning Objectives

After finishing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain why clean data is important.
• Use Copilot to remove duplicates.
• Split full names into first and last names.
• Join text together with Copilot.
• Change text to upper or lower case.
• Fix dates and numbers with Copilot.
• Fill missing values.
• Sort and filter data with Copilot.
• Clean a customer list from start to finish.
• Complete a mini project and practical assignment.

Warm-up Story: Ngozi’s Messy Customer List

Ngozi runs a small shop in Enugu. She sells provisions: rice, beans, oil, and soap. She keeps a list of her customers in Excel. The list has names, phone numbers, and the amount each customer owes.

One day, Ngozi wanted to send a message to all her customers. She looked at her list and saw a big problem. The names were messy! Some were written as “ada okeke”, others as “ADA OKEKE”, and others as “Ada Okeke”. Some customers appeared two or three times. Some phone numbers had extra spaces. Some rows were empty.

Ngozi was confused. “How can I send messages to everyone when the list is so messy?” she asked.

Her friend Tunde said, “Ngozi, use Copilot! It can clean your list in minutes.”

Ngozi opened Copilot and asked: “Remove duplicate customers from my list.” Copilot showed her how. Then she asked: “Split full names into first and last names.” Copilot gave her the formulas. She asked: “Change all names to proper case.” Copilot helped. She asked: “Remove extra spaces from phone numbers.” Copilot fixed them.

In less than an hour, Ngozi’s list was clean and organised. She sent her messages and got many replies. Her business grew. Ngozi learned that clean data is powerful data.

Moral of the story: Messy data causes problems. Copilot helps you clean and organise your data quickly. Clean data helps you make good decisions.

Main Lessons

Lesson 1: Why Clean Data Matters

Definition: Clean data means data that is correct, complete, and organised. Messy data is data with mistakes, duplicates, or missing parts.

Why it is important: Clean data gives correct answers. Messy data gives wrong answers and wastes time.

Simple explanation: Imagine a kitchen with dirty plates and scattered ingredients. Cooking would be hard. A clean kitchen makes cooking easy. Clean data makes Excel easy.

Real-life example: A bank with messy records might send money to the wrong person.

School example: A teacher with a messy marks sheet might give the wrong grade.

Home example: A shopping list with repeated items means buying too much.

Nigerian example: A market trader with a messy customer list might lose customers.

Illustration:

  Messy data:                Clean data:
  +--------+--------+        +--------+--------+
  | Ada    | 0801   |        | Ada    | 0801   |
  | ada    | 0802   |        | Tunde  | 0802   |
  | TUNDE  | 0802   |        | Ngozi  | 0803   |
  | Tunde  | 0802   |        +--------+--------+
  +--------+--------+
  

Mini summary: Clean data gives correct answers. Messy data causes mistakes. Copilot helps you clean data.

Lesson 2: Removing Duplicates with Copilot

Definition: A duplicate is a row or value that appears more than once. Removing duplicates means keeping only one copy.

Why it is important: Duplicates waste space and cause wrong counts.

Simple explanation: Imagine calling the same customer three times because their name appears three times in your list. Removing duplicates stops that.

Real-life example: A bank does not want to send the same statement twice.

School example: A teacher does not want to mark the same student twice.

Home example: A shopping list should not say “milk” three times.

Nigerian example: A market trader does not want to sell the same item twice to the same customer by mistake.

Illustration:

  Before:                    After:
  +--------+                +--------+
  | Ada    |                | Ada    |
  | Tunde  |                | Tunde  |
  | Ada    |                | Ngozi  |
  | Ngozi  |                +--------+
  | Tunde  |
  +--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Remove duplicate names"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select the data range.
2. Ask Copilot: “Remove duplicates from this list.”
3. Copilot shows how to use Data > Remove Duplicates.
4. Choose the column to check.
5. Click OK.
6. Excel removes the duplicates.

Mini summary: Duplicates are repeated values. Remove them with Copilot and the Remove Duplicates tool.

Lesson 3: Splitting Full Names

Definition: Splitting full names means breaking a name like “Ada Okeke” into “Ada” (first name) and “Okeke” (last name).

Why it is important: Separate first and last names are easier to sort, search, and use in messages.

Simple explanation: Imagine cutting a long piece of paper into two smaller pieces. Each piece is easier to use.

Real-life example: A bank needs first and last names for official letters.

School example: A teacher needs first and last names in separate columns.

Home example: A birthday list uses first names for cakes and last names for invitations.

Nigerian example: A trader uses first names for greetings and last names for records.

Illustration:

  Before:
  +----------------+
  | Full Name      |
  +----------------+
  | Ada Okeke      |
  | Tunde Balogun  |
  +----------------+

  After:
  +--------+---------+
  | First  | Last    |
  +--------+---------+
  | Ada    | Okeke   |
  | Tunde  | Balogun |
  +--------+---------+

  Ask Copilot: "Split full name into first and last"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Have a column with full names.
2. Ask Copilot: “Split full name into first and last names.”
3. Copilot gives formulas like =LEFT(A2, FIND(" ",A2)-1) for first name.
4. Copilot gives =RIGHT(A2, LEN(A2)-FIND(" ",A2)) for last name.
5. Type the formulas in two new columns.
6. Drag down for all rows.

Mini summary: Splitting names gives you first and last names in separate columns. Copilot writes the formulas.

Lesson 4: Joining Text Together

Definition: Joining text means putting two or more pieces of text together into one cell.

Why it is important: Joining helps you make full names, addresses, or messages.

Simple explanation: Imagine gluing two pieces of paper together to make one long piece.

Real-life example: Making a full address from street, city, and country.

School example: Making a full name from first and last names.

Home example: Making a greeting like “Hello Ada, welcome!”

Nigerian example: Making a message like “Hello Ada from Lagos.”

Illustration:

  Before:
  +--------+---------+
  | First  | Last    |
  +--------+---------+
  | Ada    | Okeke   |
  +--------+---------+

  After:
  +----------------+
  | Full Name      |
  +----------------+
  | Ada Okeke      |
  +----------------+

  Ask Copilot: "Join first and last names with a space"
  Copilot: =A2 & " " & B2
  

Step-by-step:

1. Have the columns you want to join.
2. Ask Copilot: “Join first and last names with a space.”
3. Copilot gives =A2 & " " & B2.
4. Type it in a new column.
5. Drag down for all rows.

Mini summary: Joining text combines columns. Use & or CONCAT. Copilot writes the formula.

Lesson 5: Changing Text Case

Definition: Changing text case means making text all UPPER CASE, all lower case, or Proper Case.

Why it is important: Same case makes data look neat and easy to compare.

Simple explanation: Imagine writing your name always the same way. It looks tidy.

Real-life example: A bank writes all names in proper case.

School example: A teacher writes all names in capital letters.

Home example: A shopping list written in the same style.

Nigerian example: A trader writes all customer names the same way.

Illustration:

  Before:
  ada okeke
  ADA OKEKE
  Ada Okeke

  After (Proper Case):
  Ada Okeke
  Ada Okeke
  Ada Okeke

  Ask Copilot: "Change all names to proper case"
  Copilot: =PROPER(A2)
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select the text column.
2. Ask Copilot: “Change all names to proper case.”
3. Copilot gives =PROPER(A2).
4. Type it in a new column.
5. Drag down for all rows.

Mini summary: Use UPPER, LOWER, or PROPER to change text case. Copilot writes the formula.

Lesson 6: Fixing Dates and Numbers

Definition: Fixing dates and numbers means making them follow the same format.

Why it is important: Different formats confuse Excel and give wrong results.

Simple explanation: Imagine writing dates as “1/2/2024” in one row and “2 Jan 2024” in another. Excel gets confused.

Real-life example: A bank uses the same date format for all transactions.

School example: A teacher uses the same date format for all exams.

Home example: A calendar uses the same date style throughout.

Nigerian example: A trader writes all dates as DD/MM/YYYY.

Illustration:

  Before:
  +------------+
  | Date       |
  +------------+
  | 1/2/2024   |
  | 2 Jan 2024 |
  | 03-02-2024 |
  +------------+

  After:
  +------------+
  | Date       |
  +------------+
  | 01/02/2024 |
  | 02/02/2024 |
  | 03/02/2024 |
  +------------+

  Ask Copilot: "Format all dates as DD/MM/YYYY"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select the date column.
2. Ask Copilot: “Format all dates as DD/MM/YYYY.”
3. Copilot explains how to use Format Cells.
4. Choose the format you want.
5. Click OK.

Mini summary: Fix dates and numbers by using the same format. Copilot shows you how.

Lesson 7: Filling Missing Values

Definition: Filling missing values means putting something in empty cells.

Why it is important: Empty cells can cause errors in formulas.

Simple explanation: Imagine a form with a missing name. You need to fill it before submitting.

Real-life example: A bank needs every customer’s phone number.

School example: A teacher needs a score for every student.

Home example: A shopping list needs a price for every item.

Nigerian example: A trader needs a price for every good in the stall.

Illustration:

  Before:
  +--------+--------+
  | Name   | Score  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Ada    | 85     |
  | Tunde  |        |
  | Ngozi  | 90     |
  +--------+--------+

  After:
  +--------+--------+
  | Name   | Score  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Ada    | 85     |
  | Tunde  | 0      |
  | Ngozi  | 90     |
  +--------+--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Fill empty scores with 0"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select the column with missing values.
2. Ask Copilot: “Fill empty cells with 0” (or whatever value you want).
3. Copilot explains how to use Find & Replace or Go To Special.
4. Fill the empty cells.

Mini summary: Fill missing values to keep formulas working. Copilot shows you how.

Lesson 8: Sorting Data with Copilot

Definition: Sorting means arranging data in order, like A to Z or smallest to largest.

Why it is important: Sorted data is easier to read and search.

Simple explanation: Imagine arranging books on a shelf from A to Z.

Real-life example: A phone book is sorted by names.

School example: A class register is sorted by surnames.

Home example: A shopping list sorted by section of the market.

Nigerian example: A trader sorts goods by price from cheapest to most expensive.

Illustration:

  Before:                After (A to Z):
  +--------+            +--------+
  | Ngozi  |            | Ada    |
  | Ada    |            | Ngozi  |
  | Tunde  |            | Tunde  |
  +--------+            +--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Sort names from A to Z"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Click any cell in the column.
2. Ask Copilot: “Sort names from A to Z.”
3. Copilot explains the Sort tool.
4. Choose the column and order.
5. Click OK.

Mini summary: Sorting arranges data in order. Copilot shows you how to sort.

Lesson 9: Filtering Data with Copilot

Definition: Filtering means showing only the rows that meet a condition.

Why it is important: Filters help you focus on what you need.

Simple explanation: Imagine looking only at the red cars in a parking lot. Filtering hides the others.

Real-life example: An online shop filters products by price.

School example: A teacher filters students who scored above 70.

Home example: Filtering a shopping list to show only items under ₦500.

Nigerian example: A trader filters goods to show only rice.

Illustration:

  Before filter:           After filter (Score > 80):
  +--------+--------+      +--------+--------+
  | Name   | Score  |      | Name   | Score  |
  +--------+--------+      +--------+--------+
  | Ada    | 85     |      | Ada    | 85     |
  | Tunde  | 65     |      | Ngozi  | 90     |
  | Ngozi  | 90     |      +--------+--------+
  +--------+--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Show only rows where score is above 80"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Click any cell in your table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Show only rows where score is above 80.”
3. Copilot explains how to use AutoFilter.
4. Choose the column and condition.
5. Click OK.

Mini summary: Filtering shows only rows you want. Copilot shows you how to filter.

Lesson 10: Removing Extra Spaces

Definition: Extra spaces are unwanted gaps before, after, or inside text.

Why it is important: Extra spaces make data look messy and cause lookup errors.

Simple explanation: Imagine writing “ Ada ” with spaces on both sides. It looks wrong.

Real-life example: A bank does not want extra spaces in account numbers.

School example: A teacher does not want spaces before names.

Home example: A shopping list without extra spaces.

Nigerian example: A trader does not want spaces in phone numbers.

Illustration:

  Before:                    After:
  +-------------+            +-----------+
  | " Ada  "    |            | "Ada"     |
  | "Tunde "    |            | "Tunde"   |
  +-------------+            +-----------+

  Ask Copilot: "Remove extra spaces from all names"
  Copilot: =TRIM(A2)
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select the column with extra spaces.
2. Ask Copilot: “Remove extra spaces from all names.”
3. Copilot gives =TRIM(A2).
4. Type it in a new column.
5. Copy the values back if needed.

Mini summary: Extra spaces cause problems. Use TRIM to remove them. Copilot writes the formula.

Lesson 11: Fixing Text That Looks Like Numbers

Definition: Sometimes numbers are stored as text. They look like numbers but cannot be used in calculations.

Why it is important: You cannot add or average text numbers.

Simple explanation: Imagine a price tag that is written on paper instead of printed on the item. You cannot scan it.

Real-life example: A bank needs real numbers, not text, to calculate interest.

School example: A teacher needs real numbers to calculate averages.

Home example: A budget needs real numbers to add up.

Nigerian example: A trader needs real numbers to calculate profit.

Illustration:

  Text number: "500"   -->  cannot be added
  Real number: 500     -->  can be added

  Ask Copilot: "Convert text numbers to real numbers"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select the column with text numbers.
2. Ask Copilot: “Convert text numbers to real numbers.”
3. Copilot explains how to use Text to Columns or VALUE.
4. Use the method that fits your data.
5. Check that SUM works now.

Mini summary: Text numbers cannot be calculated. Convert them to real numbers. Copilot shows you how.

Lesson 12: Common Mistakes When Cleaning Data

Definition: Mistakes happen. Knowing them helps you avoid them.

Why it is important: A small mistake can make your data worse.

Simple explanation: Imagine cleaning your room but throwing away something important by mistake.

Real-life example: A bank accidentally deleting a customer’s record.

School example: A teacher accidentally deleting a student’s score.

Home example: Accidentally throwing away the shopping list.

Nigerian example: A trader accidentally deleting a customer’s phone number.

Table of common mistakes:

Mistake	What Happens	How to Fix
Deleting the wrong rows	Lose important data	Work on a copy
Removing duplicates from the wrong column	Lose different customers	Check the column
Forgetting to save before cleaning	Cannot undo	Save a backup
Using the wrong case formula	Wrong capitalisation	Use PROPER or UPPER
Not checking after TRIM	Still messy	Check the result
Converting text numbers wrong	Still text	Use VALUE or Text to Columns

Mini summary: Common mistakes include deleting the wrong data and forgetting to save. Always work on a copy.

