Thinking of a New Online Course

By | July 10, 2015

I’ve been publishing my ExcelTips newsletter for quite a long time now, approaching 17 years. Every week, without fail, I’ve published tips on how to use almost every aspect of Excel.

During that time, I’ve also conducted various seminars on teaching people how to use Excel. I’ve also developed a good number of e-books and real books about how to use Excel.

One thing that I haven’t done, however, is to create any video-based training materials about Excel. I’ve had people ask about them, but I’ve always shied away from them because of, I guess, being a harsh critic of myself.

Excel-Logo5Well, I’m thinking of changing that situation and coming up with a new online course about how to create macros. The course would be geared toward beginners—those who haven’t ever created their own macros before. (I may do a more advanced macro course later, but it is generally best to start at the beginning.)

Like I said, I’m still toying with the idea; trying to get my head around what the course would (or should) contain. This is always the toughest part for me—figuring out what to include and what to leave out.

Do you think offering such a course would be a good idea? Do you have thoughts as to what such a course should cover? If so, I’d love to have a bit of feedback. Please, let me know below what you think.

 

 

301 thoughts on “Thinking of a New Online Course

  1. Chuck Byers

    Yes, many people are visual learners and a video based program would be perfect. You could consider offering a tier type program into three categories:
    1. beginner
    2. intermediate
    3. advanced

    A particular subject matter would be beginner one week followed up by intermediate the next week and advanced the third week. So, if one was beyond beginner but could use the intermediate session, they could use it as a spring board to the advanced session the following week.

    All sessions could be archived so anyone could pick up the appropriate session before advancing to the next.

    Some of us might be advanced in a particular subject matter while being only beginners in others. This ‘choice’ allows learning from all aspects of the subject you are addressing.

    Oh yes, having the online video allows the learner to stop and resume at any time to better understand any particular portion of the session that may be a little unclear to them.

    As a primary visual learners, I selfishly give you a ‘two thumbs up’ and hope you will pursue.

    In the mean time, thank you so much for your ‘gifting’ your weekly letters.

    1. Doug Wattier

      I am a true novice as you can see. I do not know what to submit for Website. I think the comments stated here are very good. I hope you offer the help.

    2. Allen Post author

      Good feedback, Chuck. I appreciate it. (Some of it may drive me back to the drawing board, but that’s not always a bad thing.)

      -Allen

  2. Richard Farrester

    You have the background, knowledge and following. I think it would be a great service to everyone. Start with the beginning Macros Course and expand from there. I’m sure you will find it successful and get plenty of suggestions for other courses.

  3. Mel Orecklin

    I am a long-time user of Excel and have used on-line courses, books and articles to teach myself new components. As an experiment, I watched videos to learn to use pivot tables. My conclusion is that a well done video was more-effective than reading.

    I would certainly watch videos on macros having unsucessfuly tried to teach myself the use of macros several times.

  4. Steve Skinner

    Allen,
    I have just started taking an online macro class, and it is focused on macros and automation, etc. They say right up front that this class is relevant from beginners to advanced users. As such it seems as if they are taking for granted the beginning user and that as such they assume a certain amount of pre-existing knowledge. The idea of having a beginners class and a follow-on advanced class intrigues me. While I have used Excel for many years now, I am quite sure that I have only touched on some of the capabilities available. That being said, I think your idea of a two stages of training is an excellent one. You obviously have a wealth of knowledge to draw from. I know I look forward to your weekly premiere ribbon and have found several to be useful. I take those and combine them with previous issues to build a reference document until the annual archive becomes available. I also include the daily nuggets in a separate document with a table of contents as I know some of them are older, but some of them touch on more recent topics.

    I would strongly encourage you to take the big step. Based on what I have seen from you over the past year or so, there is know way I can imagine it not being a worthwhile endeavor. Good luck and I hope to see more from you on this subject.

    Thanks for the opportunity to provide my input.

    Steve

    1. Allen Post author

      Steve, I’d be very interested in knowing what things you believe they take for granted. (I don’t want to repeat the same problem.) If you could provide specifics on what they are assuming, that would be great!

      -Allen

  5. Roger Keyser

    Hi Allen. I agree with Hugh that starting simple is the best approach. I would also choose short subjects, in the 3 to 5-minute range, and free. Since you are aiming at a new audience, you can’t rely on your great reputation, but you will win a following by producing good, useful content. Keep in mind that many potential followers will bail out if their initial exposure requires more than a few minutes to watch. You can always wrap up the starter videos with a “For more, see…” link. Good luck. I know you will do well!

