Category: DigiTips

DigiTip 57: Counting Specific Data in Excel 🔢

Shân Saunders DigiTips, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Support Leave a comment

Wanted to count how many times a name appears in a column alongside other conditions in Excel? With DigiTip 57 we can show you the formula to get this done. 

First you will need data similar to that shown in the screenshot where you have multiple columns of information where you want to count how much of a certain criteria exists such as names or dates for example. 

To do this we are going to need to use the COUNTIFS function in the formula tab, this is shown in the screenshot below.  

This takes the criteria range which in the example is the column of names and then the criteria itself which in the example would be the name Chris at E2. Also include in the example is another criteria range of the column of gifts and the criteria of Chocolate. This will then go through all the information and count only when these two criteria are met.  

This could be useful on a larger scale for tracking any number of things that are happening on a spreadsheet. 

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!

DigiTip 56: Personal PowerPoint with Cameo 🎥

Shân Saunders DigiTips, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Support Leave a comment

If you want to take your presentations to the next level you could try inserting a cameo, learn how with DigiTip 56! 

A cameo is a recording of yourself talking through your slides and presenting your PowerPoint.  

You can view how to do this through the video below. 

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!

DigiTip 55: Focus Mode in Windows 11 ⏱️

Shân Saunders Digital proficiency and productivity, DigiTips Leave a comment

Struggling to focus when you’re trying to get work done? DigiTip 55 has what you are looking for with focus mode in Windows 11. Focus mode is a new feature for Windows 11 that has multiple features to help you try to concentrate on your work. These include: a timer that can be set to whatever time you need with the default set to 30 minutes, hiding the badges on taskbar apps, hiding the flashing on taskbar apps and turning on do not disturb. 

To use this feature, you need to go to Setting -> System where you should see Focus. Once the options are selected as how you want them you just need to click ‘start focus session’ and a timer should appear in the corner of your screen which you can cancel or pause at any time. 

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!

DigiTip 54: Googles Trick and Treat! 🤸🏻‍♀️

Shân Saunders DigiTips Leave a comment

Did you know that there are Easter eggs features on Google? Now you do with DigiTip 54! 

If you go to Google and type “do a barrel roll” the screen will rotate.  

Watch the video below for a quick demonstration.  

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!

DigiTip 53: Using Morph in PowerPoint 🧑🏻‍💻

Shân Saunders DigiTips, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Support Leave a comment

Do you want to make your PowerPoints more Dynamic? DigiTip 53 Will help you to do that by using a transition in PowerPoint called Morph which can give more flow to a PowerPoint by giving smooth transitions to shapes and text changing in the slides. 

  • First Open up PowerPoint 
  • Then create two slides, one with normal text and in the following slide split up the letters of the word across the slide. I did this by using multiple text boxes. 
  • On the second slide go to the transitions tab and choose morph 
  • Then still on the transitions tab go to effect options and choose characters 
  • From there press F5 or go to the slide show tab and click on from beginning where you should now by pressing space see the morph transition take place. 

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!  

DigiTip 52: Strikeout Star! ➖

Shân Saunders DigiTips, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Support Leave a comment

Have you ever wanted to cross something out in Excel? Sometimes you don’t want to delete or hide the cells. DigiTip 52 has a quick shortcut to help you out! 

Simply select the relevant cell(s) and use the shortcut: Ctrl + 5 

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!

DigiTip 51: Become more effective with MS Teams by using commands ⚡ 

Shân Saunders DigiTips, Microsoft Support, Microsoft Teams Leave a comment

Do you want a faster and more efficient way to navigate MS Teams, for example to let your colleagues know your status on Teams or send a message? DigiTip 51 can show you quick commands to do just this. For this DigiTip we will be using the forward slash commands in the search bar on Teams.  

  • First open MS Teams. 
  • Next, we will need to access the search bar at the top, this can either be done by pressing ctrl + e or by just clicking in the search area at the top. 
  • Then if you press / you will receive all commands available to you to use. 
  • After you have chosen the command you want to use you just have to press enter. 
  • An example of one of these would be /busy which is a faster way of setting your status to busy. 
  • Another example, /chat will give you a follow up option of selecting who you want to send the message to and what you want the message to be, all in the search bar. 

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!  

DigiTip 50: Become Number One at Notetaking! 📝

Shân Saunders DigiTips, Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Support Leave a comment

Would you like to advance your note taking but you’re stuck on a format? With DigiTip 50 and page templates in OneNote you can do just that! 

Microsoft OneNote has the option to insert page templates to help you format your notes. There are templates from simple lecture notes to project overview to prioritised to do lists. Watch the video below to find out more! 

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!

International Day of Education 🏫

Shân Saunders Digital learning and development, Digital Skills Festival, DigiTips, LinkedIn Learning, Students Leave a comment

24th January 2025 marks International Day of Education and we’re celebrating by recapping resources available to develop your digital skills.  

LinkedIn Learning [available until March 2025] 

Free to all AU staff and students until March 2025, an online platform offering thousands of expert-led courses suitable for all levels, from beginner to advanced. With LinkedIn Learning, you can develop a wide range of skills, from utilising AI tools and presenting with confidence to mastering new software, including various programming languages and Microsoft applications. You can view our webpages for more information including getting started with LinkedIn Learning. 

Digital Skills Festival  

In 2023, we arranged the Digital Skills Festival and had a variety of internal and external speakers present on a variety of topics such as AI, Excel, Digital Wellbeing and Cyber security. You can view all the resources and recordings from every session here.  

Jisc: Everyday AI Tools 

As part of Aber Skills Week 2024, we invited Jisc’s Senior AI specialist Paddy Shepperd to talk about ‘Everyday AI Tools’, what tools can be used, how they’re advancing and the dangers. You can view the recording of the entire session here. 

AberSkills 

AberSkills is the central hub for all skills development on is available on the university webpages. AberSkills includes access to skills workshops, alongside help with library and information skills, wellbeing, and maths, stats and numerical skills.  

DigiTips 

Every Tuesday since September 2023, the Digital Skills Team have posted a small tip or trick to help develop your digital skills. You can view all DigiTips here.  

DigiTip 49: Interesting Graphs in MS Excel 📈

Shân Saunders DigiTips, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Support Leave a comment

Do you want to add interesting ways of presenting your data in MS Excel? DigiTip 49 can help with that by introducing Sparklines. Sparklines are small graphs that only take up one cell in an excel sheet and are an effective way of presenting data without having a graph that takes up a whole sheet. This could be useful for presenting data that is important but not vital to a presentation.

  • First you need an appropriate amount of data as shown.
  • Then select the Cells which you want to use to present the data and go to insert in the tabs and choose the type of graph you want from sparklines.
  • Select the data range you want to use, in the example that would be B2:F4.
  • And there you go; you should have a graph that presents the data all in a single cell.

To follow our DigiTips, subscribe to our Digital Skills Blog. Or alternatively, you can bookmark this webpage, where a new DigiTip will be added each week!