Lesson 13: Best Practices for Cleaning Data

Definition: Best practices are good habits that make cleaning safe and easy.

Why it is important: Good habits save time and prevent mistakes.

Simple explanation: Like washing your hands before cooking. It keeps things safe.

Real-life example: A chef keeping the kitchen clean.

School example: A student keeping their notebook neat.

Home example: A family keeping the house tidy.

Nigerian example: A trader keeping the stall clean and organised.

List of best practices:

• Always make a copy of your data before cleaning.
• Use clear headings in row 1.
• Remove duplicates carefully.
• Use TRIM to remove extra spaces.
• Use PROPER, UPPER, or LOWER for consistent case.
• Check dates and numbers in the same format.
• Fill missing values with a sensible default.
• Sort and filter only when you know what you want.
• Save your work often.
• Ask Copilot if you are unsure.

Mini summary: Best practices: work on a copy, use clear headings, and check your results. Copilot is your helper.

Lesson 14: Cleaning a Customer List with Copilot

Let’s clean a messy customer list from start to finish.

Step 1: Copy your messy list to a new sheet.

Step 2: Ask Copilot: “Remove duplicate customers.”

Step 3: Ask Copilot: “Remove extra spaces from names.”

Step 4: Ask Copilot: “Change all names to proper case.”

Step 5: Ask Copilot: “Split full names into first and last names.”

Step 6: Ask Copilot: “Join first and last names back into one column.” (to check)

Step 7: Ask Copilot: “Convert any text phone numbers to real numbers.”

Step 8: Ask Copilot: “Fill empty phone numbers with ‘Unknown’.”

Step 9: Sort the list from A to Z.

Step 10: Save the cleaned sheet.

Illustration:

  Messy list
      |
      V
  Remove duplicates
      |
      V
  Remove extra spaces
      |
      V
  Change case to Proper
      |
      V
  Split names
      |
      V
  Fix numbers
      |
      V
  Fill missing values
      |
      V
  Sort A to Z
      |
      V
  Clean list 🎉
  

Mini summary: Cleaning a customer list uses many Copilot skills. Follow the steps and save your work.

Lesson 15: Putting It All Together – A Clean Customer Workbook

Let’s build a complete cleaned customer workbook.

Step 1: Open Excel and create a sheet called “Messy”.

Step 2: Type or paste a messy list of names, phones, and amounts owed.

Step 3: Make a copy called “Clean”.

Step 4: Use Copilot to remove duplicates, trim spaces, and change case.

Step 5: Use Copilot to split names into first and last.

Step 6: Use Copilot to fix phone numbers and fill missing values.

Step 7: Sort the clean list from A to Z.

Step 8: Add a Total row using SUM for amounts owed.

Step 9: Add a note explaining what you did.

Step 10: Save as “My_Clean_Customers”.

Illustration:

  +--------+---------+---------+--------+
  | First  | Last    | Phone   | Owed   |
  +--------+---------+---------+--------+
  | Ada    | Okeke   | 0801    | 500    |
  | Ngozi  | Eze     | 0802    | 300    |
  | Tunde  | Balogun | 0803    | 700    |
  +--------+---------+---------+--------+
  Total Owed: ₦1500
  

Mini summary: This workbook combines everything you learned. It is clean, organised, and ready to use.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Simple Definition
Clean data	Data that is correct, complete, and organised.
Messy data	Data with mistakes, duplicates, or missing parts.
Duplicate	A value or row that appears more than once.
Split	Break one value into two or more parts.
Join	Put two or more values together.
Case	Capital or small letters (UPPER, lower, Proper).
TRIM	A formula that removes extra spaces.
PROPER	A formula that makes text Proper Case.
UPPER	A formula that makes text ALL CAPS.
LOWER	A formula that makes text all small.
Sort	Arrange data in order.
Filter	Show only rows that meet a condition.
Missing value	An empty cell where data should be.
Text number	A number stored as text, not a real number.
Backup	A copy of your data for safety.

Important Concepts

• Clean data is powerful: It gives correct answers.
• Duplicates waste time: Remove them carefully.
• Splitting and joining: Break and combine text as needed.
• Case matters: Use PROPER, UPPER, or LOWER.
• Dates and numbers: Use the same format everywhere.
• Missing values: Fill them with a sensible default.
• Sorting and filtering: Arrange and focus your data.
• TRIM: Remove extra spaces to keep data neat.
• Text numbers: Convert them to real numbers.
• Backup: Always save a copy before cleaning.

Step-by-step Explanations

How to remove duplicates step by step

1. Select the data range.
2. Ask Copilot: “Remove duplicates.”
3. Choose the columns to check.
4. Click OK.
5. Check the result.

How to split a full name step by step

1. Have a column with full names.
2. Ask Copilot: “Split full name into first and last.”
3. Type the first-name formula in a new column.
4. Type the last-name formula in another column.
5. Drag down for all rows.

How to change text case step by step

1. Select the column with messy case.
2. Ask Copilot: “Change to proper case.”
3. Type =PROPER(A2) in a new column.
4. Drag down for all rows.
5. Copy the values back if needed.

How to sort data step by step

1. Click any cell in the column.
2. Ask Copilot: “Sort from A to Z.”
3. Choose the column and order.
4. Click OK.
5. Check the result.

How to filter data step by step

1. Click any cell in your table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Show only rows where score > 80.”
3. Choose the column and condition.
4. Click OK.
5. Check the filtered rows.

Real-life Examples

• Shops: Clean customer lists for messages.
• Schools: Clean student lists for reports.
• Homes: Clean budgets and shopping lists.
• Offices: Clean staff and client records.
• Hospitals: Clean patient records.

Nigerian Examples

• Market traders: Clean customer lists and price lists.
• POS operators: Clean daily transaction records.
• Schools in Lagos: Clean student marks sheets.
• Transporters: Clean fuel and fare records.
• Church groups: Clean donation and expense records.

Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

• Video game scores: Remove duplicate scores.
• Football league: Sort teams by points.
• Pocket money: Clean your savings log.
• Chores: Filter chores not done yet.
• Snack list: Fix prices that look like text.

Everyday Examples

• Shopping list: Remove duplicates and sort by section.
• School timetable: Sort subjects in order.
• Exercise log: Fill missing minutes with 0.
• Reading list: Change titles to Proper Case.
• Grocery budget: Fix dates and numbers.

Parent Tips

• Encourage your child to keep data tidy.
• Let them make mistakes. Errors are learning opportunities.
• Use everyday examples (shopping list, budget) to explain.
• Set a small daily practice time.
• Celebrate small wins, like removing duplicates.
• Be patient. Cleaning takes time.
• Ask them to teach you what they learned.
• Keep it fun. Use games and stories.
• Remind them to work on a copy.
• Encourage them to ask Copilot when unsure.

Interesting Facts

• Clean data is worth more than messy data in business.
• TRIM is one of the most used cleanup formulas in Excel.
• PROPER makes text look professional.
• VLOOKUP works best with clean data.
• Sorting and filtering are two of the oldest Excel tools.
• Duplicates can make totals wrong by double-counting.
• Text numbers are a common problem in imported data.
• Copilot can help clean data in minutes.

Did You Know?

• Did you know that TRIM also removes extra spaces between words?
• Did you know that PROPER makes “ada okeke” become “Ada Okeke”?
• Did you know that you can remove duplicates in one click?
• Did you know that filters can be combined for more control?
• Did you know that text numbers often come from copy-pasting from websites?
• Did you know that Copilot can explain every cleanup step?
• Did you know that sorted data is easier to read?
• Did you know that cleaning data is called “data wrangling”?

Remember This

• Clean data gives correct answers.
• Remove duplicates to avoid double-counting.
• Split names for better sorting and searching.
• Join text to make full names and messages.
• Use PROPER, UPPER, or LOWER for consistent case.
• Fix dates and numbers to the same format.
• Fill missing values with a sensible default.
• Sort and filter to focus on what you need.
• Use TRIM to remove extra spaces.
• Convert text numbers to real numbers.
• Always work on a copy.
• Ask Copilot when unsure.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting the wrong rows.
• Removing duplicates from the wrong column.
• Forgetting to save before cleaning.
• Using the wrong case formula.
• Not checking after TRIM.
• Converting text numbers incorrectly.
• Filtering without knowing the condition.
• Sorting without including all columns.

Best Practices

• Always make a copy before cleaning.
• Use clear headings in row 1.
• Remove duplicates carefully.
• Use TRIM for extra spaces.
• Use PROPER, UPPER, or LOWER for case.
• Keep dates and numbers in the same format.
• Fill missing values with a sensible default.
• Sort and filter only when needed.
• Save your work often.
• Ask Copilot if unsure.

Illustrations and Diagrams

Cleaning Workflow

  Messy Data
      |
      V
  Make a Copy
      |
      V
  Remove Duplicates
      |
      V
  Trim Spaces
      |
      V
  Fix Case
      |
      V
  Split/Join Text
      |
      V
  Fix Dates/Numbers
      |
      V
  Fill Missing Values
      |
      V
  Sort and Filter
      |
      V
  Clean Data 🎉
  

Split Name Illustration

  "Ada Okeke"
      |
      +--> First name: "Ada"
      |
      +--> Last name: "Okeke"
  

Sort and Filter Illustration

  Before sort:          After sort:
  Ngozi                 Ada
  Ada                   Ngozi
  Tunde                 Tunde

  Before filter:        After filter (score > 80):
  Ada 85                Ada 85
  Tunde 65              Ngozi 90
  Ngozi 90
  

TRIM Illustration

  "   Ada   "   -->  TRIM  -->  "Ada"
  "Tunde "     -->  TRIM  -->  "Tunde"
  

Your Learning Journey

  Module One: Getting Ready with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Two: Writing Formulas with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Three: Cleaning and Organising Data
        |
        V
  Module Four: Analysing Data with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Five: Charts and Visuals with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Six: Automation and Real-World Projects
        |
        V
  Copilot in Excel Expert 🎉
  

Comparison Tables

UPPER vs LOWER vs PROPER

Formula	What It Does	Example
UPPER	All capital letters	ADA OKEKE
LOWER	All small letters	ada okeke
PROPER	First letter capital	Ada Okeke

Sort vs Filter

Feature	Sort	Filter
Purpose	Arrange data	Show only some rows
Changes order?	Yes	No (hides others)
Use case	A to Z	Score > 80

Split vs Join

Feature	Split	Join
Purpose	Break one into many	Combine many into one
Example	"Ada Okeke" into "Ada" and "Okeke"	"Ada" + "Okeke" into "Ada Okeke"

Clean vs Messy Data

Feature	Clean Data	Messy Data
Accuracy	High	Low
Duplicates	None	Many
Format	Consistent	Mixed
Use in formulas	Works well	Causes errors

Lesson Summaries

Lesson 1: Clean data gives correct answers. Messy data causes mistakes.

Lesson 2: Remove duplicates to avoid double-counting.

Lesson 3: Split full names into first and last names.

Lesson 4: Join text to make full names or messages.

Lesson 5: Use PROPER, UPPER, or LOWER for consistent case.

Lesson 6: Fix dates and numbers to the same format.

Lesson 7: Fill missing values with a sensible default.

Lesson 8: Sorting arranges data in order.

Lesson 9: Filtering shows only rows you want.

Lesson 10: Use TRIM to remove extra spaces.

Lesson 11: Convert text numbers to real numbers.

Lesson 12: Common mistakes include deleting the wrong data.

Lesson 13: Best practices: work on a copy, use clear headings, check results.

Lesson 14: Clean a customer list step by step with Copilot.

Lesson 15: Build a clean customer workbook using Copilot.

End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have finished Module Three of Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two. You learned why clean data matters. You learned how to remove duplicates, split full names, join text, change text case, fix dates and numbers, fill missing values, sort and filter data, remove extra spaces, and convert text numbers to real numbers. You cleaned a customer list from start to finish. You built a clean customer workbook. You now know common mistakes and best practices. Most importantly, you can turn messy data into clean, organised data with Copilot as your helper. Keep practising, and you will become a Copilot in Excel expert!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is clean data important? It gives correct answers and saves time.
2. How do I remove duplicates? Use Data > Remove Duplicates or ask Copilot.
3. How do I split a full name? Use LEFT, RIGHT, and FIND, or ask Copilot.
4. How do I join text? Use & or CONCAT, or ask Copilot.
5. How do I change case? Use PROPER, UPPER, or LOWER.
6. How do I fix dates? Use Format Cells and choose one format.
7. How do I fill missing values? Use Find & Replace or Go To Special.
8. How do I sort data? Use the Sort tool or ask Copilot.
9. How do I filter data? Use AutoFilter or ask Copilot.
10. How do I remove extra spaces? Use TRIM.

Matching Exercises

Match the tool to what it does.

Tool	What It Does
1. TRIM	A. Change text to Proper Case
2. PROPER	B. Remove extra spaces
3. Sort	C. Show only some rows
4. Filter	D. Arrange data in order
5. Remove Duplicates	E. Delete repeated rows

Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C, 5-E

Scenario-based Exercises

1. Scenario: Your list has the same customer three times. What do you do?
   Answer: Remove duplicates.
2. Scenario: Your names are in different cases. What do you do?
   Answer: Use PROPER.
3. Scenario: Your phone numbers have extra spaces. What do you do?
   Answer: Use TRIM.
4. Scenario: You want to see only customers who owe more than ₦500. What do you do?
   Answer: Filter.
5. Scenario: You want to arrange names from A to Z. What do you do?
   Answer: Sort.

Group Activity

Title: “Clean a Messy Customer List Together”

Instructions: In groups of 3–4, create a messy customer list in Excel. Use Copilot to clean it: remove duplicates, trim spaces, fix case, split names, and sort. One person types, one person asks Copilot, one person checks, and one person presents. Share your cleaned list with the class.

Goal: Practice cleaning data with Copilot.

Individual Activity

Task: Create a small Excel sheet with five messy names (different cases, extra spaces). Use Copilot to:

• Remove extra spaces with TRIM.
• Change all names to Proper Case.
• Split names into first and last.
• Sort the list from A to Z.

Hint: Type names in column A, then use new columns for cleaned names.

Mini Project

Project: “My Clean Contact List”

Create an Excel sheet with at least 10 contacts. Include full name, phone, and email. Make the list messy on purpose (duplicates, extra spaces, mixed case, missing emails). Then use Copilot to:

• Remove duplicates.
• Trim spaces.
• Change names to Proper Case.
• Split names into first and last.
• Fill missing emails with “unknown@example.com”.
• Sort from A to Z.

