# Data Storytelling with Excel Course Online 100% online training with expert live support Canonical URL: ## Overview Data becomes more useful when it is presented as a story people can quickly understand and act on. In this hands-on course, you will learn how to turn raw data into clear, compelling visual narratives in Microsoft Excel. You will follow a practical storytelling workflow that covers audience analysis, chart selection, clutter reduction, visual emphasis, and the delivery of insights that support better decision-making. Built on cognitive science and design thinking principles, this course goes beyond the mechanics of creating charts to show why certain visual choices are more effective than others. Through real-world examples and applied exercises, you will strengthen your ability to communicate complex information with clarity, credibility, and impact across presentations, reports, and other professional settings. ## What you'll learn - Apply a structured framework to define context, audience, and narrative goals before creating any visualization - Select the most effective chart type based on data relationships and intended message - Recognize and eliminate visual clutter that obscures your data's meaning - Apply preattentive attributes and Gestalt principles to direct audience attention - Think like a designer to create accessible, aesthetic, and intuitive visualizations - Structure a data-driven narrative using proven storytelling techniques - Avoid common visualization mistakes and ethical pitfalls - Confidently present data stories that inform, persuade, and inspire action ## Curriculum #### Module 1: Foundations — Data, Stories, and Audience - Identify what makes a data story work and distinguish data from information - Recognize internal and external data sources and understand how data flows across the internet - Apply audience analysis and learning style awareness to tailor your data story #### Module 2: Reading and Perceiving Visualizations - Interpret a range of chart types including bar, heat map, KPI, stacked, and drilldown visualizations - Apply visual perception principles — order, hierarchy, clarity, and convention — to evaluate any chart - Use Gestalt principles, emphasis, and annotation to guide audience attention #### Module 3: Building Effective Visualizations - Select the appropriate visualization type for comparative, time series, correlation, and geographic data - Use color intentionally and avoid common deceptive chart techniques - Follow a step-by-step process for building a data story using the analytics value chain #### Module 4: Excel for Data Discovery and Analysis - Perform data discovery and integrity checks to qualify data before analysis - Use AutoSum, sorting, filtering, and math functions to explore datasets - Build Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts to summarize and visualize transactional data #### Module 5: AI, Data Quality, and Applied Case Studies - Use AI tools and prompting best practices to confirm and refine a data story - Apply data quality principles and joining techniques to prepare datasets for analysis - Complete hands-on case studies covering duplicate analysis, stratification, Benford's Law, sampling, and analysis automation ## Instructors ### Reid Johnson — Instructor Reid isn't just someone who knows CAD and BIM; he's a licensed architect and contractor who deeply integrates these technologies into every facet of his career. His hands-on experience as a practitioner building real-world projects provides him with an invaluable understanding of how BIM and CAD streamline workflows and enhance design. This practical foundation led him to Autodesk, where he shared his expertise, helping others effectively leverage these powerful tools. Throughout his professional journey, Reid also dedicates himself to education, consistently teaching university courses and shaping the next generation of design professionals by equipping them with essential CAD skills. His unique blend of practical experience, industry knowledge gained at Autodesk, and passion for teaching positions Reid as a true specialist in BIM and CAD technology, capable of bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. **Credentials:** - Autodesk Fusion Certified User - Autodesk Revit Certified Professional - Autodesk Certified Instructor - Licensed Architect - Licensed General Contractor ### David Nguyen — Instructor David is the AEC Software Specialist at VDCI, with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and an Associate’s degree of science in Drafting and General Design from ITT Technical Institute. A San Diego native with over 12 years working in the Design Industry and construction industry, David brings his construction and design expertise to help all students achieve their goals in the field. Outside of his professional life, David loves attending concerts, festivals, playing his guitar and restoring and repairing all types of vehicles. **Credentials:** - OSHA 30 hr. Construction Safety Certified - Construction Software: SketchUp, Bluebeam Revu, Autodesk Suite (AutoCAD, Fusion, Revit) - Mechanical Software: PTC Creo Parametric, SOLIDWORKS, Mastercam ## FAQ ### Who is the target audience for this course? This course is for anyone who communicates with data: analysts, managers, financial professionals, marketers, HR specialists, researchers, government employees, or students. If you need to turn numbers into insights that inform decisions, this course is for you. ### Is this course open to beginners? Yes, this course is open to beginners. Students must be comfortable using a computer. No other prior knowledge is required. ### Do you offer payment plans or student financing for this course? This course does not qualify for payment plans or student financing. See our Payment Options FAQ to find related programs that qualify. ### How long do I have access to the course materials? This course is available for 30 days. You can choose when to start your access period. Once you activate, you will have 30 days to complete it (access the course materials, quizzes, projects and videos). You may request one extension of seven (7) days. Other extension requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Videos are not downloadable. ### What is the cancellation and refund policy for this single course? For this course, you are entitled to a 90% refund (your payment less the nonrefundable 10% registration fee) within 30 days of purchase if you have not accessed the course materials. ### What’s included with my tuition? A hands-on learning experience working on projects and exercises, which is proven to boost comprehension, retention, and engagement Expert instructors who are industry professionals and experienced educators that are driven to help you succeed Expert support with answers to your questions from real instructors throughout your learning journey Top-notch curricula that have been tried and tested over many years and are consistently improved for an optimal learning experience 30-day access to class recordings to review material at your own pace A certificate of completion to verify your accomplishment The confidence of learning at an accredited institution ### Are there any additional fees or expenses? There are no extra fees or taxes for our courses. The price you see on this page is the maximum you’ll pay us. However, you may need to obtain required software. We’ll help you get set up with a free trial of paid software prior to the class. Most of our coding classes utilize freely-available open-source software. For most of our design and motion graphics courses, we will help you get set up with a free trial of Adobe Creative Cloud. If you attend the course in-person, we will have a computer already set up for you with all of the required software for no additional cost. ### Do you offer any discounts for this course? We don’t currently offer discounts as we do our best to affordably price our courses. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $399