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There are 7 modules in this course
This course is intended for learners with some experience using Microsoft Windows, who are seeking to build presentation skills with Microsoft Word. To be successful in this course you should have an understanding of the basics of using a Windows-based computer. Experience with printing and using a web browser are an asset, but not required.
Knowing how to use Microsoft Office products is essential in any professional setting. Whether you want to expand your expertise to apply for a new role, start your own business, or simply develop a new personal skill this course is for you.
This course will introduce you to Microsoft 365. You will become familiar with the apps and services included in an Office 365 subscription. If you are familiar with Word’s basic features you can take your skills to the next level. If you are not familiar with Microsoft products or are a beginner you will get the opportunity to develop basic word processing skills.
This course covers the different features of the Word interface, shows you how to create a basic document, and introduces you to Word’s most important tools.
By the end of this course, you should be able to apply the necessary techniques to produce high-quality, professional documents. You will also understand how to create complex documents using tables, charts, references, and various types of illustrations.
This course will help you prepare for Exam MO-100: Microsoft Word (Word and Word 2019). This exam covers the ability to create and maintain professional-looking reports, multi-column newsletters, résumés, and business correspondence. Certification exam candidates are expected to demonstrate the correct application of the principal features of Word and complete tasks independently. You will get an opportunity to hone all these skills in this course.
In this module, you will get started with Microsoft 365 by learning how to navigate your account, explore the basics of the most used Office 365 applications, and access Microsoft 365 services.
Knowledge check: Get started with OneDrive•15 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Meet and Greet•10 minutes
Entry-level: Getting started with Word
Module 2•5 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will begin using the Microsoft Word application. As part of this module, you will navigate a document, use Word’s editing tools, and proof a document using proofing tools.
What's included
12 videos11 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
12 videos•Total 79 minutes
Module introduction - Getting Started with Word•1 minute
Identify the components of the Word interface•9 minutes
Create a Word document•6 minutes
Create a document using a template•5 minutes
Help features•6 minutes
Use document views•9 minutes
Navigate and select text•8 minutes
Modify text•8 minutes
Find and replace text•8 minutes
Check spelling and grammar•9 minutes
Other proofing tools•7 minutes
Module summary - Getting started with Word•1 minute
11 readings•Total 110 minutes
Exercise: Identifying the elements of the Word interface•10 minutes
Exercise: Creating a Word document•10 minutes
Exercise: Creating a document using a template•10 minutes
Exercise: Getting Help in Microsoft Word 365•10 minutes
Exercise: Changing the document view•10 minutes
Exercise: Navigating and selecting text•10 minutes
Exercise: Modifying text•10 minutes
Exercise: Finding and replacing text•10 minutes
Exercise: Checking spelling and grammar•10 minutes
Exercise: Using other proofing tools•10 minutes
Shortcut keys•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 90 minutes
Knowledge check: Get started with Word•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Use document views and help•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Editing a document•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Proofing a document•15 minutes
Module quiz: Getting started with Word•30 minutes
Working with text tables and lists
Module 3•6 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will move on to more complex Word tasks like formatting for text and paragraphs, adding and editing tables and cells, and you’ll also learn how to manage lists.
