Remember Excel School? It was all I talked about between Jan last week and middle of Feb. Then as if someone has pressed mute button, there was not even a single mention about the school. So I thought, why not give you all an update on Excel School and tell you how the classes are going.
Some stats about the program:
- A total of 147 students signed up for the program.
- 3 Students dropped out for various reasons.
- Out of total 12 weeks, we have finished 8 weeks of lessons now.
- We have covered extensively on topics like excel formulas, charting, conditional formatting, formatting, tables and pivot tables until now. We also did a class project.
- In the next 4 weeks we will be talking about data validation, filters, importing data, advanced formulas, macros and do another class project.
- There were a total of 25 lessons, with roughly 800 minutes of video lessons and several downloadable excel workbooks.
- A total of 219 comments were posted by students discussing lesson topics, asking questions and doubts.
What is the student feedback?
While it is a little early, I am very happy to tell you that students are really enjoying Excel School and have been liking what is shared so far. Some encouraging comments I have received are,
I just wanted to give you some feedback on our lessons so far. While I wouldn’t consider Excel school to be a beginner’s 101 course, I wish I had found something with this level of instruction years ago.
I’m having a blast looking at things that I thought I understood well. You have given some new insight into several things that I’ve been able to apply to some workbooks at my job.   Just with one powerful little formula tweaks  I figured you saved me and a colleague 475 minutes per month on a monthly report that we have to prepare. Over a years time that equates to over $3500. That’s only one instance.
This is the best instruction that I’ve ever come across. Â You make Excel fun! THANK YOU! Â Thank you for being so generous with all of the great information that you share. You truly are awesome!
I am a member of your Excel School and continuously watching your postings. I just want to thank you personally for providing me such a good excel tutorials.
I really am learning a lot…I am stubborn and will keep trying till I get the ideas. And you have so many wonderful tricks I never knew about. I got started with you in charting and I have learned so much and done some nifty charts. I am looking forward to learning a lot more from you in the future. I am amazed how much you know and how well you are able to explain things. I thought I was pretty proficient in formatting till I watched week 2 and I have discovered that there is much more I do not know than I do. Can’t wait for the rest of the classes.
I just wanted to tell you that so far in the Excel School, I am blown away with the quality and amount of information I’m getting out of the course. I have always been the excel expert where ever I work, and it’s inspiring to see what you’ve been able to do with it. I didn’t realize there was so much more to learn.
Been taking an online class in Excel. About 6 weeks into it and wow, I have learned a lot. And I am the best Excel user in my department at work. Class is hosted by Chandoo and he is good, really good. Runs a great blog called Pointy Haired Dilbert. A lot of value in this thing: class was approximately $100 for 15 weeks of awesome-ness. … I am loving it. … The surprising thing I have learned is how to better present information for others. I have always taken pride in making good spreadsheets instinctively, but this has made me much better.
My thoughts on the program so far,
To be frank I was *very* nervous when I closed the signups for the excel school. Having 147 students in the class, each with different and probably very high expectations psyched me a bit. To top it, after running barely one week of the program, I had to move from Denmark to India and that posed different challenges (mainly on bandwidth, internet connectivity, free time fronts). Having 2 small babies at home didn’t help either.
But, the students are generous, eager and fun. They lapped up the lessons with enthusiasm and discussed topics with a sense of humor. They supported me when I told them I had to lie low on comment replies during my transit from DK to IN. They didnt mind when a video link was broken or download went 404. They just gave me time to correct it. Few enthusiastic fellas even emailed me and told how *awesome* the classes are and helped me gain confidence. Thank you.
The promised goodies…
I am hoping to start the next batch of Excel School at End of May 2010. I am actively looking for students now…
So if you are interested in an online excel training program please tell me your name and email address. I will update you once the program is ready for registration. Also, you will be receiving 3 free lessons,
- Excel conditional formatting lesson – as soon as you sign up below
- SUMPRODUCT Formula lesson – by End of April
- Excel Pivot Table Tricks (lesson by Debra Dalgleish and me) – by end of May.
Please use the below form (click here if are not able to see it) to express your interest in Excel School Program:
PS: For Excel School Curriculum & Details pls. visit – http://chandoo.org/wp/excel-school/
PPS: The price of Excel School will remain same at $97
Are you a student? What do you think of Excel School?
If you are an Excel School student, please take a minute and share your opinion of the program thru comments. I would love to know how it is helping you be more awesome in excel. Also, pls. share your suggestions for improvements for future batches.
6 Responses to “Updates on Excel School [and 3 free lessons]”
What about pricing for Indian students protecting them from vagaries of exchange rates.
This course to an Indian students is Rs. 4600/-
Thought you would have had some snazzy chart for the stats!!
I'm glad you're going to do this again.
One question, will you issue a certificate of any kind that I can provide to my employer?
Thank you!
@Sairam.. I will be able to offer special pricing for Indian Students this time. It should be about 60% of the regular USD price.
@Andrew... The stats are all just a bunch of facts. Chart would only confuse such data. But I will probably make some charts after 2nd batch...
@Venus... Thanks, I am not sure if anybody would value a certificate issued by me. But I can mail merge and generate a bunch of certificates... 🙂
Thanks Chandoo.
I would certainly value the certificate.
I would also like to convince my employer to pay for the class, without a certificate though they may not want to.
hI Chandoo,
I am enjoying Excel School, my work paid for it ... a bonus! I have learnt so much from you on your blog and in "School". Already I am producing results in my work and saving time and enjoying being an "Excel star!"
I too would appreciate a certificate for my work... however I am running a bit behind in the lessons, due to a brief holiday.. but i plan to catch up!
Thanks
Catherine