Example output:

  +--------+---------+---------+---------------------+
  | First  | Last    | Phone   | Email               |
  +--------+---------+---------+---------------------+
  | Ada    | Okeke   | 0801    | ada@example.com     |
  | Ngozi  | Eze     | 0802    | unknown@example.com |
  | Tunde  | Balogun | 0803    | tunde@example.com   |
  +--------+---------+---------+---------------------+
  

Practical Assignment

Assignment: Create a new Excel workbook called Cleaned_Data. In the workbook, do the following:

1. Create a sheet called “Messy” with at least 10 rows of messy data (names, phones, amounts).
2. Make a copy called “Clean”.
3. Use Copilot to remove duplicates.
4. Use Copilot to trim extra spaces.
5. Use Copilot to change names to Proper Case.
6. Use Copilot to split names into first and last.
7. Use Copilot to fill missing amounts with 0.
8. Use Copilot to sort the list from A to Z.
9. Add a Total row using SUM for amounts.
10. Save the workbook.

Submit: Your workbook file and screenshots of the messy sheet and the clean sheet.

Key Takeaways

• Clean data gives correct answers.
• Remove duplicates carefully.
• Split names for better sorting.
• Join text to make full names.
• Use PROPER, UPPER, or LOWER for case.
• Fix dates and numbers to one format.
• Fill missing values with sensible defaults.
• Sort to arrange data.
• Filter to focus on what you need.
• Use TRIM to remove extra spaces.
• Convert text numbers to real numbers.
• Always work on a copy.
• Ask Copilot when unsure.

Classroom Discussion Questions

1. Why is clean data important?
2. How can duplicates cause problems?
3. Why do we split full names?
4. When would you join text?
5. Why should text case be consistent?
6. Why should dates and numbers be in the same format?
7. How do you fill missing values?
8. What is the difference between sorting and filtering?
9. Why is TRIM useful?
10. What did Ngozi learn from her messy customer list?

Preparation for Module Four

In Module Four, we will learn how to analyse data with Copilot. We will cover:

• Summarising data with Copilot.
• Finding totals, averages, and counts.
• Spotting trends and outliers.
• Using PivotTables with Copilot.
• Asking questions in plain English.
• Creating quick reports.
• Using conditional formatting suggestions.
• Analysing a sales sheet.

To prepare, make sure you have completed the practical assignment and have a clean data sheet ready. Review your notes on cleaning data. Bring your curiosity!

See you in Module Four!

---

End of Module Three – Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two

Module Four: Analysing Data with Copilot – Finding Answers in Your Excel Sheet

“Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two” – Take your Excel skills to the next level

Module Introduction

Welcome back, Excel explorer! In Module One, you learned what Copilot is and how to open it. In Module Two, you learned how to write formulas with Copilot. In Module Three, you learned how to clean and organise messy data.

Now it is time for something very exciting: analysing data with Copilot. Analysing means looking at your data carefully to find answers, patterns, and important information. For example: How much did we sell this month? Which product sells the most? Who are our best customers? What is the average score? Are sales going up or down?

In this module, we will learn how to use Copilot to summarise data, find totals, averages, and counts, spot trends and outliers, create PivotTables, ask questions in plain English, build quick reports, and use conditional formatting suggestions. By the end, you will be able to turn numbers into useful insights.

Let’s begin!

Learning Objectives

After finishing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain what data analysis means.
• Summarise data with Copilot.
• Find totals, averages, and counts.
• Spot trends and outliers.
• Create PivotTables with Copilot.
• Ask questions in plain English.
• Create quick reports with Copilot.
• Use conditional formatting suggestions.
• Analyse a sales sheet from start to finish.
• Complete a mini project and practical assignment.

Warm-up Story: Tunde’s Sales Mystery

Tunde runs a small phone accessories shop in Ibadan. He sells chargers, earphones, phone cases, and screen protectors. Every day, he records his sales in Excel. At the end of the month, he has hundreds of rows of data.

One day, Tunde’s father asked him, “Tunde, which product sells the most? How much did you make this month? Which day is your best day for sales?”

Tunde looked at his Excel sheet. It had many rows and columns. He did not know where to start. He tried to count manually but got confused.

His friend Amara said, “Tunde, use Copilot! Just ask it questions in plain English.”

Tunde opened Copilot and typed: “Which product has the highest total sales?” Copilot analysed the data and replied: “Phone cases have the highest total sales at ₦45,000.” Tunde was amazed. He asked more questions: “What is the total sales for this month?” “Which day had the most sales?” “What is the average sale amount?” Copilot answered all his questions in seconds.

Tunde showed his father the answers. His father was very proud. Tunde learned that Copilot can turn a big pile of numbers into clear, useful answers.

Moral of the story: Copilot makes data analysis easy. You do not need to be a math expert. Just ask questions in plain English.

Main Lessons

Lesson 1: What is Data Analysis?

Definition: Data analysis means looking at data to find useful information, patterns, and answers.

Why it is important: Analysis helps you make good decisions based on facts, not guesses.

Simple explanation: Imagine a detective looking for clues. Data analysis is like being a detective for numbers.

Real-life example: A shop owner analyses sales to know which products to stock more.

School example: A teacher analyses test scores to know which topics students find hard.

Home example: A family analyses their budget to know where money is going.

Nigerian example: A trader analyses sales to know which goods sell best in the market.

Illustration:

  Raw Data (numbers in Excel)
        |
        V
  Analysis with Copilot
        |
        V
  Useful Answers (insights)
        |
        V
  Better Decisions
  

Mini summary: Data analysis means finding useful information in your data. Copilot makes it easy.

Lesson 2: Summarising Data with Copilot

Definition: Summarising means giving a short, clear overview of your data.

Why it is important: Summaries help you understand large amounts of data quickly.

Simple explanation: Imagine telling a friend about a long movie in just two sentences.

Real-life example: A bank summarises monthly transactions for a customer.

School example: A teacher summarises class performance in a short report.

Home example: A summary of how much you spent this week.

Nigerian example: A trader summarises daily sales in a few numbers.

Illustration:

  Full Data: 100 rows of sales
        |
        V
  Summary:
  - Total Sales: ₦250,000
  - Best Product: Phone Cases
  - Best Day: Saturday
  - Average Sale: ₦2,500
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Summarise this data for me.”
3. Copilot shows key numbers and patterns.
4. Read the summary and note the important points.

Mini summary: Summarising gives a short overview. Copilot summarises large data in seconds.

Lesson 3: Finding Totals, Averages, and Counts

Definition: Totals add all numbers. Averages give the middle value. Counts tell how many items.

Why it is important: These three numbers tell you a lot about your data.

Simple explanation: Imagine three questions: How much in total? What is the middle amount? How many items are there?

Real-life example: A shop finds total sales, average sale, and number of customers.

School example: A teacher finds total marks, average score, and number of students.

Home example: A family finds total spending, average weekly spend, and number of receipts.

Nigerian example: A trader finds total sales, average sale, and number of customers.

Illustration:

  +--------+--------+
  | Item   | Amount |
  +--------+--------+
  | Rice   | 500    |
  | Beans  | 300    |
  | Oil    | 700    |
  +--------+--------+

  Total = 1500
  Average = 500
  Count = 3

  Ask Copilot: "Find total, average, and count of Amount"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Find total, average, and count of this column.”
3. Copilot gives formulas: =SUM(B2:B4), =AVERAGE(B2:B4), =COUNT(B2:B4).
4. Type the formulas or accept Copilot’s suggestions.

Mini summary: Totals, averages, and counts are the three most useful summary numbers. Copilot finds them quickly.

Lesson 4: Spotting Trends with Copilot

Definition: A trend is a pattern that shows how something changes over time.

Why it is important: Trends help you predict the future.

Simple explanation: Imagine watching a plant grow taller every week. That is a trend.

Real-life example: Sales going up every month is a positive trend.

School example: A student’s grades improving each term is a trend.

Home example: Electricity bills going up each month is a trend.

Nigerian example: A trader notices that sales of cold drinks go up in the hot season.

Illustration:

  Sales by Month:
  Jan: 100
  Feb: 150
  Mar: 200
  Apr: 250

  Trend: Sales are going UP ↑

  Ask Copilot: "What is the trend in sales?"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data table with dates or time periods.
2. Ask Copilot: “What is the trend in sales over time?”
3. Copilot explains the trend (going up, going down, or staying the same).
4. Use this to plan ahead.

Mini summary: Trends show how things change over time. Copilot spots trends in your data.

Lesson 5: Finding Outliers with Copilot

Definition: An outlier is a value that is very different from the others.

Why it is important: Outliers can be mistakes or important discoveries.

Simple explanation: Imagine a class where everyone scored 70–80, but one student scored 10. That 10 is an outlier.

Real-life example: A bank notices a very large transaction that is unusual.

School example: A teacher notices a very low score in a class of high scores.

Home example: A very high electricity bill in a month when you were away.

Nigerian example: A trader notices a huge sale on a day when the shop was closed.

Illustration:

  Scores: 75, 78, 80, 82, 10, 79

  Outlier: 10 (very different)

  Ask Copilot: "Find outliers in the Scores column"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data column.
2. Ask Copilot: “Find outliers in this column.”
3. Copilot highlights the unusual values.
4. Check if they are mistakes or important.

Mini summary: Outliers are unusual values. Copilot helps you find them.

Lesson 6: PivotTables with Copilot

Definition: A PivotTable is a tool that summarises large data into a small, clear table.

Why it is important: PivotTables let you see totals by category quickly.

Simple explanation: Imagine sorting a pile of cards into groups by colour and counting each group.

Real-life example: A shop finds total sales by product category.

School example: A teacher finds average scores by class.

Home example: A family finds total spending by category (food, transport, etc.).

Nigerian example: A trader finds total sales by market day.

Illustration:

  Raw Data:
  +--------+--------+
  | Item   | Amount |
  +--------+--------+
  | Rice   | 500    |
  | Beans  | 300    |
  | Rice   | 400    |
  | Beans  | 200    |
  +--------+--------+

  PivotTable:
  +--------+--------+
  | Item   | Total  |
  +--------+--------+
  | Rice   | 900    |
  | Beans  | 500    |
  +--------+--------+

  Ask Copilot: "Create a PivotTable of total sales by Item"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a PivotTable summarising total sales by product.”
3. Copilot creates the PivotTable for you.
4. You can drag fields to change the summary.

Mini summary: PivotTables summarise data by category. Copilot creates them from a simple request.

Lesson 7: Asking Questions in Plain English

Definition: Plain English means normal language, not computer code.

Why it is important: You do not need to learn special commands. Just ask.

Simple explanation: Imagine asking a friend a question. Copilot understands you.

Real-life example: “What was my best-selling product last month?”

School example: “Who scored the highest in the class?”

Home example: “How much did we spend on food this month?”

Nigerian example: “Which customer owes me the most money?”

Illustration:

  You: "Which product sells the most?"
       |
       V
  Copilot: "Phone Cases sell the most (₦45,000)"
       |
       V
  You: "What is the average sale amount?"
       |
       V
  Copilot: "The average sale amount is ₦2,500"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Open Copilot in Excel.
2. Type your question in plain English.
3. Copilot reads your data and gives an answer.
4. Ask more questions to explore further.

Mini summary: Ask questions in plain English. Copilot understands and answers.

Lesson 8: Creating Quick Reports with Copilot

Definition: A report is a document that summarises your data and findings.

Why it is important: Reports help you share your findings with others.

Simple explanation: Imagine writing a short note about what you found in your data.

Real-life example: A shop owner writes a monthly sales report.

School example: A teacher writes a class performance report.

Home example: A family writes a monthly budget report.

Nigerian example: A trader writes a weekly profit report.

Illustration:

  Ask Copilot: "Create a monthly sales report"
       |
       V
  Report includes:
  - Total Sales
  - Best Product
  - Best Day
  - Average Sale
  - Trend
  - Recommendations
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a monthly sales report.”
3. Copilot creates a report with key numbers and charts.
4. Review and edit the report as needed.

Mini summary: Copilot creates quick reports from your data.

Lesson 9: Conditional Formatting Suggestions

Definition: Conditional formatting changes how cells look based on their values.

Why it is important: It makes important numbers stand out.

Simple explanation: Imagine highlighting high scores in green and low scores in red.

Real-life example: A bank highlights large transactions.

School example: A teacher highlights failing scores in red.

Home example: A budget highlights overspending in red.

Nigerian example: A trader highlights low stock items in red.

Illustration:

  Scores: 85, 65, 90, 45, 78
       |
       V
  Conditional Formatting:
  - Green: 80 and above
  - Yellow: 60–79
  - Red: below 60
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data column.
2. Ask Copilot: “Suggest conditional formatting for this data.”
3. Copilot recommends rules.
4. Apply the rules you like.

Mini summary: Conditional formatting highlights important numbers. Copilot suggests the rules.

Lesson 10: Analysing a Sales Sheet Step by Step

Let’s analyse a sales sheet from start to finish.

Step 1: Open your sales data in Excel.

Step 2: Ask Copilot: “Summarise this sales data.”

Step 3: Ask Copilot: “What is the total sales?”

Step 4: Ask Copilot: “What is the average sale?”

Step 5: Ask Copilot: “Which product sells the most?”

Step 6: Ask Copilot: “What is the trend in sales over time?”

Step 7: Ask Copilot: “Create a PivotTable of sales by product.”

Step 8: Ask Copilot: “Create a monthly sales report.”

Step 9: Apply conditional formatting to highlight top products.

Step 10: Save your analysis.

Illustration:

  Sales Data
      |
      V
  Summarise
      |
      V
  Total & Average
      |
      V
  Best Product
      |
      V
  Trend
      |
      V
  PivotTable
      |
      V
  Report
      |
      V
  Conditional Formatting
      |
      V
  Saved Analysis 🎉
  

Mini summary: Analysing a sales sheet uses many Copilot skills. Follow the steps.

Lesson 11: Common Mistakes in Data Analysis

Definition: Mistakes happen. Knowing them helps you avoid them.

Why it is important: A small mistake can lead to wrong conclusions.

Simple explanation: Imagine reading the wrong number on a ruler.

Real-life example: A bank misreads a transaction amount.

School example: A teacher misreads a score.

Home example: A family misreads a bill.

Nigerian example: A trader misreads a price.