What's included
18 videos17 readings6 assignments
Show info about module content
18 videos•Total 65 minutes
Module introduction - Working with text tables and lists•1 minute
Apply character formatting•7 minutes
Align text using tabs•4 minutes
Display text as list items•3 minutes
Control paragraph layout•7 minutes
Apply borders and shading•4 minutes
Apply styles•4 minutes
Manage formatting•4 minutes
Insert a table•5 minutes
Modify a table•6 minutes
Format a table•4 minutes
Convert text to a table•3 minutes
Sort table data•2 minutes
Control cell layout•3 minutes
Sort a list•3 minutes
Renumber a list•1 minute
Customize a list•5 minutes
Module Summary - Working with text tables and lists•1 minute
17 readings•Total 165 minutes
Exercise: Applying character formatting•10 minutes
Exercise: Align text using tabs•10 minutes
Exercise: Displaying text as list items•10 minutes
Font group commands keyboard shortcuts•5 minutes
Exercise: Controlling paragraph layout•10 minutes
Exercise: Applying borders and shading•10 minutes
Exercise: Applying styles•10 minutes
Exercise: Managing formatting•10 minutes
Exercise: Inserting a table•10 minutes
Exercise: Modifying a table•10 minutes
Exercise: Formatting a table•10 minutes
Exercise: Converting Text to a Table•10 minutes
Exercise: Sorting table data•10 minutes
Exercise: Controlling cell layout•10 minutes
Exercise: Sort a list•10 minutes
Exercise: Renumbering a list•10 minutes
Exercise: Customizing a list•10 minutes
6 assignments•Total 105 minutes
Knowledge check: Formatting text•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Formatting text and paragraphs•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Adding tables•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Working with tables and cell layout•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Managing lists•15 minutes
Module quiz: Working with text tables and lists•30 minutes
Working With Graphics
Module 4•5 hours to complete
Module details
This module focuses on working with graphics in Microsoft Word. As well as adding graphics, and using images in a document, you’ll also learn how to create and format text boxes and pull quotes, use shapes in a document, and enhance your documents using WordArt and complex illustrations.
Module introduction - Working with graphics•1 minute
Insert Symbols and Special Characters•6 minutes
Add images to a document•5 minutes
Resize an image•5 minutes
Adjust image appearance•5 minutes
Integrate pictures and text•3 minutes
Insert and Format screenshots•2 minutes
Create text boxes and pull quotes•3 minutes
Format text boxes and pull quotes•3 minutes
Draw shapes•4 minutes
Modify shapes•3 minutes
Add WordArt and other text effects•4 minutes
Create complex Illustrations with SmartArt•6 minutes
Module summary - Working with graphics •1 minute
12 readings•Total 113 minutes
Exercise: Inserting Symbols and Special Characters•10 minutes
Exercise: Adding images to a document•10 minutes
Exercise: Resize an image•10 minutes
Exercise: Adjusting image appearance•10 minutes
Exercise: Integrating pictures and text•10 minutes
Exercise: Inserting and Formatting screenshots•10 minutes
Exercise: Creating text boxes•3 minutes
Exercise: Formatting text boxes•10 minutes
Exercise: Drawing shapes•10 minutes
Exercise: Formatting shapes•10 minutes
Exercise: Adding WordArt and other text effects•10 minutes
Exercise: Creating complex illustrations with SmartArt•10 minutes
6 assignments•Total 105 minutes
Knowledge check: Adding graphics•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Using Images in a document•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Text boxes and pull quotes•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Using shapes in documents•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Word Art and complex illustrations•15 minutes
Module quiz: Working with graphics•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Your graphics skills•10 minutes
Finalizing a document
Module 5•6 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will explore the various features that you can use to finalize documents in Microsoft Word. This includes a review of accessibility features, how to set save options, controlling text flow, adding captions and references, adding hyperlinks, footnotes, and endnotes, and slightly more complex tasks such as adding citations, a bibliography, and a table of contents.
Knowledge check: Add captions and references to a document•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Add hyperlinks, footnotes, and endnotes to a document•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Add citations, a bibliography, and a table of contents•15 minutes
Module quiz: Finalizing a document•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Common issues with document accessibility•10 minutes
Collaborating on documents
Module 6•5 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will discover how to collaborate on documents with other team members. You’ll look at how to share a document, Work with comments and track changes and perform a document review.
Module introduction - Collaborating on documents•1 minute
Modify user information•3 minutes
Share a document•6 minutes
Work with comments•6 minutes
Compare document changes•4 minutes
Review a Document•6 minutes
Merge document changes•5 minutes
Module summary - Collaborating on documents•1 minute
Course wrap up - Work Smarter with Microsoft Word•3 minutes
7 readings•Total 65 minutes
Exercise: Modifying user information•10 minutes
Exercise: Sharing documents•10 minutes
Exercise: Working with comments•10 minutes
Exercise: Comparing document changes•10 minutes
Exercise: Reviewing a document•10 minutes
Exercise: Merging document changes•10 minutes
Next steps•5 minutes
5 assignments•Total 165 minutes
Knowledge check: Modify user information and share a document•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Work with comments and compare changes•15 minutes
Knowledge check: Review a document and implement changes•15 minutes
Module quiz: Collaborating on documents•30 minutes
Course quiz: Work Smarter with Microsoft Word•90 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Reflect on learning•10 minutes
Honors: Hands-on practice using Microsoft Word
Module 7•1 hour to complete
Module details
In this Module, you will have the opportunity to complete an optional honors assignment for special recognition. You will experience an immersive practical session, applying your word processing skills to a Graded Peer-Review assignment. If you complete the honors assignments in this course, your Course Certificate will include a special Honor’s Recognition.
