easyScholars: Digital Office Pro

Objective: Develop practical proficiency in using key AI tools and Advanced Excel for job searching, data analysis, reporting, and enhancing overall office productivity.

Session 1: Introduction to Generative AI in the Workplace

• What is Generative AI? (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini/Bard, Microsoft Copilot).
• Understanding Large Language Models (LLMs) – Simple Explanation.
• Key Capabilities: Text generation, summarization, translation, Q&A, idea generation.
• Real-world examples of AI in various job roles and industries in India.

Session 2: Effective Prompt Engineering Basics

• The Art of “Asking AI Right”: Why prompt quality matters.
• Key Elements of a Good Prompt: Defining Role, Context, Task, Format, Tone.
• Iterative Prompting: Refining requests for better and more specific AI outputs.
• Experimenting with different phrasing and providing examples to AI.

Session 3: Using AI for Job Search Enhancement

• Brainstorming career paths and identifying relevant keywords for your profile.
• Enhancing CV/Resume Drafts: Improving phrasing, checking grammar, generating bullet points (with human oversight and editing).
• Developing Cover Letter Ideas and Outlines (customization is key).
• Generating Practice Interview Questions (behavioral, role-specific).
• Summarizing company information and industry research.

Session 4: AI for Professional Communication & Content Creation

• Drafting Professional Emails for Various Scenarios (requests, follow-ups, information sharing – always review and personalize).
• Generating Ideas for Presentations or Reports.
• Summarizing Long Articles, Reports, or Meeting Transcripts.
• Assisting with Basic Content Creation (e.g., social media posts for professional branding – with human review).

Session 5: AI for Learning & Productivity

• Using AI to Explain Complex Topics or Concepts Simply.
• Basic Task Management Ideas Using AI (e.g., creating to-do lists from notes).
• Language Translation Basics for understanding documents.
• Exploring AI-powered tools for note-taking and scheduling (overview).

Session 6: Ethical Use, Limitations & Future of AI

• Understanding Potential Biases in AI Models.
• Data Privacy Concerns When Using AI Tools.
• Avoiding Plagiarism: Using AI as an assistant, not a replacement for original thought.
• The Importance of Fact-Checking and Critically Evaluating AI Output.
• Future Trends: How AI might continue to evolve in the workplace.

Session 7: Excel Foundations & Essential Formulas Recap

• Quick Review: Excel interface, cells, ranges, basic arithmetic formulas.
• Absolute vs. Relative Cell Referencing ($ symbol).
• Essential Functions: SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MAX, MIN.
• Text Functions: CONCATENATE (or &), LEFT, RIGHT, MID, LEN, TRIM, FIND, SUBSTITUTE.
• Date & Time Functions: TODAY, NOW, DATE, YEAR, MONTH, DAY, DATEDIF.

Session 8: Logical Functions & Conditional Logic

• IF Function: Simple conditions and nested IF statements.
• AND, OR, NOT Functions: Combining multiple conditions.
• COUNTIF(S), SUMIF(S), AVERAGEIF(S): Conditional aggregation.

Session 9: Lookup & Reference Functions

• VLOOKUP: Understanding arguments, common errors, and best practices.
• HLOOKUP: Horizontal lookups.
• INDEX & MATCH: Powerful and flexible alternative to VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP.
• XLOOKUP: The modern successor

Session 10: Data Cleaning & Formatting Techniques

• Text to Columns: Splitting data from one cell into multiple.
• Removing Duplicate Values.
• Data Validation: Creating drop-down lists, setting input criteria (numbers, dates, text length).
• Conditional Formatting: Highlighting cells based on rules (e.g., values above/below average, duplicates, specific text).
• Sorting Data (single and multi-level).
• Filtering Data (AutoFilter, Advanced Filter basics).

Session 11: Introduction to Power Query (Get & Transform Data)

• Importing Data from Various Sources (Text/CSV files, other Excel workbooks, basic web import).
• Basic Data Transformation Steps in Power Query Editor (removing columns, changing data types, filtering rows, simple merges/appends).
• Loading Transformed Data back to Excel.

Session 12-13: PivotTables & PivotCharts for Insightful Summaries

• Creating PivotTables from a data range or Excel Table.
• Understanding PivotTable Fields (Rows, Columns, Values, Filters).
• Summarizing Values (Sum, Count, Average, Max, Min).
• Grouping Data in PivotTables (by dates, numbers, text).
• Using Slicers and Timelines for Interactive Filtering.
• Creating Calculated Fields and Items in PivotTables.
• Formatting PivotTables for Readability.
• Creating PivotCharts from PivotTable data.