Table of common mistakes:

Mistake	What Happens	How to Fix
Analysing messy data	Wrong answers	Clean data first
Forgetting to check totals	Wrong totals	Verify with SUM
Using the wrong column	Wrong analysis	Check column headings
Ignoring outliers	Wrong conclusions	Check outliers
Not saving work	Lose analysis	Save often
Trusting Copilot blindly	Wrong results	Check answers

Mini summary: Common mistakes include analysing messy data and not checking results. Always verify.

Lesson 12: Best Practices for Data Analysis

Definition: Best practices are good habits that make analysis safe and easy.

Why it is important: Good habits save time and prevent mistakes.

Simple explanation: Like washing your hands before cooking.

Real-life example: A chef keeping the kitchen clean.

School example: A student keeping their notebook neat.

Home example: A family keeping the house tidy.

Nigerian example: A trader keeping the stall clean and organised.

List of best practices:

• Clean your data before analysing.
• Use clear headings in row 1.
• Check totals and averages.
• Look for trends and outliers.
• Use PivotTables for summaries.
• Ask Copilot clear questions.
• Verify Copilot’s answers.
• Save your work often.
• Share your findings clearly.
• Keep learning new analysis skills.

Mini summary: Best practices: clean data, clear headings, check results, save often.

Lesson 13: Using Copilot to Answer Business Questions

Copilot can answer many business questions.

Question 1: “What is my total sales for the month?”

Question 2: “Which product sells the most?”

Question 3: “Which day has the highest sales?”

Question 4: “Who are my top 5 customers?”

Question 5: “What is my average sale amount?”

Question 6: “Are sales going up or down?”

Question 7: “What is my profit margin?”

Question 8: “Which products are not selling well?”

Illustration:

  You: "What is my total sales this month?"
       |
       V
  Copilot: "Your total sales this month is ₦250,000"
       |
       V
  You: "Which product sells the most?"
       |
       V
  Copilot: "Phone Cases sell the most (₦45,000)"
  

Mini summary: Copilot answers business questions in plain English.

Lesson 14: Creating a Complete Analysis Workbook

Let’s build a complete analysis workbook.

Step 1: Open a clean sales data sheet.

Step 2: Ask Copilot: “Summarise this data.”

Step 3: Ask Copilot: “Create a PivotTable of sales by product.”

Step 4: Ask Copilot: “What is the trend in sales?”

Step 5: Ask Copilot: “Create a monthly sales report.”

Step 6: Apply conditional formatting.

Step 7: Add charts to your report.

Step 8: Write a summary of your findings.

Step 9: Save as “My_Analysis_Report”.

Illustration:

  +----------------------------------------+
  | ANALYSIS REPORT                        |
  | Total Sales: ₦250,000                  |
  | Best Product: Phone Cases              |
  | Best Day: Saturday                     |
  | Average Sale: ₦2,500                   |
  | Trend: Going UP ↑                      |
  | [Chart: Sales by Product]              |
  | [Chart: Sales by Day]                  |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Mini summary: This workbook combines everything you learned. It is a complete analysis report.

Lesson 15: Putting It All Together – From Data to Decisions

Now you can turn raw data into useful decisions.

Step 1: Collect your data.

Step 2: Clean your data (Module 3).

Step 3: Analyse your data with Copilot (Module 4).

Step 4: Create charts and reports.

Step 5: Share your findings.

Step 6: Make better decisions.

Illustration:

  Raw Data
      |
      V
  Clean Data
      |
      V
  Analyse with Copilot
      |
      V
  Charts and Reports
      |
      V
  Share Findings
      |
      V
  Better Decisions 🎉
  

Mini summary: Data analysis turns numbers into decisions. Copilot helps at every step.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Simple Definition
Data analysis	Looking at data to find useful information.
Summary	A short overview of data.
Total	The sum of all numbers.
Average	The middle value.
Count	How many items.
Trend	A pattern over time.
Outlier	A value very different from others.
PivotTable	A tool that summarises data by category.
Report	A document that summarises findings.
Conditional formatting	Changing cell look based on values.
Insight	A useful discovery from data.
Plain English	Normal language, not code.
Forecast	A prediction of the future.
Metric	A number that measures something.
Dashboard	A visual display of key numbers.

Important Concepts

• Analysis turns data into answers: Copilot makes it easy.
• Summaries give the big picture: Start with a summary.
• Totals, averages, and counts: Three key numbers.
• Trends show change over time: Look for up or down patterns.
• Outliers are unusual values: They may be mistakes or discoveries.
• PivotTables summarise by category: Great for product or region totals.
• Plain English questions: No coding needed.
• Reports share findings: Copilot creates them quickly.
• Conditional formatting highlights: Makes key numbers stand out.
• Always verify: Check Copilot’s answers.

Step-by-step Explanations

How to summarise data step by step

1. Select your data table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Summarise this data.”
3. Read the key numbers and patterns.
4. Note the important points.

How to find total, average, and count step by step

1. Select your data column.
2. Ask Copilot: “Find total, average, and count.”
3. Type the formulas in new cells.
4. Check the results.

How to create a PivotTable step by step

1. Select your data table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a PivotTable of sales by product.”
3. Copilot creates the PivotTable.
4. Drag fields to adjust the summary.

How to ask a question in plain English

1. Open Copilot in Excel.
2. Type your question.
3. Press Enter.
4. Read Copilot’s answer.

How to create a report step by step

1. Select your data.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a monthly sales report.”
3. Review the report.
4. Edit and save.

Real-life Examples

• Shops: Analyse sales to know best products.
• Schools: Analyse scores to know class performance.
• Homes: Analyse budgets to know spending.
• Offices: Analyse staff records and projects.
• Hospitals: Analyse patient data for trends.

Nigerian Examples

• Market traders: Analyse sales to know best-selling goods.
• POS operators: Analyse daily transactions.
• Schools in Lagos: Analyse student marks.
• Transporters: Analyse fares and fuel costs.
• Church groups: Analyse donations and expenses.

Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

• Video game scores: Find your average score.
• Football league: Analyse team points.
• Pocket money: Analyse your spending.
• Chores: Analyse how long each chore takes.
• Snack list: Analyse your favourite snacks.

Everyday Examples

• Shopping list: Analyse prices to find cheapest.
• School timetable: Analyse study time per subject.
• Exercise log: Analyse minutes per day.
• Reading list: Analyse pages read per week.
• Grocery budget: Analyse monthly spending.

Parent Tips

• Encourage your child to ask questions about data.
• Let them analyse simple data like pocket money.
• Use everyday examples to explain analysis.
• Set a small daily practice time.
• Celebrate small wins, like finding the best product.
• Be patient. Analysis takes practice.
• Ask them to teach you what they learned.
• Keep it fun. Use games and stories.
• Remind them to verify Copilot’s answers.
• Encourage them to ask Copilot when unsure.

Interesting Facts

• Data analysis is one of the most in-demand skills today.
• PivotTables were invented in 1986.
• Conditional formatting can make data easier to read.
• Trends help businesses plan for the future.
• Outliers can be signs of fraud or errors.
• Copilot can analyse data in seconds.
• Averages can be misleading if there are outliers.
• Reports help share findings with others.

Did You Know?

• Did you know that a PivotTable can summarise thousands of rows in seconds?
• Did you know that Copilot can create a chart for you?
• Did you know that conditional formatting can highlight the top 10 values?
• Did you know that trends can be up, down, or flat?
• Did you know that outliers are sometimes called “anomalies”?
• Did you know that Copilot can explain its answers?
• Did you know that summarising data saves time?
• Did you know that analysis is used in every industry?

Remember This

• Analysis turns data into answers.
• Summaries give a quick overview.
• Totals, averages, and counts are key numbers.
• Trends show change over time.
• Outliers are unusual values.
• PivotTables summarise data by category.
• Ask Copilot questions in plain English.
• Copilot creates reports quickly.
• Conditional formatting highlights key numbers.
• Always verify Copilot’s answers.

Common Mistakes

• Analysing messy data.
• Forgetting to check totals.
• Using the wrong column.
• Ignoring outliers.
• Not saving work.
• Trusting Copilot blindly.
• Not asking clear questions.
• Forgetting to add headings.

Best Practices

• Clean data before analysing.
• Use clear headings in row 1.
• Check totals and averages.
• Look for trends and outliers.
• Use PivotTables for summaries.
• Ask Copilot clear questions.
• Verify Copilot’s answers.
• Save your work often.
• Share your findings clearly.
• Keep learning new analysis skills.

Illustrations and Diagrams

Data Analysis Workflow

  Raw Data
      |
      V
  Clean Data
      |
      V
  Summarise
      |
      V
  Find Totals/Averages
      |
      V
  Spot Trends
      |
      V
  Create PivotTables
      |
      V
  Ask Questions
      |
      V
  Create Reports
      |
      V
  Make Decisions 🎉
  

Trend Illustration

  Sales
  250 |           *
  200 |        *
  150 |     *
  100 |  *
   50 |
      +----------------
       Jan Feb Mar Apr

  Trend: Going UP ↑
  

PivotTable Illustration

  Raw Data:
  Item   Amount
  Rice   500
  Beans  300
  Rice   400
  Beans  200

  PivotTable:
  Item   Total
  Rice   900
  Beans  500
  

Outlier Illustration

  Scores: 75, 78, 80, 82, 10, 79
                              ^
                          Outlier (10)
  

Your Learning Journey

  Module One: Getting Ready with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Two: Writing Formulas with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Three: Cleaning and Organising Data
        |
        V
  Module Four: Analysing Data with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Five: Charts and Visuals with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Six: Automation and Real-World Projects
        |
        V
  Copilot in Excel Expert 🎉
  

Comparison Tables

Total vs Average vs Count

Metric	What It Does	Example
Total	Adds all numbers	Total sales = ₦250,000
Average	Finds the middle value	Average sale = ₦2,500
Count	Counts items	Number of sales = 100

Trend vs Outlier

Feature	Trend	Outlier
What it is	A pattern over time	An unusual value
Example	Sales going up	A very low score
Use	Predict the future	Find mistakes or discoveries

Summary vs Report

Feature	Summary	Report
Length	Short	Longer
Purpose	Quick overview	Share findings
Example	Total sales	Monthly sales report

PivotTable vs Normal Table

Feature	PivotTable	Normal Table
Summarises?	Yes	No
Groups data?	Yes	No
Interactive?	Yes	No
Best for	Summaries	Raw data

Lesson Summaries

Lesson 1: Data analysis means finding useful information in data.

Lesson 2: Summaries give a quick overview of data.

Lesson 3: Totals, averages, and counts are key summary numbers.

Lesson 4: Trends show how things change over time.

Lesson 5: Outliers are unusual values that may be mistakes or discoveries.

Lesson 6: PivotTables summarise data by category.

Lesson 7: Ask Copilot questions in plain English.

Lesson 8: Copilot creates quick reports from your data.

Lesson 9: Conditional formatting highlights important numbers.

Lesson 10: Analyse a sales sheet step by step with Copilot.

Lesson 11: Common mistakes include analysing messy data.

Lesson 12: Best practices: clean data, check results, save often.

Lesson 13: Copilot answers business questions in plain English.

Lesson 14: Build a complete analysis workbook with Copilot.

Lesson 15: Data analysis turns numbers into decisions.

End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have finished Module Four of Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two. You learned what data analysis means. You learned how to summarise data, find totals, averages, and counts, spot trends and outliers, create PivotTables, ask questions in plain English, create quick reports, and use conditional formatting suggestions. You analysed a sales sheet from start to finish. You built a complete analysis workbook. You now know common mistakes and best practices. Most importantly, you can turn numbers into useful answers with Copilot as your helper. Keep practising, and you will become a Copilot in Excel expert!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is data analysis? Looking at data to find useful information.
2. How do I summarise data? Ask Copilot: “Summarise this data.”
3. How do I find totals? Use SUM or ask Copilot.
4. How do I find averages? Use AVERAGE or ask Copilot.
5. What is a trend? A pattern over time.
6. What is an outlier? A value very different from others.
7. What is a PivotTable? A tool that summarises data by category.
8. How do I ask Copilot questions? Type in plain English.
9. How do I create a report? Ask Copilot: “Create a report.”
10. How do I highlight important numbers? Use conditional formatting.

Matching Exercises

Match the tool to what it does.

Tool	What It Does
1. SUM	A. Finds the middle value
2. AVERAGE	B. Adds all numbers
3. PivotTable	C. Summarises by category
4. Conditional Formatting	D. Highlights important numbers
5. Copilot	E. Answers questions in plain English

Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D, 5-E

Scenario-based Exercises

1. Scenario: You want to know total sales for the month. What do you do?
   Answer: Ask Copilot for total sales.
2. Scenario: You want to know the best-selling product. What do you do?
   Answer: Ask Copilot or create a PivotTable.
3. Scenario: You want to know if sales are going up. What do you do?
   Answer: Ask Copilot for the trend.
4. Scenario: You want to highlight high scores. What do you do?
   Answer: Use conditional formatting.
5. Scenario: You want to share your findings. What do you do?
   Answer: Create a report with Copilot.

Group Activity

Title: “Analyse a Sales Sheet Together”

Instructions: In groups of 3–4, create a sales sheet in Excel with at least 20 rows. Use Copilot to summarise, find totals, averages, counts, trends, and create a PivotTable. One person types, one person asks Copilot, one person checks, and one person presents. Share your findings with the class.

Goal: Practice analysing data with Copilot.

Individual Activity

Task: Create a small Excel sheet with ten rows of data (e.g., scores, sales). Use Copilot to:

• Summarise the data.
• Find the total.
• Find the average.
• Find the count.
• Spot the trend (if any).
• Create a PivotTable.
• Create a short report.

Hint: Start with a clean table with headings.

Mini Project

Project: “My Sales Analysis Report”

Create an Excel sheet with at least 20 sales records. Include date, product, quantity, and amount. Use Copilot to:

• Summarise the data.
• Find total sales.
• Find average sale.
• Find the best-selling product.
• Spot the trend.
• Create a PivotTable.
• Create a monthly report.
• Apply conditional formatting.

Example output:

  +----------------------------------------+
  | SALES ANALYSIS REPORT                  |
  | Total Sales: ₦250,000                  |
  | Best Product: Phone Cases              |
  | Average Sale: ₦2,500                   |
  | Trend: Going UP ↑                      |
  | [Chart: Sales by Product]              |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Practical Assignment

Assignment: Create a new Excel workbook called Analysis_Report. In the workbook, do the following:

1. Create a sheet called “Sales” with at least 20 rows of data (date, product, quantity, amount).
2. Use Copilot to summarise the data.
3. Find total sales, average sale, and count.
4. Find the best-selling product.
5. Find the trend in sales.
6. Create a PivotTable of sales by product.
7. Create a monthly sales report.
8. Apply conditional formatting to highlight top products.
9. Add at least one chart.
10. Save the workbook.

