AI and Excel

A step-by-step Excel and AI assignment designed for upper-level students with prior Excel experience

This presentation is a structured, step-by-step Excel and AI tutorial designed for upper-level students within their major who already have experience using Excel. Across 25 guided stages, students transform, structure, analyze, and evaluate data within a multi-worksheet workbook using modern Excel features and AI tools.

The assignment builds on existing Excel knowledge by introducing tools such as Flash Fill, Excel Tables, PivotTables, Analyze Data, and Copilot in Excel. Students will generate insights, create visualizations, and interact with data using both traditional techniques and natural-language AI prompts.

A key focus of the assignment is critical thinking—students compare AI outputs, refine prompts, and evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of results. Rather than being accounting-specific, this assignment develops broadly applicable data analysis and AI literacy skills that prepare students to work effectively with modern tools across a wide range of disciplines and professional environments.

AI-Enhanced Excel Skills
- Using Flash Fill to recognize and apply data transformation patterns
- Understanding how pattern-based tools interpret examples—and their limitations
- Using Analyze Data to generate insights, summaries, and visualizations
- Asking natural-language questions to explore datasets
- Working with Copilot in Excel to:
  - Explain formulas and workbook logic
  - Generate charts and summaries
  - Perform actions directly within a worksheet
- Using the COPILOT worksheet function to return AI-generated results directly in cells

Data Preparation and Structuring
- Working with Excel Tables and structured data to support reliable analysis
- Applying structured references for dynamic calculations
- Importing data using From Picture (OCR)
- Cleaning and organizing datasets for analysis
- Understanding the importance of consistent data structure and formatting

Data Analysis and Visualization
- Creating and working with PivotTables to summarize large datasets
- Building PivotCharts and recommended charts for visual analysis
- Using formula-based summaries (e.g., GROUPBY) to aggregate data
- Understanding how different tools update (dynamic formulas vs static outputs)
- Exploring trends, patterns, and anomalies in data
- Interpreting AI-generated insights and validating results

Working with AI Tools
- Comparing results from multiple AI tools using the same prompt
- Evaluating outputs based on accuracy, clarity, and completeness
- Refining prompts to improve AI-generated results
- Understanding how prompt changes impact outputs
- Recognizing when AI:
  - Misinterprets context
  - Omits key data
  - Produces incomplete or misleading results

Critical Thinking and AI Literacy
- Evaluating the strengths and limitations of AI tools
- Applying judgment to determine whether results are reliable
- Comparing automated outputs to expected results
- Developing strategies for improving AI interactions
- Understanding that AI-generated results are starting points—not final answers

Reflection and Exploration
- Using AI tools to learn new Excel concepts independently
- Exploring emerging Excel and AI features
- Reflecting on:
  - What worked well
  - What required refinement
  - How AI can support (and limit) analysis

Step 1: Skip recording your Spreadsheet ID.

This assignment does not require the spreadsheet ID used in most Students Excel assignments.

Step 2: Complete the assignment alongside the instructional video

Choose the tutorial that matches your Excel environment:

Watch the Windows video (1 hours, 23 minutes of video — allow extra time to complete the steps)
Required: Download the project files
Optional: Download the PDF version of the presentation

Watch the macOS video (1 hours, 30 minutes of video — allow extra time to complete the steps)
Required: Download the project files
Optional: Download the PDF version of the presentation

View background on why this assignment requires Excel for Windows or Mac.

Step 3: Submit your completed spreadsheet via your dashboard

return to your dashboard

Keep these tips in mind to ensure clean submission of your work:

Close Excel completely before attempting to upload your work.
Make use of the alternate submission methods if needed.

How This Assignment Is Graded

An automated tool is used to grade your work based on completion and accuracy, including partial points for incorrect steps. Your instructor determines how scores are applied toward course credit.

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