Do you learn about Excel online, through blog posts, websites, or video libraries? I’d really appreciate your comments on these two questions:
A. What kind of online Excel tutorials do you like best (explained below)?
(polls)
B. Have you always liked that type of online instruction, or did your preference change at some point in the Excel learning curve?
Written Instructions
When I started the Contextures website, my Excel tutorials had simple written instructions, with key points illustrated with screen shots. Sometimes I’d add a circle or arrow to the screen shot, or a line and label, to make things clearer.
For example, here’s a tutorial for Excel conditional formatting examples. It has lots of words, and a few pictures. You can skim through the page to find a specific topic, or work your way from top to bottom, trying the examples.
There’s also a link to a sample file that readers can download, to follow the tutorials.
Short Video Tutorials
A few years ago I dabbled briefly with Camtasia Studio, and created a short pivot table tutorial. It explained how to change pivot table data fields from vertical to horizontal (warning – the sound comes on immediately). Apparently I was speaking into a tin can while recording it, but it is short, and to the point.
In early 2008, I started recording Excel video tutorials again, using a newer version of Camtasia Studio. The quality was a bit better, and I posted them on my Contextures YouTube channel, and embedded them in my website.
The feedback has been very positive, and the videos have been viewed thousands of times.
Interactive Learning
Recently, I heard about ViewletCam software that lets you create interactive videos. The output can be SWF (Flash) files, so you could put them on the website directly, since they’re much smaller than video files.
I haven’t tried this software, but it might be a good middle ground, where words aren’t enough and a video is too much.
Maybe people remember things better if they try them onscreen, instead of reading or watching.
Webinar
Have you attended any Excel webinars? I’ve signed up for a few non-Excel webinars, of varying quality, but nothing Excel related. In a webinar, you could see an Excel technique demonstrated, and ask any questions that you had.
What Do You Prefer?
So, going back to my original questions, I’d love to hear what you think. It’s not a scientific survey, just gathering opinions, so please vote, and comment on both questions, or just one, or make up your own question and answer that. 😉
A) Do any of these online Excel training tools appeal to you?
B) If so, have you always preferred that type of online Excel training?
Thanks!
____________
When a web page has a video, I usually can’t close the window quickly enough. I have no patience for video, I’m either thinking ahead or trying to remember what was said 30 seconds earlier. With written instructions, I can go at the pace I choose, and review whatever I want at any time.
Thanks Fred, I you’re right, I could have included another section in the survey for the followup question. Maybe next time!
Anyway, I’d rather read your comments, to get a better idea of what you’re thinking.
And a webinar is a web-based seminar. Usually it like a PowerPoint presentation, so you can hear the speaker, and see the slides. Sometimes there’s an interactive section too, or a live screen demo.
You – may have – forgotten to add the response line for the second question “B”
Never heard of Webinar must have been missing out on something.
In short I’ll take it any way I can get it. I still like the printed book – I have my book shelf just off to my right side of the desk and I’m always making a referrance to something.
I have also learn to make a (in Excel now) a comment ref point to where this had to be looked up, if it is something new to me, until I use it a dozen or so times. It can include a link to one of your sites or ref page number and book title.
My favorite is still written instructions with screen shots. What I like about it is that I can see immediately if the tutorial is relevant to my problem. Short videos have grown on me. I used to avoid them: I didn’t like to have to play it and have to slowly follow the rhythm of the presenter, without being able to skip to the point I am interested in. Now I am on the fence; I find they work great for a long process, like installing a complex piece of software on a machine, because you can really see what happens, do it in parallel and stop/rewind when things are unclear. I am not sure it’s really worth it for Excel though, unless it’s about something with a complex “process”, which requires using multiple menus/options (pivots?) – then seeing it done can be faster than reading long explanations.
Webinars – I don’t like to have to do it when the webinar runs. It’s like the video, with more drawbacks.
I have no experience with interactive lessons.
I appreciate your votes! If you haven’t voted yet, please do, even if you don’t have time to leave a comment.
Thanks Jon, I thought that’s what you’d say. I prefer written instructions 99% of the time, but a few times a short video has helped me figure something out.