Submit: Your workbook file and screenshots of your analysis and report.

Key Takeaways

• Analysis turns data into answers.
• Summaries give a quick overview.
• Totals, averages, and counts are key numbers.
• Trends show change over time.
• Outliers are unusual values.
• PivotTables summarise by category.
• Ask Copilot questions in plain English.
• Copilot creates reports quickly.
• Conditional formatting highlights key numbers.
• Always verify Copilot’s answers.
• Clean data before analysing.
• Save your work often.

Classroom Discussion Questions

1. Why is data analysis important?
2. How can trends help a business?
3. Why do outliers matter?
4. When would you use a PivotTable?
5. How can asking questions in plain English help you?
6. Why should you verify Copilot’s answers?
7. What is the difference between a summary and a report?
8. How does conditional formatting help?
9. Why should you clean data before analysing?
10. What did Tunde learn from his sales mystery?

Preparation for Module Five

In Module Five, we will learn how to create charts and visuals with Copilot. We will cover:

• Creating bar charts with Copilot.
• Creating line charts for trends.
• Creating pie charts for parts of a whole.
• Creating scatter plots for relationships.
• Customising charts with Copilot.
• Adding titles and labels.
• Creating dashboards with Copilot.
• Making charts tell a story.

To prepare, make sure you have completed the practical assignment and have a clean data sheet ready. Review your notes on analysis. Bring your curiosity!

See you in Module Five!

---

End of Module Four – Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two

Module Five: Charts and Visuals with Copilot – Making Your Data Beautiful

“Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two” – Take your Excel skills to the next level

Module Introduction

Welcome back, young Excel creator! In Module One, you learned what Copilot is. In Module Two, you learned formulas. In Module Three, you learned how to clean data. In Module Four, you learned how to analyse data and find answers.

Now it is time for something very exciting: charts and visuals with Copilot. A chart is a picture of your data. Instead of looking at rows and rows of numbers, you can look at a colourful picture that shows the same information. Pictures are easier to understand than numbers.

In this module, we will learn how to create bar charts, line charts, pie charts, scatter plots, and dashboards with Copilot. We will also learn how to customise charts, add titles and labels, and make charts tell a story. By the end, you will be able to turn any data into beautiful, clear visuals.

Let’s begin!

Learning Objectives

After finishing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain why charts are important.
• Create bar charts with Copilot.
• Create line charts for trends.
• Create pie charts for parts of a whole.
• Create scatter plots for relationships.
• Customise charts with Copilot.
• Add titles, labels, and legends.
• Create a dashboard with Copilot.
• Make charts tell a story.
• Complete a mini project and practical assignment.

Warm-up Story: Ada’s Beautiful Chart

Ada runs a small juice shop in Abuja. She sells orange juice, mango juice, pineapple juice, and watermelon juice. Every week, she records how many cups of each juice she sells in Excel.

One day, Ada’s friend asked her, “Which juice sells the best?” Ada looked at her Excel sheet. It had many rows of numbers. She could not quickly tell which juice was the best.

Her cousin Emeka said, “Ada, use Copilot to make a chart! A chart will show you the answer in a picture.”

Ada opened Copilot and asked: “Create a bar chart of juice sales.” Copilot made a colourful bar chart. The tallest bar was for mango juice. Ada could see at a glance that mango juice was her best seller.

Ada was amazed. She asked Copilot: “Create a pie chart to show the share of each juice.” Copilot made a beautiful pie chart. Ada could see that mango juice was 40% of her sales, orange juice was 30%, pineapple juice was 20%, and watermelon juice was 10%.

Ada showed the charts to her mother. Her mother said, “Ada, these charts are beautiful! Now I can see exactly which juice to make more of.” Ada learned that charts make data easy to understand.

Moral of the story: Charts turn numbers into pictures. Pictures are easier to understand. Copilot makes charts in seconds.

Main Lessons

Lesson 1: Why Charts Are Important

Definition: A chart is a picture that shows data. It uses shapes like bars, lines, or slices to represent numbers.

Why it is important: Charts make data easy to understand. You can see patterns and answers at a glance.

Simple explanation: Imagine trying to describe a person’s face using only numbers. It is hard. But a picture makes it easy. Charts are like pictures for numbers.

Real-life example: A bank shows a pie chart of spending categories.

School example: A teacher shows a bar chart of class scores.

Home example: A family shows a pie chart of monthly expenses.

Nigerian example: A trader shows a bar chart of weekly sales.

Illustration:

  Without chart:                With chart:
  Sales: 100, 150, 200          |
                                |     *
                                |   * *
                                | * * *
                                +---------
                                 Jan Feb Mar
  

Mini summary: Charts are pictures for data. They make numbers easy to understand. Copilot makes charts in seconds.

Lesson 2: Creating Bar Charts with Copilot

Definition: A bar chart uses bars of different heights to show values.

Why it is important: Bar charts are great for comparing things.

Simple explanation: Imagine comparing the heights of your friends. The tallest bar is the tallest friend.

Real-life example: A shop compares sales of different products.

School example: A teacher compares scores of different students.

Home example: A family compares spending on different items.

Nigerian example: A trader compares sales on different market days.

Illustration:

  Bar Chart: Juice Sales
  Mango     |████████████████ 40
  Orange    |████████████ 30
  Pineapple |████████ 20
  Watermelon|████ 10
            +-------------------
  
  Ask Copilot: "Create a bar chart of juice sales"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a bar chart of [your data].”
3. Copilot creates the bar chart.
4. Adjust the chart if needed.

Mini summary: Bar charts compare values using bars. Copilot creates them from a simple request.

Lesson 3: Creating Line Charts with Copilot

Definition: A line chart uses a line to show how values change over time.

Why it is important: Line charts show trends clearly.

Simple explanation: Imagine drawing a line to show your height each year. The line shows how you grew.

Real-life example: A bank shows how savings grow each month.

School example: A teacher shows how a student’s grades improve each term.

Home example: A family shows how electricity bills change each month.

Nigerian example: A trader shows how sales change each week.

Illustration:

  Line Chart: Monthly Sales
  300 |           *
  250 |        *
  200 |     *
  150 |  *
  100 |
      +----------------
       Jan Feb Mar Apr
  
  Trend: Going UP ↑
  
  Ask Copilot: "Create a line chart of monthly sales"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data table with dates or time periods.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a line chart of [your data].”
3. Copilot creates the line chart.
4. Check the trend.

Mini summary: Line charts show trends over time. Copilot creates them easily.

Lesson 4: Creating Pie Charts with Copilot

Definition: A pie chart uses slices of a circle to show parts of a whole.

Why it is important: Pie charts show how something is divided.

Simple explanation: Imagine cutting a pizza into slices. Each slice is a part of the whole pizza.

Real-life example: A bank shows how money is spent: food, rent, transport.

School example: A teacher shows how many students got A, B, C, D, F.

Home example: A family shows how the monthly budget is divided.

Nigerian example: A trader shows the share of each product in total sales.

Illustration:

  Pie Chart: Juice Sales Share
        +--------+
       /  Mango   \
      /   40%      \
     | Orange 30%  |
     | Pineapple20%|
      \ Watermelon/
       \   10%    /
        +--------+
  
  Ask Copilot: "Create a pie chart of juice sales share"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a pie chart of [your data].”
3. Copilot creates the pie chart.
4. Check the slices.

Mini summary: Pie charts show parts of a whole. Copilot creates them in seconds.

Lesson 5: Creating Scatter Plots with Copilot

Definition: A scatter plot uses dots to show the relationship between two sets of numbers.

Why it is important: Scatter plots show if two things are related.

Simple explanation: Imagine plotting your study hours against your test scores. If more study means higher scores, the dots go up.

Real-life example: A shop shows the relationship between price and sales.

School example: A teacher shows the relationship between attendance and scores.

Home example: A family shows the relationship between electricity use and bill amount.

Nigerian example: A trader shows the relationship between price and demand.

Illustration:

  Scatter Plot: Study Hours vs Scores
  100 |           *
   80 |       * *
   60 |   * *
   40 | *
      +----------------
       1  2  3  4  5
  
  More study = Higher score
  
  Ask Copilot: "Create a scatter plot of study hours vs scores"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select two columns of data.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a scatter plot of [column 1] vs [column 2].”
3. Copilot creates the scatter plot.
4. Look for a pattern.

Mini summary: Scatter plots show relationships between two things. Copilot creates them easily.

Lesson 6: Customising Charts with Copilot

Definition: Customising means changing how a chart looks.

Why it is important: Customised charts are clearer and more beautiful.

Simple explanation: Imagine decorating a cake. You choose the colour, the shape, and the message.

Real-life example: A bank uses the company colours in its charts.

School example: A teacher uses bright colours for a class chart.

Home example: A family uses favourite colours in a budget chart.

Nigerian example: A trader uses green and white for a chart.

Illustration:

  Before customising:          After customising:
  +--------+                   +========+
  | Chart  |                   | TITLE  |
  +--------+                   | Chart  |
                               | Labels |
                               +========+
  
  Ask Copilot: "Change the chart title to 'Juice Sales' and add data labels"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Click your chart.
2. Ask Copilot: “Change the title to [title].”
3. Ask Copilot: “Add data labels.”
4. Ask Copilot: “Change the colour to [colour].”

Mini summary: Customising makes charts clearer and more beautiful. Copilot does it with simple requests.

Lesson 7: Adding Titles, Labels, and Legends

Definition: A title tells what the chart is about. Labels show the values. A legend explains the colours.

Why it is important: Titles, labels, and legends make charts easy to understand.

Simple explanation: Imagine a book with no title. You would not know what it is about.

Real-life example: A bank chart has a title, labels, and a legend.

School example: A teacher adds a title to a class chart.

Home example: A family adds labels to a budget chart.

Nigerian example: A trader adds a legend to a sales chart.

Illustration:

  +--------------------------------+
  |      JUICE SALES (Title)       |
  |  Mango     |████████ 40 (Label)|
  |  Orange    |████████ 30        |
  |  Pineapple |██████ 20          |
  |  Watermelon|████ 10            |
  |  Legend: ██ = Sales            |
  +--------------------------------+
  

Step-by-step:

1. Click your chart.
2. Ask Copilot: “Add a title.”
3. Ask Copilot: “Add data labels.”
4. Ask Copilot: “Add a legend.”

Mini summary: Titles, labels, and legends make charts clear. Copilot adds them quickly.

Lesson 8: Creating a Dashboard with Copilot

Definition: A dashboard is a collection of charts and numbers on one page.

Why it is important: Dashboards show everything important at a glance.

Simple explanation: Imagine a car dashboard. It shows speed, fuel, and temperature all in one place.

Real-life example: A bank has a dashboard showing income, expenses, and savings.

School example: A teacher has a dashboard showing class averages.

Home example: A family has a dashboard showing monthly spending.

Nigerian example: A trader has a dashboard showing daily sales and profit.

Illustration:

  +----------------------------------------+
  |           SALES DASHBOARD              |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  | Total  |  | Best   |  | Average|    |
  |  | ₦250k  |  | Mango  |  | ₦2,500 |    |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  |  | Bar Chart        |  | Pie Chart  |  |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  +----------------------------------------+
  
  Ask Copilot: "Create a dashboard with my key numbers and charts"
  

Step-by-step:

1. Select your data.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a dashboard.”
3. Copilot creates a dashboard with charts and key numbers.
4. Arrange the items as you like.

Mini summary: Dashboards show everything important at a glance. Copilot creates them easily.

Lesson 9: Making Charts Tell a Story

Definition: Making charts tell a story means using charts to explain something clearly.

Why it is important: Stories help people understand and remember.

Simple explanation: Imagine telling a story with pictures instead of words.

Real-life example: A bank uses charts to show how savings grow.

School example: A teacher uses charts to show class progress.

Home example: A family uses charts to show budget changes.

Nigerian example: A trader uses charts to show business growth.

Illustration:

  Story: "Our sales grew from January to April"
       |
       V
  Chart 1: Bar chart of monthly sales
       |
       V
  Chart 2: Line chart showing the trend up
       |
       V
  Chart 3: Pie chart showing best product
       |
       V
  Conclusion: Sales are growing!
  

Step-by-step:

1. Think about what you want to say.
2. Choose charts that show your message.
3. Add titles that tell the story.
4. Arrange charts in order.

Mini summary: Charts can tell a story. Copilot helps you make the story clear.

Lesson 10: Choosing the Right Chart

Definition: Different charts are best for different things.

Why it is important: The right chart makes the message clear. The wrong chart confuses.

Simple explanation: Imagine using a spoon to cut meat. The right tool matters.

Real-life example: A bank uses a line chart for trends and a pie chart for shares.

School example: A teacher uses a bar chart for comparisons.

Home example: A family uses a pie chart for budget shares.

Nigerian example: A trader uses a bar chart for product comparison.

Table of chart uses:

Chart	Best For	Example
Bar	Comparing things	Sales of different products
Line	Showing trends over time	Monthly sales
Pie	Showing parts of a whole	Budget shares
Scatter	Showing relationships	Study vs scores

Mini summary: Choose the right chart for your message. Copilot helps you choose.

Lesson 11: Common Mistakes with Charts

Definition: Mistakes happen. Knowing them helps you avoid them.

Why it is important: A wrong chart can confuse people.

Simple explanation: Imagine wearing the wrong clothes to a party. You look out of place.

Real-life example: A bank uses a pie chart for a trend. It confuses.

School example: A teacher uses a scatter plot for simple comparison.

Home example: A family uses a line chart for budget shares.

Nigerian example: A trader uses a pie chart for many categories.

Table of common mistakes:

Mistake	What Happens	How to Fix
Using too many charts	Confusing	Use fewer charts
Using the wrong chart type	Wrong message	Choose the right chart
Forgetting titles	Unclear	Add titles
Using too many colours	Messy	Use few colours
No data labels	Hard to read	Add labels
Not checking the data	Wrong chart	Check data first

Mini summary: Common mistakes include wrong chart types and missing titles. Check your charts.

Lesson 12: Best Practices for Charts

Definition: Best practices are good habits that make charts clear and beautiful.

Why it is important: Good charts communicate clearly.

Simple explanation: Like keeping your room tidy. It looks better and is easier to use.