  6. Tom Redd

    I would love to see your course. I follow your tips for years. I also train on Excel and Word and use your tips for all my challenges. A course would be great to follow. You would be the best qualified too do it. When you mwater Excel, I would love to see you do a course on Word as well.

  7. Randy

    I think a video based course is an extremely good idea. I sure wish that would have been available for me when I began my search for macro information years ago. I agree that starting with the basics is the best approach.

    I work with many people that actually seem frightened by macros. I’d consider a very gradual easing into the process, assuming they know nothing about a macro. Use good…simple macro examples and explain the terminology thoroughly. One thing I have found beneficial is when teachers actually provide a sample spreadsheet along with the lesson that I can use on my own time to work through and understand how the macro is working or perhaps even modify the macro for my own needs.

    Another idea is to focus on functionality. Don’t assume everyone is an accountant working with tables. Instead, emphasize how the macro will be of benefit for repetitive tasks. Provide sample macros for formatting, saving, copying, and cut & paste, etc.

    In terms of format, you don’t have to show video of yourself conducting the training but instead just show the screen. If desired, you could even have someone else narrate the video courses for you.

    Hope that helps.

    Randy

  8. Rob Holton

    I would love it. I am more of a visual learner so I would like the idea to be able to see it rather than just read it. A video course on Macros would be something I would watch.

  9. Ashley Singh

    Been wanting to learn macros for a long time, would be brilliant.

  10. Steven Nadel

    Allen:
    Are you referring to VBA based macros or the recording variety? I’m assuming the later as the recording type are easier to figure out. I’d love to see the VBA variety. I know and teach how to do the recording type, but know just enough VBA to break Excel ;).
    Video are the best way. I guess the question is what is the cost and how to make it cost prohibitive to the user while still making it worth while for you to even start on this venture.

    Thanks,
    Steve

    1. Allen Post author

      All macros (including those recorded) use VBA. I’d approach them from both angles–recorded and written from scratch.

      The cost is a big question. Do you have some thoughts in that area?

      -Allen

  11. Kevin Kendryna

    I could use and would welcome a video instruction/course on how to create macros. Thanks

  12. Thomas

    Allen, if you present in video as well as you articulate in the written word, I believe a series of videos from you would be a major success. So many people are visual learners…this endeavor would capture a whole other group of people desiring to master Excel. Regardless of your decision, keep up the great work!

  13. Dave Stark

    I think a video based course is a great idea. I wish this would have been available when I was still working full time (now retired). I still read your tips every day and enjoy using Excel. Having a better understanding of macros will only improve my skill in using excel – start with the basics and build. This could be fun to learn! Thanks, Dave

  14. John Johnson

    Only a one word answer is necessary….Yes

    1. Allen Post author

      Short, concise, and succinct. I like that! (Thanks for the encouragement.)

      -Allen

  15. sumit

    Such a good idea to start a video based course for those who. Don’t understand your tips easily

  16. Lanier Dodson

    There are a number of areas where I suspect macros would be helpful to me. Numerous times I have thought that using a macro would speed up what I was doing, but couldn’t take the time then to dig into macros. So a basic course in macros would definitely be beneficial to me.

    I like the idea someone mentioned of including one or more practice spreadsheets as part of the course.

    Lanier

  17. Michael Armstrong

    I’m not a huge fan of video courses. They often take far too much time to deliver the goods — I can read faster than most presenters can talk, can skip over sections of a written course that I’m familiar wth, and can re-read those that are new to me. Having said that, I’d love to see a good course on Excel macros. If video tools were available to better-control the delivery, I’d give it a try.

    1. Allen Post author

      Sounds like you and I learn the same way, Michael. I’m thinking about ways to “better control the delivery,” leaning toward smaller, bite-sized videos.

      Thanks for the feedback.