What's included
1 video1 reading1 peer review1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 2 minutes
Project introduction•2 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
How to submit assignment link•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Task 1: Create a resumé•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
The benefits of using Microsoft Word•10 minutes
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PB
5·
Reviewed on Sep 10, 2022
The course "Work Smarter with Microsoft Word" was very helpful and too much informative. Thank you Coursera and Microsoft for organising such an amazing course.
M
MR
5·
Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023
This class was excellent. This was the first time I have taken a class in a remote format, and I was delighted with it and look forward to coming back for more classes in the future! Thank you.
S
SS
5·
Reviewed on Apr 23, 2023
A detailed course that has taught me finer nuances o MS. Word that I hitherto had no clue about. Much learned and practised which made the course even deeper and useful
What will I actually learn in this Microsoft Word course?
You'll learn how to create, format, finalize, and share professional documents in Microsoft Word, while also getting comfortable with the Microsoft 365 tools around it. It starts with the Word interface and basic editing, then builds into document layout, graphics, references, and collaboration features. For example, you'll create a document from a template and review shared edits with Track Changes.
Do I need to know Microsoft Word before taking this course?
No, you don't need formal Word training before you start. The course is beginner-level, but it does expect a basic understanding of how to use a Windows-based computer, and experience with printing or web browsing is helpful rather than required. It moves into using Word and Microsoft 365 fairly quickly, so general computer basics aren't the main focus.
Is this Microsoft Word course beginner-friendly?
Yes, it's a good fit for beginners who are comfortable using a Windows-based computer and want to build real document skills. It begins with the Word interface, creating documents, editing text, and proofing, then gradually moves into more advanced work like tables, graphics, and collaboration. If you're completely new to basic computer use, the course may feel less introductory in the first few lessons.
How long does it take to complete this course?
The course takes about 31 hours to complete. At a pace of around 10 hours a week, that's roughly three weeks of study. The workload includes lessons, guided exercises, readings, quizzes, and an optional honors assignment.
Are there hands-on exercises or projects in this course?
Yes, and most of the practice is guided rather than open-ended. You'll work through step-by-step exercises to create documents, format text and tables, add images, and share files through OneDrive, and there's also an optional honors assignment where you create a professional résumé. That makes it a strong fit if you want to apply each skill as you learn it.
What skills are covered in this course?
You'll cover the full workflow of working in Word, from writing and formatting documents to polishing them for review and sharing. That includes text and paragraph formatting, tables and lists, images and illustrations, page layout, accessibility, and document references such as citations or a table of contents. You also learn how to review edits and collaborate, so the course goes well beyond basic word processing.
What can I actually do after finishing this course?
By the end, you should be able to build and polish professional Word documents on your own, not just make simple edits. That includes creating reports, multi-column newsletters, résumés, and business correspondence, then adding elements like tables, graphics, headers, footnotes, or a table of contents when needed. You should also be able to share a document, review comments, and manage revisions in a team setting.
Is this course more theory or hands-on?
It leans hands-on, but the practice is highly guided. You usually learn a feature in a lesson and then use it in an exercise or quiz, so it suits learners who want structured practice rather than one big open-ended project.
Why would I choose this course over other Microsoft Word courses?
This course is a strong choice if you want Word training that goes well beyond typing and basic formatting. It starts with everyday document creation, then moves into collaboration, accessibility, references, and final document preparation, with guided exercises throughout and an optional honors résumé assignment. If you want a beginner-friendly path that can also help you prepare for Exam MO-100, this course is a better fit than a quick tips-only introduction.