Real-life example: A bank keeps charts simple and clear.

School example: A teacher uses few colours in charts.

Home example: A family keeps budget charts simple.

Nigerian example: A trader uses clear titles in sales charts.

List of best practices:

• Choose the right chart type.
• Keep it simple.
• Add a clear title.
• Add data labels.
• Use few colours.
• Make sure the data is correct.
• Arrange charts neatly.
• Save your work often.
• Ask Copilot for suggestions.
• Check your chart before sharing.

Mini summary: Best practices: right chart, simple design, clear title, few colours.

Lesson 13: Creating Charts for a Sales Report

Let’s create charts for a sales report.

Step 1: Open your sales data.

Step 2: Ask Copilot: “Create a bar chart of sales by product.”

Step 3: Ask Copilot: “Create a line chart of monthly sales.”

Step 4: Ask Copilot: “Create a pie chart of sales share.”

Step 5: Add titles and labels to each chart.

Step 6: Arrange charts on one sheet.

Step 7: Add a text box explaining the story.

Step 8: Save as “My_Sales_Charts”.

Illustration:

  +----------------------------------------+
  |           SALES REPORT                 |
  |  Bar Chart: Sales by Product           |
  |  Line Chart: Monthly Trend             |
  |  Pie Chart: Sales Share                |
  |  Story: "Sales are growing!"           |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Mini summary: Sales reports use bar, line, and pie charts. Copilot creates them quickly.

Lesson 14: Creating a Complete Dashboard

Let’s build a complete dashboard.

Step 1: Open a clean data sheet.

Step 2: Ask Copilot: “Create a dashboard with key numbers.”

Step 3: Add a bar chart of sales by product.

Step 4: Add a line chart of monthly sales.

Step 5: Add a pie chart of sales share.

Step 6: Add key numbers (total, average, best product).

Step 7: Add a title to the dashboard.

Step 8: Arrange everything neatly.

Step 9: Save as “My_Dashboard”.

Illustration:

  +----------------------------------------+
  |           MY DASHBOARD                 |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  | Total  |  | Best   |  | Average|    |
  |  | ₦250k  |  | Mango  |  | ₦2,500 |    |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  |  | Bar Chart        |  | Pie Chart  |  |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  |  +----------------------------------+  |
  |  | Line Chart: Monthly Trend        |  |
  |  +----------------------------------+  |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Mini summary: A dashboard combines charts and numbers. Copilot creates it easily.

Lesson 15: Putting It All Together – From Data to Beautiful Visuals

Now you can turn data into beautiful visuals.

Step 1: Collect your data.

Step 2: Clean your data (Module 3).

Step 3: Analyse your data with Copilot (Module 4).

Step 4: Create charts with Copilot.

Step 5: Customise your charts.

Step 6: Build a dashboard.

Step 7: Share your visuals.

Step 8: Make better decisions.

Illustration:

  Raw Data
      |
      V
  Clean Data
      |
      V
  Analyse with Copilot
      |
      V
  Create Charts
      |
      V
  Customise
      |
      V
  Build Dashboard
      |
      V
  Share Visuals
      |
      V
  Better Decisions 🎉
  

Mini summary: Charts turn data into beautiful visuals. Copilot helps at every step.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Simple Definition
Chart	A picture that shows data.
Bar chart	Uses bars to compare values.
Line chart	Uses a line to show trends.
Pie chart	Uses slices to show parts of a whole.
Scatter plot	Uses dots to show relationships.
Dashboard	A collection of charts and numbers on one page.
Customise	Change how something looks.
Title	Text that tells what the chart is about.
Label	Text that shows a value.
Legend	Text that explains the colours.
Trend	A pattern over time.
Visual	Something you can see.
Data labels	Numbers shown on a chart.
Axis	The lines that show the scale.
Gridlines	Lines that help you read the chart.

Important Concepts

• Charts are pictures for data: They make numbers easy to understand.
• Bar charts compare: Great for comparing products or people.
• Line charts show trends: Great for showing change over time.
• Pie charts show shares: Great for showing parts of a whole.
• Scatter plots show relationships: Great for showing how two things are related.
• Customising makes charts clear: Add titles, labels, and colours.
• Dashboards show everything at once: Combine charts and numbers.
• Charts can tell a story: Use charts to explain your message.
• Choose the right chart: Match the chart to your message.
• Copilot creates charts quickly: Just ask in plain English.

Step-by-step Explanations

How to create a bar chart step by step

1. Select your data table.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a bar chart.”
3. Copilot creates the chart.
4. Adjust if needed.

How to create a line chart step by step

1. Select your data with dates or time.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a line chart.”
3. Copilot creates the chart.
4. Check the trend.

How to create a pie chart step by step

1. Select your data.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a pie chart.”
3. Copilot creates the chart.
4. Check the slices.

How to create a scatter plot step by step

1. Select two columns of data.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a scatter plot.”
3. Copilot creates the chart.
4. Look for a pattern.

How to customise a chart step by step

1. Click your chart.
2. Ask Copilot: “Change the title.”
3. Ask Copilot: “Add data labels.”
4. Ask Copilot: “Change the colour.”

Real-life Examples

• Shops: Use bar charts to compare product sales.
• Schools: Use line charts to show student progress.
• Homes: Use pie charts to show budget shares.
• Offices: Use dashboards to show key numbers.
• Hospitals: Use charts to show patient trends.

Nigerian Examples

• Market traders: Use bar charts to compare sales.
• POS operators: Use line charts to show daily transactions.
• Schools in Lagos: Use pie charts for grade shares.
• Transporters: Use scatter plots for fuel vs distance.
• Church groups: Use dashboards for donations.

Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

• Video game scores: Bar chart of high scores.
• Football league: Line chart of team points.
• Pocket money: Pie chart of spending.
• Chores: Bar chart of time per chore.
• Snack list: Pie chart of favourite snacks.

Everyday Examples

• Shopping list: Bar chart of prices.
• School timetable: Pie chart of subjects.
• Exercise log: Line chart of minutes per day.
• Reading list: Bar chart of pages per book.
• Grocery budget: Pie chart of spending shares.

Parent Tips

• Encourage your child to make charts for simple data.
• Let them use colours they like.
• Use everyday examples to explain charts.
• Set a small daily practice time.
• Celebrate small wins, like a beautiful chart.
• Be patient. Chart-making takes practice.
• Ask them to teach you what they learned.
• Keep it fun. Use games and stories.
• Remind them to choose the right chart.
• Encourage them to ask Copilot when unsure.

Interesting Facts

• Charts have been used for hundreds of years.
• Pie charts were invented by Florence Nightingale.
• Bar charts are the most common chart type.
• Line charts are used in stock markets.
• Dashboards are used in cars, banks, and businesses.
• Copilot can create charts in seconds.
• The right chart makes data easy to understand.
• Charts can help you tell a story.

Did You Know?

• Did you know that Copilot can suggest the best chart for your data?
• Did you know that you can change chart colours with one request?
• Did you know that pie charts are best for parts of a whole?
• Did you know that line charts show trends over time?
• Did you know that scatter plots show relationships?
• Did you know that dashboards show everything at once?
• Did you know that charts can be interactive in Excel?
• Did you know that a good chart can save hours of explanation?

Remember This

• Charts are pictures for data.
• Bar charts compare values.
• Line charts show trends.
• Pie charts show parts of a whole.
• Scatter plots show relationships.
• Customising makes charts clear.
• Add titles, labels, and legends.
• Dashboards show everything at once.
• Charts can tell a story.
• Choose the right chart for your message.
• Always check your data first.
• Ask Copilot when unsure.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong chart type.
• Using too many colours.
• Forgetting titles and labels.
• Not checking the data.
• Making charts too complex.
• Not saving work.
• Not arranging charts neatly.
• Trusting Copilot blindly.

Best Practices

• Choose the right chart type.
• Keep it simple.
• Add a clear title.
• Add data labels.
• Use few colours.
• Make sure the data is correct.
• Arrange charts neatly.
• Save your work often.
• Ask Copilot for suggestions.
• Check your chart before sharing.

Illustrations and Diagrams

Chart Creation Workflow

  Clean Data
      |
      V
  Analyse Data
      |
      V
  Choose Chart Type
      |
      V
  Ask Copilot to Create
      |
      V
  Customise
      |
      V
  Add to Report
      |
      V
  Share Visuals 🎉
  

Bar Chart Illustration

  Mango     |████████████████
  Orange    |████████████
  Pineapple |████████
  Watermelon|████
  

Line Chart Illustration

  300 |           *
  250 |        *
  200 |     *
  150 |  *
  100 |
      +----------------
       Jan Feb Mar Apr
  

Pie Chart Illustration

       +--------+
      /  Mango   \
     /   40%      \
    | Orange 30%  |
    | Pineapple20%|
     \ Watermelon/
      \   10%    /
       +--------+
  

Dashboard Illustration

  +----------------------------------------+
  |           MY DASHBOARD                 |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  | Total  |  | Best   |  | Average|    |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  |  | Bar Chart        |  | Pie Chart  |  |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Your Learning Journey

  Module One: Getting Ready with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Two: Writing Formulas with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Three: Cleaning and Organising Data
        |
        V
  Module Four: Analysing Data with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Five: Charts and Visuals with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Six: Automation and Real-World Projects
        |
        V
  Copilot in Excel Expert 🎉
  

Comparison Tables

Chart Types

Chart	Best For	Example
Bar	Comparing things	Sales by product
Line	Trends over time	Monthly sales
Pie	Parts of a whole	Budget shares
Scatter	Relationships	Study vs scores

Chart vs Table

Feature	Chart	Table
Speed to understand	Fast	Slow
Shows patterns	Yes	Hard
Shows exact numbers	Sometimes	Yes
Best for	Visuals	Details

Dashboard vs Single Chart

Feature	Dashboard	Single Chart
Number of charts	Many	One
Shows key numbers	Yes	No
Best for	Overview	Focused view

Bar vs Line vs Pie

Chart	Use When	Not Good For
Bar	Comparing categories	Trends over time
Line	Showing trends	Parts of a whole
Pie	Parts of a whole	Many categories

Lesson Summaries

Lesson 1: Charts are pictures for data. They make numbers easy to understand.

Lesson 2: Bar charts compare values using bars.

Lesson 3: Line charts show trends over time.

Lesson 4: Pie charts show parts of a whole.

Lesson 5: Scatter plots show relationships between two things.

Lesson 6: Customising makes charts clearer and more beautiful.

Lesson 7: Titles, labels, and legends make charts easy to understand.

Lesson 8: Dashboards show everything important at a glance.

Lesson 9: Charts can tell a story.

Lesson 10: Choose the right chart for your message.

Lesson 11: Common mistakes include wrong chart types.

Lesson 12: Best practices: right chart, simple design, clear title.

Lesson 13: Sales reports use bar, line, and pie charts.

Lesson 14: Build a complete dashboard with Copilot.

Lesson 15: Charts turn data into beautiful visuals.

End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have finished Module Five of Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two. You learned why charts are important. You learned how to create bar charts, line charts, pie charts, and scatter plots with Copilot. You learned how to customise charts, add titles, labels, and legends, create dashboards, and make charts tell a story. You created charts for a sales report. You built a complete dashboard. You now know common mistakes and best practices. Most importantly, you can turn data into beautiful, clear visuals with Copilot as your helper. Keep practising, and you will become a Copilot in Excel expert!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a chart? A picture that shows data.
2. Why are charts important? They make data easy to understand.
3. How do I create a bar chart? Ask Copilot: “Create a bar chart.”
4. How do I create a line chart? Ask Copilot: “Create a line chart.”
5. How do I create a pie chart? Ask Copilot: “Create a pie chart.”
6. What is a scatter plot? A chart that shows relationships.
7. How do I customise a chart? Ask Copilot to change colours, titles, or labels.
8. What is a dashboard? A collection of charts and numbers on one page.
9. How do I make charts tell a story? Use charts that support your message.
10. How do I choose the right chart? Match the chart to your message.

Matching Exercises

Match the chart to its use.

Chart	Use
1. Bar chart	A. Shows parts of a whole
2. Line chart	B. Compares values
3. Pie chart	C. Shows relationships
4. Scatter plot	D. Shows trends over time
5. Dashboard	E. Shows everything at once

Answers: 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C, 5-E

Scenario-based Exercises

1. Scenario: You want to compare sales of different products. What chart?
   Answer: Bar chart.
2. Scenario: You want to show how sales changed over time. What chart?
   Answer: Line chart.
3. Scenario: You want to show the share of each product. What chart?
   Answer: Pie chart.
4. Scenario: You want to show if study time affects scores. What chart?
   Answer: Scatter plot.
5. Scenario: You want to show many charts and numbers on one page. What?
   Answer: Dashboard.

Group Activity

Title: “Create a Chart Story Together”

Instructions: In groups of 3–4, create a sales sheet in Excel with at least 20 rows. Use Copilot to create a bar chart, a line chart, and a pie chart. Add titles and labels. Arrange the charts on one sheet and write a short story about what the charts show. One person types, one person asks Copilot, one person customises, and one person presents. Share your chart story with the class.

Goal: Practice creating charts and telling a story with Copilot.

Individual Activity

Task: Create a small Excel sheet with ten rows of data (e.g., favourite foods, scores). Use Copilot to:

• Create a bar chart.
• Create a line chart.
• Create a pie chart.
• Add titles and labels.
• Customise the colours.

Hint: Start with a clean table with headings.

Mini Project

Project: “My Juice Sales Dashboard”

Create an Excel sheet with juice sales data (at least 5 types of juice, 20 rows). Use Copilot to:

• Create a bar chart of sales by juice.
• Create a line chart of weekly sales.
• Create a pie chart of sales share.
• Add key numbers (total, best seller, average).
• Arrange everything on one sheet as a dashboard.
• Add a title and a short explanation.

Example output:

  +----------------------------------------+
  |          JUICE SALES DASHBOARD         |
  |  Total: ₦50,000  | Best: Mango         |
  |  [Bar Chart]     | [Pie Chart]         |
  |  [Line Chart]    | [Explanation]       |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Practical Assignment

Assignment: Create a new Excel workbook called Charts_Report. In the workbook, do the following:

1. Create a sheet called “Sales” with at least 20 rows of data (date, product, quantity, amount).
2. Use Copilot to create a bar chart of sales by product.
3. Use Copilot to create a line chart of monthly sales.
4. Use Copilot to create a pie chart of sales share.
5. Use Copilot to create a scatter plot of quantity vs amount.
6. Add titles, labels, and legends to each chart.
7. Customise the colours.
8. Arrange the charts into a dashboard.
9. Write a short story about what the charts show.
10. Save the workbook.