Session 14-15: Data Visualization & Basic Dashboards

• Choosing the Right Chart Type (Bar, Column, Line, Pie, Scatter).
• Creating Effective Charts: Titles, Labels, Legends, Formatting.
• Sparklines: Mini charts within a cell.
• Introduction to Dashboards: Principles of good dashboard design.
• Combining multiple charts, PivotTables, and Slicers on one sheet to create a simple interactive report.
• Using basic form controls (e.g., drop-down lists) to make dashboards dynamic (introductory).

Session 16: Introduction to Macros for Automation (Basic Recording)

• Understanding What Macros Are and Their Use Cases.
• Enabling the Developer Tab in Excel.
• Recording Simple Macros to Automate Repetitive Formatting or Data Entry Tasks.
• Running a Recorded Macro.
• Assigning Macros to Buttons or Quick Access Toolbar (Basics).
• Understanding Macro Security.

Session 17: Effective Use of Google Workspace/Microsoft Office 365 Basics

• Overview of Cloud Collaboration: Google Drive/Docs/Sheets/Slides & OneDrive/Word Online/Excel Online/PowerPoint Online.
• Real-time Co-editing and Sharing Documents.
• Version History and Commenting Features.
• Basic Calendar Management (Google Calendar/Outlook Calendar) for scheduling meetings.

Session 18: Introduction to Project Management & Task Tracking Concepts

• What is Project Management? (Simple definition).
• Basic Task Management Principles: Creating tasks, setting deadlines, tracking progress.
• Introduction to Simple Task Management Tools (e.g., Trello, Asana, Microsoft Planner – overview of Kanban boards and lists).
• Collaborative Task Updates.

Session 19: Professional Use of Online Meeting Tools

• Features of common tools (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams): Screen sharing, chat, recording, polls.
• Preparing for and Hosting Effective Virtual Meetings (Agenda, roles, time management).
• Engaging Participants in an Online Environment.

Key Learning Outcomes

 Learners can effectively and ethically use generative AI tools (like ChatGPT) for specific career-related tasks (job search, communication) and general productivity enhancements. They will be able to perform advanced data analysis, cleaning, visualization, and reporting in Excel using a range of formulas, functions, PivotTables, and basic dashboarding techniques. Learners will also understand the fundamentals of common cloud collaboration and basic project/task management tools.

Activities

• AI: Prompt writing exercises for various scenarios (e.g., draft an email to a recruiter, summarize an article, generate interview questions for a specific role). Using AI to refine sample CVs or cover letters (with critical review). Ethical case study discussions.
• Excel: Hands-on labs for each Excel topic (creating specific formulas, cleaning datasets, building PivotTable reports from sample data, creating charts and a simple dashboard project). Mini-projects involving data analysis of a given dataset.
• Collaboration Tools: Group activity involving co-editing a document in Google Docs/Word Online. Setting up and managing a mock project in Trello or a similar tool. Practicing scheduling meetings using Google Calendar/Outlook.

Session 20: Understanding Professional Communication

• The Communication Cycle: Sender, Receiver, Message, Channel, Feedback.
• Importance of Clear Communication in the Workplace.
• Barriers to Effective Communication & How to Overcome Them.
• Verbal vs. Non-Verbal vs. Written Communication.

Session 21: Mastering Verbal Clarity

• Speaking Clearly: Pace, Tone, Volume, and Articulation.
• Choosing Appropriate Language for Professional Settings (Avoiding slang/jargon).
• Organizing Your Thoughts Before Speaking.
• Asking Effective Questions & Seeking Clarification.

Session 22: The Art of Active Listening

• Difference Between Hearing and Active Listening.
• Techniques for Active Listening: Paying Attention, Showing You’re Listening (Nodding, Summarizing).
• Paraphrasing and Reflecting to Ensure Understanding.
• Responding Thoughtfully.

Session 23: Professional Written Communication Basics (Email Focus)

• Structure of a Professional Email: Subject Line, Salutation, Body, Closing, Signature.
• Crafting Clear and Concise Email Messages.
• Email Etiquette: Tone, Formality, CC/BCC, Attachments, Promptness.
• Common Email Scenarios: Requests, Information Sharing, Thank You Notes.
• Proofreading Techniques for Error-Free Emails.

Session 24: Understanding Non-Verbal Cues

• Importance of Body Language: Posture, Gestures, Facial Expressions.
• Maintaining Appropriate Eye Contact.
• Interpreting Non-Verbal Signals from Others.
• Ensuring Your Non-Verbal Cues Align with Your Verbal Message.