      -Allen

  18. Harry Tollenaar

    Hi Allen,
    I have followed and enjoyed your Tips for years and recommended them to a number of people with an interest in Excel.
    As others have already commented, I also think it is a good idea to have a video based macro introduction. It only needs a clear and sharp image of the Excel page or part of the page, accompanied by a voice-over. I have introduced a number of people to macros by showing them how to record a simple calculation sequence as a macro, they’re often amazed how easy that is. Next I show them how to clean up the macro they have created and then to do some simple modifications to customise it further. That’s where they gain the confidence to experiment and eventually need the Tips to take them further.
    A well thought-through sequence is needed to introduce them to the basics. I often forget to mention some detail which catches up with them later.
    Kind wishes
    Harry

  19. Nora

    Excellent idea. I taught small hands-on Excel classes for years, and one of the most valuable things I could offer was showing students what they were doing wrong, when they did not realize they were. Simply having the mouse positioned properly and pointing out the difference between mouse pointers is huge. With a video aimed at beginners, show what should happen and what WILL happen common mistakes are made. That cannot easily be done with written material, but it can be done via video. Example: A drag when you start with the fill handle gets a different result than a drag from within the cell, as does a drag beginning on a cell boundary. Another example: A double click within a cell = edit. A double-click on a boundary of a cell within a work area moves the selection box to the last cell. If the double-click is on the bottom border of the selected cell, the selection indicator will move down to the last cell. Those who do not realize exactly what happened and why are horribly discouraged.

  20. Mike Kanarek

    All good comments already. 3-5 mins, yes. Easier to produce, easier to change a segment if you get improvement feedback which you will. Include sample spreadsheets, yes. There are many learner types, visual, auditory, hands-on among them, so the best course caters to many styles at once. Mixed expertise audience, yes. I’m a formula ace but never tried array formulas till recently, and never macros.

  21. MWilson

    Allen: I’m a long time reader and fan of your website and I’d like to offer a few comments:
    1. If you haven’t already, Google “how to record an excel macro video” . . . and see the good, bad and ugly of what’s available already. Will you really gain much more by doing that too?
    2. You have a fabulous and high quality brand that you currently project (in my opinion). Any videos you do should be done on a scale that reflects and reinforces that high quality, or you run the risk of degrading the brand you’ve worked hard to establish. That means that any video you do must be MUCH better than the aforementioned bad & ugly offerings, and should also be better than the merely good offerings. To reinforce your brand your videos should be scripted, well rehearsed, concise, short and polished.
    3. Accomplishing all that successfully is much easier to talk about than it is to produce. So if you decide to go down that path, I suggest you look for a 3rd party professional to help you produce all that. Although there would be a cost it will save you untold personal hours, frustrations and shorten your learning curve exponentially; and you will end up with a much more refined and higher quality product. Go all in on your first one — there is no downside to doing it “right” and better than everybody else (make them look like amateurs).
    4. Although you obviously use a graphic editor to help build your tips, if you don’t already use Snagit (TechSmith.com) you should check out their products. Snagit has some very easy to use basic video capture features, but they also offer a powerful video capture and editing program called Camtasia.

    Or so I think . . . MW

    1. Allen Post author

      You are correct, MW — there is a lot of stuff out there, and some of it is downright ugly.

      I certainly don’t want to create something that fits in that category, and I don’t want to rely only on screen capture stuff. (I already use Camtasia and SnagIt. Both are great products.)

      Thanks for the feedback.

      -Allen

  22. Allen Post author

    ALL: Thanks for the outpouring of support and for all the great thoughts.

    I just woke up about 90 minutes ago, and I’ve spent all that time reading, absorbing, and responding. (I may have missed a few I shouldn’t have; I’ll need to go back through all the comments again.)

    Thanks, again, and keep them all coming!

    -Allen

  23. Mostafa Saqallah

    Yes, many people are visual learners and a video based program would be perfect. You could consider offering a tier type program into three categories:
    1. beginner
    2. intermediate
    3. advanced

    In my opinion try to concentrate in “Excel Course”

    Kind Wishes,
    Mostafa

  24. Tariq Abunasar

    As The other comments suggest; an excellent idea. I have always wanted to understand the power of macros, but due to time constraints in my career in IT, I was never able to find someone to show me the basics of writing macros. I have tried learning it on my own and it makes all the sense for a teacher like yourself to make it simpler for us. I think it will be amazing and I am really excited to be able to create complicated spread sheets.
    I think we the audience are fairly well versed with the spread sheet program so I feel that you should give us the basic & basic+ in the first installment and then the more cerebral stuff later. I am hoping you will not make us wait too long. I bet you are already working at it.
    Thank you

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