Submit: Your workbook file and screenshots of your charts and dashboard.

Key Takeaways

• Charts are pictures for data.
• Bar charts compare values.
• Line charts show trends.
• Pie charts show parts of a whole.
• Scatter plots show relationships.
• Customising makes charts clear.
• Add titles, labels, and legends.
• Dashboards show everything at once.
• Charts can tell a story.
• Choose the right chart for your message.
• Always check your data first.
• Ask Copilot when unsure.

Classroom Discussion Questions

1. Why are charts important?
2. What is your favourite type of chart and why?
3. When would you use a pie chart?
4. When would you use a line chart?
5. How can charts help a business?
6. Why should you add titles and labels?
7. What is a dashboard?
8. How can charts tell a story?
9. Why should you choose the right chart?
10. What did Ada learn from her juice sales charts?

Preparation for Module Six

In Module Six, we will learn how to automate tasks and build real-world projects with Copilot. We will cover:

• Automating repetitive tasks with Copilot.
• Using macros and Copilot.
• Building a complete business dashboard.
• Creating monthly reports automatically.
• Using Copilot for data entry.
• Connecting Excel with other Microsoft apps.
• Real-world projects with Copilot.
• Preparing for the final assessment.

To prepare, make sure you have completed the practical assignment and have a clean data sheet with charts ready. Review your notes on charts and visuals. Bring your creativity!

See you in Module Six!

---

End of Module Five – Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two

Module Six: Automation and Real-World Projects with Copilot – Becoming an Excel Expert

“Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two” – Take your Excel skills to the next level

Module Introduction

Welcome to the final module, young Excel champion! You have come a long way. In Module One, you learned what Copilot is. In Module Two, you learned formulas. In Module Three, you learned how to clean data. In Module Four, you learned how to analyse data. In Module Five, you learned how to create charts and visuals.

Now, in Module Six, we will learn something very powerful: automation and real-world projects. Automation means making Excel do repetitive tasks by itself. Instead of typing the same thing every week, you set it up once, and Excel does it for you.

We will also build complete, real-world projects. You will create a full business dashboard, automate monthly reports, use Copilot for data entry, connect Excel with other Microsoft apps, and prepare for your final assessment. By the end, you will be a true Copilot in Excel expert.

Let’s begin!

Learning Objectives

After finishing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain what automation means.
• Automate repetitive tasks with Copilot.
• Understand macros and how they help.
• Build a complete business dashboard.
• Create monthly reports automatically.
• Use Copilot for data entry.
• Connect Excel with other Microsoft apps.
• Complete a real-world project from start to finish.
• Prepare for the final assessment.
• Plan your next steps as an Excel expert.

Warm-up Story: Chidi’s Automated Shop Report

Chidi runs a small electronics shop in Port Harcourt. He sells chargers, earphones, phone cases, and screen protectors. Every week, he does the same tasks: he enters sales data, cleans it, creates charts, and writes a report for his father.

Chidi loved using Copilot, but he wished there was a way to avoid repeating the same steps every week. It took him about two hours each time.

His teacher said, “Chidi, you can automate your report! Use Copilot to set up a template that updates itself. Once you set it up, you just add new data, and everything else happens automatically.”

Chidi tried it. He built a template with formulas, charts, and a dashboard. He connected it to his sales sheet. Now, when he adds new sales data, the report updates automatically. What used to take two hours now takes five minutes.

Chidi’s father was very impressed. “You have become a real Excel expert,” he said. Chidi smiled. He knew that automation had changed everything.

Moral of the story: Automation saves time. Set it up once, and it works again and again. Copilot makes automation easy.

Main Lessons

Lesson 1: What is Automation?

Definition: Automation means making a task happen automatically, without you doing it manually each time.

Why it is important: Automation saves time and reduces mistakes.

Simple explanation: Imagine setting an alarm to wake you up. You set it once, and it rings every morning. That is automation.

Real-life example: A bank automatically sends monthly statements.

School example: A school automatically sends exam reminders to students.

Home example: A washing machine automatically washes clothes.

Nigerian example: A POS operator automatically generates daily transaction reports.

Illustration:

  Manual task:                     Automated task:
  Type data                        Type data once
  Clean data                       Cleaning happens automatically
  Create charts                    Charts update automatically
  Write report                     Report updates automatically
  (2 hours)                        (5 minutes)
  

Mini summary: Automation makes tasks happen automatically. It saves time and reduces mistakes. Copilot helps you automate.

Lesson 2: Automating Tasks with Copilot

Definition: Copilot can automate many Excel tasks when you set them up.

Why it is important: It saves you from doing the same thing again and again.

Simple explanation: You tell Copilot what you need, and it sets up the automation.

Real-life example: A shop owner automates weekly sales reports.

School example: A teacher automates grade calculation.

Home example: A family automates budget tracking.

Nigerian example: A trader automates profit calculation.

Illustration:

  You: "Copilot, set up a weekly sales report template"
       |
       V
  Copilot: Creates formulas, charts, and a dashboard
       |
       V
  You: Add new data each week
       |
       V
  Report updates automatically!
  

Step-by-step:

1. Open your data in Excel.
2. Ask Copilot: “Help me automate this report.”
3. Copilot creates formulas, charts, and a template.
4. Each week, add new data.
5. The report updates automatically.

Mini summary: Copilot helps you automate reports and tasks. Set up once, use forever.

Lesson 3: What are Macros?

Definition: A macro is a recorded set of steps that Excel can play back automatically.

Why it is important: Macros let you repeat many steps with one click.

Simple explanation: Imagine recording yourself doing a task. Later, you press “play,” and it does the same task again.

Real-life example: A bank uses a macro to format monthly reports.

School example: A teacher uses a macro to calculate final grades.

Home example: A family uses a macro to update the budget.

Nigerian example: A trader uses a macro to create daily sales summaries.

Illustration:

  Record macro:
  1. Clean data
  2. Create chart
  3. Add total

  Press "Play" → All steps happen automatically!
  

Step-by-step:

1. Ask Copilot: “How do I record a macro?”
2. Copilot explains the steps.
3. Go to View > Macros > Record Macro.
4. Do your steps.
5. Stop recording.
6. Press Play to repeat.

Mini summary: Macros record and replay steps. Copilot explains how to use them.

Lesson 4: Building a Business Dashboard

Definition: A business dashboard is a page that shows all key business numbers and charts in one place.

Why it is important: A dashboard shows the health of a business at a glance.

Simple explanation: Imagine the dashboard of a car. It shows speed, fuel, and temperature. A business dashboard shows sales, profit, and customers.

Real-life example: A bank has a dashboard showing income, expenses, and savings.

School example: A school has a dashboard showing student performance.

Home example: A family has a dashboard showing monthly spending.

Nigerian example: A trader has a dashboard showing daily sales and profit.

Illustration:

  +----------------------------------------+
  |         BUSINESS DASHBOARD             |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  | Sales  |  | Profit |  |Customers|   |
  |  | ₦250k  |  | ₦80k   |  | 150     |   |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  |  | Bar Chart        |  | Pie Chart  |  |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Step-by-step:

1. Open your clean data.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a dashboard.”
3. Copilot creates key numbers and charts.
4. Arrange the items neatly.
5. Save as “My_Business_Dashboard”.

Mini summary: A business dashboard shows key numbers and charts. Copilot creates it quickly.

Lesson 5: Creating Monthly Reports Automatically

Definition: An automated monthly report is a report that updates itself when new data is added.

Why it is important: It saves time and ensures the report is always up to date.

Simple explanation: Imagine a report that writes itself each month. You just add data.

Real-life example: A bank automatically sends monthly statements.

School example: A teacher automatically creates monthly performance reports.

Home example: A family automatically tracks monthly spending.

Nigerian example: A trader automatically creates monthly profit reports.

Illustration:

  Add new data
       |
       V
  Formulas update
       |
       V
  Charts update
       |
       V
  Report updates automatically!
  

Step-by-step:

1. Set up your data table.
2. Create formulas for totals, averages, etc.
3. Create charts linked to the data.
4. Arrange into a report template.
5. Each month, add new data.
6. The report updates automatically.

Mini summary: Automated reports update when data changes. Set up once, use every month.

Lesson 6: Using Copilot for Data Entry

Definition: Data entry means typing data into Excel.

Why it is important: Copilot can help speed up data entry and reduce mistakes.

Simple explanation: Instead of typing everything yourself, Copilot helps fill in the data.

Real-life example: A bank uses Copilot to enter customer details.

School example: A teacher uses Copilot to enter student names.

Home example: A family uses Copilot to enter shopping items.

Nigerian example: A trader uses Copilot to enter product prices.

Illustration:

  You: "Copilot, fill in today's date for all rows"
       |
       V
  Copilot: Fills in the date automatically
       |
       V
  You: Save time!
  

Step-by-step:

1. Ask Copilot: “Fill in [data] for all rows.”
2. Copilot fills in the data.
3. Check the data is correct.
4. Save your work.

Mini summary: Copilot speeds up data entry and reduces mistakes.

Lesson 7: Connecting Excel with Other Microsoft Apps

Definition: Connecting Excel with other apps means using data from Excel in Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, or Teams.

Why it is important: It saves time and keeps information consistent.

Simple explanation: Imagine using the same data in a report and a presentation without retyping.

Real-life example: A bank uses Excel data in PowerPoint presentations.

School example: A teacher uses Excel data in a Word report.

Home example: A family uses Excel data in an email.

Nigerian example: A trader uses Excel data in a WhatsApp message.

Illustration:

  Excel Data
       |
       +--> Word Report
       |
       +--> PowerPoint Slide
       |
       +--> Outlook Email
       |
       +--> Teams Message
  

Step-by-step:

1. Create your data and charts in Excel.
2. Copy the data or chart.
3. Paste into Word, PowerPoint, or Outlook.
4. Ask Copilot to help format.

Mini summary: Excel connects with other Microsoft apps. Copilot helps you move data easily.

Lesson 8: Using Copilot for Real-World Projects

Definition: A real-world project is a project that solves a real problem.

Why it is important: Real-world projects show what you can do.

Simple explanation: Imagine building something useful for your family or community.

Real-life example: A business uses Copilot to track sales and expenses.

School example: A student uses Copilot to track study time.

Home example: A family uses Copilot to track monthly budget.

Nigerian example: A trader uses Copilot to track daily sales.

Illustration:

  Real Problem
       |
       V
  Plan Solution
       |
       V
  Use Copilot
       |
       V
  Build Project
       |
       V
  Solve Problem 🎉
  

Step-by-step:

1. Identify a real problem.
2. Plan how Excel and Copilot can help.
3. Build your project step by step.
4. Test and improve.
5. Share your solution.

Mini summary: Real-world projects solve real problems. Copilot helps you build them.

Lesson 9: Preparing for the Final Assessment

Definition: The final assessment tests what you have learned in the course.

Why it is important: It shows that you are an Excel expert.

Simple explanation: It is like a final exam that proves your skills.

Real-life example: A driver takes a test to get a license.

School example: A student takes a final exam.

Home example: A family checks the budget at the end of the month.

Nigerian example: A trader checks profit at the end of the week.

Illustration:

  Review Modules 1-5
       |
       V
  Practice with Copilot
       |
       V
  Complete Final Project
       |
       V
  Take Assessment
       |
       V
  Become an Expert 🎉
  

Step-by-step:

1. Review all modules.
2. Practice using Copilot.
3. Complete the final project.
4. Take the assessment.
5. Celebrate your success!

Mini summary: Prepare well for the final assessment. Practice and review.

Lesson 10: Common Mistakes in Automation

Definition: Mistakes happen. Knowing them helps you avoid them.

Why it is important: A small mistake in automation can cause big problems.

Simple explanation: Imagine setting an alarm for the wrong time. You might miss something important.

Real-life example: A bank automates a report with the wrong formula.

School example: A teacher automates grades with the wrong formula.

Home example: A family automates a budget with wrong numbers.

Nigerian example: A trader automates profit with the wrong formula.

Table of common mistakes:

Mistake	What Happens	How to Fix
Wrong formula	Wrong results	Check formulas
Wrong cell reference	Wrong data	Check references
Not testing	Errors appear	Test before using
Forgetting to save	Lose work	Save often
Not making a backup	Cannot undo	Backup first
Too complex	Hard to fix	Keep it simple

Mini summary: Common mistakes include wrong formulas and forgetting to test. Always check your work.

Lesson 11: Best Practices for Automation

Definition: Best practices are good habits that make automation safe and easy.

Why it is important: Good habits save time and prevent mistakes.

Simple explanation: Like washing your hands before cooking.

Real-life example: A chef keeping the kitchen clean.

School example: A student keeping their notebook neat.

Home example: A family keeping the house tidy.

Nigerian example: A trader keeping the stall clean and organised.

List of best practices:

• Always make a backup before automating.
• Keep formulas simple.
• Test your automation with sample data.
• Use clear headings.
• Document what you did.
• Save your work often.
• Review the automation regularly.
• Ask Copilot if unsure.
• Share your automation with others.
• Keep learning new features.

Mini summary: Best practices: backup, keep simple, test, document, save often.

Lesson 12: Building a Complete Business Solution

Let’s build a complete business solution.

Step 1: Create a sales data sheet.

Step 2: Clean the data with Copilot.

Step 3: Analyse the data with Copilot.

Step 4: Create charts with Copilot.

Step 5: Build a dashboard with Copilot.

Step 6: Set up automated monthly reports.

Step 7: Connect with PowerPoint for presentations.

Step 8: Save as “My_Business_Solution”.

Illustration:

  Raw Data
      |
      V
  Clean Data
      |
      V
  Analyse Data
      |
      V
  Create Charts
      |
      V
  Build Dashboard
      |
      V
  Automate Reports
      |
      V
  Connect to Apps
      |
      V
  Complete Business Solution 🎉
  

Mini summary: A complete business solution combines cleaning, analysis, charts, dashboards, and automation.

Lesson 13: Real-World Project – Sales Tracker

Let’s build a real-world sales tracker.

Step 1: Create a sheet called “Sales”.

Step 2: Add columns: Date, Product, Quantity, Price, Total.

Step 3: Use Copilot to create the Total formula.

Step 4: Add a PivotTable of sales by product.

Step 5: Create a bar chart of sales by product.

Step 6: Create a line chart of monthly sales.

Step 7: Build a dashboard with key numbers.