Session 25: Planning Your Presentation

• Defining the Purpose and Objective of Your Presentation.
• Understanding Your Audience.
• Structuring a Simple Presentation: Introduction, Key Points (2-3), Conclusion.

Session 26: Delivering with Clarity

• Speaking Confidently and Clearly.
• Using Simple Visual Aids (if any) Effectively.
• Engaging the Audience (Asking questions, making eye contact).
• Managing Time Effectively During a Short Presentation.

Session 27: Understanding Team Dynamics

• Importance of Teamwork in Organizations.
• Different Roles within a Team (Leader, Contributor, Supporter).
• Stages of Team Development (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing – basic overview).

Session 28: Contributing Effectively in a Team

• Sharing Ideas and Information Openly.
• Respecting Diverse Perspectives and Opinions.
• Being Reliable and Accountable for Your Tasks.
• Supporting Team Members.

Session 29: Basic Conflict Resolution

• Understanding Common Sources of Workplace Conflict.
• Approaches to Resolving Minor Conflicts Constructively.
• Focusing on Solutions, Not Blame.
• Knowing When to Escalate an Issue.

Session 30: Introduction to Problem-Solving

• Defining a Problem Clearly.
• Importance of Analytical Thinking.
• A Simple Problem-Solving Framework (e.g., Define, Analyze, Identify Solutions, Implement, Review – DASI-R).

Session 31: Analyzing Issues Systematically

• Gathering Relevant Information.
• Identifying Root Causes vs. Symptoms (5 Whys Technique – basic).
• Breaking Down Complex Problems into Smaller Parts.

Session 32: Finding & Evaluating Solutions

• Brainstorming Potential Solutions.
• Evaluating Pros and Cons of Different Options.
• Choosing the Most Appropriate Solution.

Session 33: Introduction to Critical Thinking

• What is Critical Thinking? (Questioning assumptions, evaluating information).
• Distinguishing Fact from Opinion.
• Thinking Logically and Rationally.

Session 34: Understanding Professionalism

• Core Attributes of a Professional: Integrity, Responsibility, Respect.
• Importance of Punctuality and Attendance.
• Accountability for Your Actions and Work.
• Maintaining a Positive Attitude.

Session 35: Workplace Etiquette & Conduct

• Appropriate Dress Code and Grooming (General guidelines).
• Office Demeanor: Behavior in common areas, managing noise levels.
• Respecting Personal Space and Company Property.
• Mobile Phone Etiquette in the Workplace.

Session 36: Online Meeting Etiquette

• Preparing for Virtual Meetings (Tech check, background, lighting).
• Joining on Time, Muting/Unmuting Appropriately.
• Engaging Actively in Virtual Discussions.
• Professional Appearance on Camera.

Session 37: Embracing Change & Flexibility

• Understanding Why Adaptability is Crucial in Today’s Workplace.
• Being Open to New Ideas and Ways of Working.
• Coping with Unexpected Changes and Challenges.

Session 38: Cultivating a Learning Mindset

• Importance of Continuous Learning and Skill Development.
• Seeking Feedback for Growth.
• Learning from Mistakes and Setbacks.
• Staying Curious and Proactive in Learning.

Specific Emphasis for Tech Context:

• Professional Communication: Strong focus on clearly communicating technical findings, data analysis results, or AI-generated insights to both technical and non-technical audiences. Drafting clear emails and short reports based on data. Presenting data-driven insights.
• Problem-Solving: Emphasizing how tools like Excel and AI can be used to analyze problems, identify patterns, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Presentation Skills: Specific practice in presenting data visualizations, Excel reports, or findings from AI tools in a clear and understandable manner.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Discussing how to collaborate on data projects or when using shared digital tools and documents.
• Adaptability & Learning Mindset: Reinforcing the critical importance of continuous learning to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies like AI and new software features. Discussing how to learn new tools effectively.
• Ethical Considerations: Re-emphasizing the ethical use of data, AI, and company software. Data privacy and intellectual property when using tech tools.

Key Learning Outcomes

Learners can effectively communicate technical findings or data-driven insights in a professional manner, leverage technology tools as part of their problem-solving approach, present technical information clearly, understand the importance of collaboration in tech-enabled environments, and appreciate the need for continuous learning and ethical conduct in technology usage.

Activities

• Drafting emails or short reports summarizing an Excel analysis or insights gained from an AI tool.
• Short presentations based on a dataset analyzed in Excel or a task completed using AI.
• Group discussions on case studies involving ethical dilemmas in data use or AI application.
• Role-playing scenarios explaining a technical concept or data finding to a non-technical manager.