Step 8: Save as “My_Sales_Tracker”.

Illustration:

  +----------------------------------------+
  |           SALES TRACKER                |
  |  Total: ₦250k  | Best: Phone Cases     |
  |  [Bar Chart]   | [Line Chart]          |
  |  [PivotTable]  | [Dashboard]           |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Mini summary: A sales tracker combines data, formulas, charts, and a dashboard.

Lesson 14: Real-World Project – Budget Planner

Let’s build a real-world budget planner.

Step 1: Create a sheet called “Budget”.

Step 2: Add columns: Category, Planned, Actual, Difference.

Step 3: Use Copilot to create the Difference formula.

Step 4: Create a pie chart of spending shares.

Step 5: Create a bar chart of planned vs actual.

Step 6: Add conditional formatting to highlight overspending.

Step 7: Build a dashboard with key numbers.

Step 8: Save as “My_Budget_Planner”.

Illustration:

  +----------------------------------------+
  |           BUDGET PLANNER               |
  |  Total Planned: ₦50,000                |
  |  Total Actual: ₦45,000                 |
  |  Difference: ₦5,000                    |
  |  [Pie Chart]   | [Bar Chart]           |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Mini summary: A budget planner tracks income and expenses with charts and a dashboard.

Lesson 15: Putting It All Together – Your Excel Expert Journey

You have learned a lot! Let’s review your journey.

Module 1: You learned what Copilot is.

Module 2: You learned formulas.

Module 3: You learned to clean data.

Module 4: You learned to analyse data.

Module 5: You learned to create charts.

Module 6: You learned automation and real-world projects.

Next steps:

• Practice with real data.
• Build more projects.
• Share your skills.
• Keep learning.

Illustration:

  Module 1 → Module 2 → Module 3 → Module 4 → Module 5 → Module 6
       |          |          |          |          |          |
       V          V          V          V          V          V
  Copilot    Formulas    Cleaning   Analysis   Charts   Automation
       |          |          |          |          |          |
       +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
                                 |
                                 V
                        Excel Expert 🎉
  

Mini summary: You have completed the course. Keep practising and you will become an Excel expert.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Simple Definition
Automation	Making tasks happen automatically.
Macro	A recorded set of steps.
Template	A ready-made sheet you can reuse.
Dashboard	A page showing key numbers and charts.
Automated report	A report that updates itself.
Data entry	Typing data into Excel.
Integration	Connecting Excel with other apps.
Real-world project	A project that solves a real problem.
Backup	A copy of your data for safety.
Documentation	Writing down what you did.
Testing	Checking if something works.
Assessment	A test of what you learned.
Formula	A calculation in Excel.
Reference	A cell address like A1 or B2.
Refresh	Updating data or a report.

Important Concepts

• Automation saves time: Set up once, use forever.
• Copilot helps automate: Just ask in plain English.
• Macros record and replay: Great for repeated steps.
• Dashboards show everything: Key numbers and charts in one place.
• Automated reports update: Add new data, report updates.
• Copilot helps with data entry: Faster and fewer mistakes.
• Excel connects with other apps: Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams.
• Real-world projects solve problems: Use Excel and Copilot.
• Always backup and test: Prevent mistakes.
• Keep learning: Excel always has new features.

Step-by-step Explanations

How to automate a report step by step

1. Set up your data table.
2. Create formulas for totals and averages.
3. Create charts linked to the data.
4. Arrange into a report template.
5. Add new data each period.
6. The report updates automatically.

How to record a macro step by step

1. Go to View > Macros > Record Macro.
2. Give the macro a name.
3. Do the steps you want to record.
4. Click Stop Recording.
5. Press Play to repeat the steps.

How to build a dashboard step by step

1. Open your clean data.
2. Ask Copilot: “Create a dashboard.”
3. Add key numbers (total, average, best).
4. Add charts (bar, line, pie).
5. Arrange neatly.
6. Save your dashboard.

How to connect Excel with PowerPoint step by step

1. Create your charts in Excel.
2. Select and copy the chart.
3. Open PowerPoint.
4. Paste the chart into a slide.
5. Ask Copilot to help format.

How to prepare for the assessment step by step

1. Review all modules.
2. Practice with Copilot.
3. Complete the final project.
4. Test your skills.
5. Be confident!

Real-life Examples

• Shops: Automate weekly sales reports.
• Schools: Automate grade calculations.
• Homes: Automate budget tracking.
• Offices: Automate monthly reports.
• Hospitals: Automate patient record summaries.

Nigerian Examples

• Market traders: Automate daily profit reports.
• POS operators: Automate transaction summaries.
• Schools in Lagos: Automate student reports.
• Transporters: Automate fare and fuel records.
• Church groups: Automate donation records.

Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

• Video game scores: Automate score tracking.
• Football league: Automate team points.
• Pocket money: Automate savings tracking.
• Chores: Automate chore reminders.
• Snack list: Automate favourite snacks list.

Everyday Examples

• Shopping list: Automate price totals.
• School timetable: Automate subject reminders.
• Exercise log: Automate weekly summaries.
• Reading list: Automate pages read.
• Grocery budget: Automate spending totals.

Parent Tips

• Encourage your child to automate simple tasks.
• Let them practice with real data like pocket money.
• Use everyday examples to explain automation.
• Set a small daily practice time.
• Celebrate small wins, like a working macro.
• Be patient. Automation takes practice.
• Ask them to teach you what they learned.
• Keep it fun. Use games and stories.
• Remind them to backup before automating.
• Encourage them to ask Copilot when unsure.

Interesting Facts

• Automation can save hours every week.
• Macros have been in Excel since 1993.
• Dashboards are used in every industry.
• Copilot can automate reports in minutes.
• Automated reports reduce errors.
• Excel connects with over 100 apps.
• Real-world projects build confidence.
• Automation is a key skill for jobs.

Did You Know?

• Did you know that Copilot can help you write macros?
• Did you know that automated reports update with new data?
• Did you know that dashboards can be interactive?
• Did you know that Excel data can appear in PowerPoint slides?
• Did you know that automation reduces human error?
• Did you know that real-world projects impress employers?
• Did you know that Copilot can help with data entry?
• Did you know that automation is used in every industry?

Remember This

• Automation makes tasks happen automatically.
• Copilot helps automate reports and tasks.
• Macros record and replay steps.
• Dashboards show key numbers and charts.
• Automated reports update with new data.
• Copilot speeds up data entry.
• Excel connects with other Microsoft apps.
• Real-world projects solve real problems.
• Always backup and test.
• Keep learning and practising.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong formula.
• Wrong cell references.
• Not testing automation.
• Forgetting to save.
• Not making a backup.
• Making automation too complex.
• Not documenting your work.
• Trusting Copilot blindly.

Best Practices

• Always make a backup before automating.
• Keep formulas simple.
• Test your automation with sample data.
• Use clear headings.
• Document what you did.
• Save your work often.
• Review the automation regularly.
• Ask Copilot if unsure.
• Share your automation with others.
• Keep learning new features.

Illustrations and Diagrams

Automation Workflow

  Set Up Once
      |
      V
  Add New Data
      |
      V
  Formulas Update
      |
      V
  Charts Update
      |
      V
  Report Updates
      |
      V
  Save Time 🎉
  

Macro Illustration

  Record:
  1. Clean data
  2. Create chart
  3. Add total
       |
       V
  Play:
  All steps happen automatically!
  

Dashboard Illustration

  +----------------------------------------+
  |           MY DASHBOARD                 |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  | Total  |  | Best   |  | Average|    |
  |  +--------+  +--------+  +--------+    |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  |  | Bar Chart        |  | Pie Chart  |  |
  |  +------------------+  +------------+  |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Real-World Project Flow

  Problem
      |
      V
  Plan
      |
      V
  Build
      |
      V
  Test
      |
      V
  Share
      |
      V
  Solve Problem 🎉
  

Your Learning Journey

  Module One: Getting Ready with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Two: Writing Formulas with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Three: Cleaning and Organising Data
        |
        V
  Module Four: Analysing Data with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Five: Charts and Visuals with Copilot
        |
        V
  Module Six: Automation and Real-World Projects
        |
        V
  Copilot in Excel Expert 🎉
  

Comparison Tables

Manual vs Automated

Feature	Manual	Automated
Time	Long	Short
Mistakes	More	Fewer
Repeatable	No	Yes
Effort	High	Low

Macro vs Formula

Feature	Macro	Formula
What it does	Records steps	Calculates values
Trigger	Button or shortcut	Automatic
Best for	Repeated actions	Calculations

Dashboard vs Report

Feature	Dashboard	Report
Visual	Yes	Sometimes
Interactive	Yes	No
Best for	Overview	Details

Backup vs No Backup

Feature	Backup	No Backup
Safety	High	Low
Recovery	Easy	Hard
Best practice	Always	Never

Lesson Summaries

Lesson 1: Automation makes tasks happen automatically.

Lesson 2: Copilot helps automate reports and tasks.

Lesson 3: Macros record and replay steps.

Lesson 4: A business dashboard shows key numbers and charts.

Lesson 5: Automated reports update when data changes.

Lesson 6: Copilot speeds up data entry.

Lesson 7: Excel connects with other Microsoft apps.

Lesson 8: Real-world projects solve real problems.

Lesson 9: Prepare for the final assessment.

Lesson 10: Common mistakes include wrong formulas.

Lesson 11: Best practices: backup, keep simple, test.

Lesson 12: Build a complete business solution.

Lesson 13: Build a real-world sales tracker.

Lesson 14: Build a real-world budget planner.

Lesson 15: Review your Excel expert journey.

End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have finished Module Six and the entire Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two course. You learned what automation means. You learned how to automate tasks with Copilot, use macros, build business dashboards, create automated reports, use Copilot for data entry, connect Excel with other apps, and complete real-world projects. You built a sales tracker and a budget planner. You prepared for the final assessment. You now know common mistakes and best practices. Most importantly, you can use Copilot to automate tasks and build real-world solutions. Keep practising, and you will become a true Excel expert!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is automation? Making tasks happen automatically.
2. How do I automate a report? Set up formulas and charts linked to data.
3. What is a macro? A recorded set of steps.
4. How do I record a macro? View > Macros > Record Macro.
5. What is a dashboard? A page with key numbers and charts.
6. How do I create a dashboard? Ask Copilot: “Create a dashboard.”
7. How does Copilot help with data entry? It fills in data automatically.
8. How do I connect Excel with PowerPoint? Copy and paste charts.
9. How do I prepare for the assessment? Review all modules and practice.
10. What are real-world projects? Projects that solve real problems.

Matching Exercises

Match the term to its meaning.

Term	Meaning
1. Automation	A. A recorded set of steps
2. Macro	B. Making tasks happen automatically
3. Dashboard	C. A page with key numbers and charts
4. Integration	D. Connecting Excel with other apps
5. Backup	E. A copy of your data for safety

Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D, 5-E

Scenario-based Exercises

1. Scenario: You do the same report every week. What do you do?
   Answer: Automate it with Copilot.
2. Scenario: You want to repeat many steps with one click. What do you use?
   Answer: A macro.
3. Scenario: You want to show key numbers and charts on one page. What do you build?
   Answer: A dashboard.
4. Scenario: You want your report to update with new data. What do you do?
   Answer: Set up an automated report.
5. Scenario: You want to show your Excel data in a presentation. What do you do?
   Answer: Connect with PowerPoint.

Group Activity

Title: “Build a Complete Business Solution Together”

Instructions: In groups of 3–4, create a complete business solution in Excel. Use Copilot to clean data, analyse data, create charts, build a dashboard, and set up automation. One person types, one person asks Copilot, one person customises, and one person presents. Share your solution with the class.

Goal: Practice building a complete business solution with Copilot.

Individual Activity

Task: Create a small Excel sheet with ten rows of data (e.g., sales, expenses). Use Copilot to:

• Clean the data.
• Analyse the data.
• Create charts.
• Build a dashboard.
• Set up a simple automation.

Hint: Start with a clean table with headings.

Mini Project

Project: “My Automated Sales Report”

Create an Excel sheet with sales data (at least 20 rows). Use Copilot to:

• Clean the data.
• Create formulas for totals and averages.
• Create charts (bar, line, pie).
• Build a dashboard with key numbers.
• Set up an automated monthly report.
• Save as “My_Automated_Report”.

Example output:

  +----------------------------------------+
  |         AUTOMATED SALES REPORT         |
  |  Total: ₦250k  | Best: Phone Cases     |
  |  [Bar Chart]   | [Line Chart]          |
  |  [Pie Chart]   | [Dashboard]           |
  +----------------------------------------+
  

Practical Assignment

Assignment: Create a new Excel workbook called Automation_Project. In the workbook, do the following:

1. Create a sheet called “Sales” with at least 20 rows of data.
2. Use Copilot to clean the data.
3. Use Copilot to analyse the data.
4. Create a bar chart, a line chart, and a pie chart.
5. Build a dashboard with key numbers and charts.
6. Set up an automated monthly report.
7. Connect the charts with a PowerPoint presentation.
8. Save the workbook.
9. Write a short explanation of your automation.
10. Submit your workbook and screenshots.

Submit: Your workbook file and screenshots of your dashboard and automation.

Key Takeaways

• Automation makes tasks happen automatically.
• Copilot helps automate reports and tasks.
• Macros record and replay steps.
• Dashboards show key numbers and charts.
• Automated reports update with new data.
• Copilot speeds up data entry.
• Excel connects with other Microsoft apps.
• Real-world projects solve real problems.
• Always backup and test.
• Keep learning and practising.

Classroom Discussion Questions

1. Why is automation important?
2. What task would you like to automate?
3. How can macros help you?
4. What is a dashboard and why is it useful?
5. How can automated reports help a business?
6. How can Copilot help with data entry?
7. Why connect Excel with other apps?
8. What real-world project would you build?
9. Why should you always backup?
10. What did Chidi learn from automating his report?

Next Steps After the Course

Congratulations! You have completed the entire Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two course. Here are some next steps you can take:

• Practice: Keep using Copilot in Excel for real tasks.
• Build: Create more real-world projects.
• Share: Teach others what you have learned.
• Explore: Learn more advanced Excel features.
• Connect: Join Excel communities online.
• Apply: Use your skills at school, home, or in business.
• Keep learning: Microsoft keeps adding new Copilot features.

Remember, this is just the beginning. You are now a Copilot in Excel expert. Keep practising and keep learning!

---

End of Module Six – Copilot in Microsoft Excel – Level Two

🎉 Congratulations! You have completed the entire course! 🎉