- Mary Anne Poatsy |
- Jerri Williams |
- Amy M. Rutledge |
Title overview
For courses covering Microsoft® Office applications.
Beyond point-and-click
The Exploring Microsoft 365 series moves beyond rote tasks to help readers truly understand how, when and why to apply Office skills in a cloud-based world. For over 20 years, the series has engaged students in hands-on practice to help them succeed. Multiple-choice questions, problem-solving exercises and cumulative projects throughout each chapter assess understanding and skill mastery.
The 2025 Edition has been updated to reflect the latest versions of the Microsoft 365 applications. A greater emphasis on Mac compatibility and critical thinking enables all students to attain the skills to succeed.
Hallmark features of this title
Focus on outcomes
- The authors help keep learners on track via clear objectives for each chapter.
- Designed for problem-solving, the text explains step-by-step instruction in context, clarifying which app, function or feature achieves specific goals.
Skills in context
- The text is organized to support conceptual understanding and practical skills, with white pages highlighting theory-based content and yellow pages for hands-on exercises.
- MOS Exam Mapping with a MOS Certification Guide is included with the text resources.
Active learning
- Hands-on exercises throughout connect to an ongoing case study, while Application Capstone exercises test knowledge of an app in its entirety.
- Mid-level exercises enable students to practice using each app.
New and updated features of this title
- UPDATED: To provide students with the latest guidance, the authors have revised all content for Excel, Word and PowerPoint to reflect the current versions.
- UPDATED: As Microsoft continues to improve cross-system compatibility, the authors continue to incorporate Office for Mac content alongside Windows-based content. Mac Methods, Mac How To boxes and Mac Troubleshooting Tips have been integrated throughout the text to ensure that students encounter Mac instruction in context as they're learning to master Microsoft applications. Because many students and instructors are Mac users, all text content has been created, updated and tested to work as seamlessly as possible, whether the student is working in Windows or macOS.
- UPDATED: Coverage of common features helps students identify and understand the tools that are similar across most Microsoft 365 applications. This content is relevant regardless of which application students are using, and particularly helpful for those new to Microsoft 365.
- UPDATED: Critical Thinking questions throughout each chapter ensure that students truly understand the “why” behind what they’re learning.
- NEW: Fresh introductory content in the chapters on Microsoft Access helps students understand how to interact with Access as database users rather than database creators.
Key features
Features of Pearson+ eTextbook for the 2025 Edition
- Pearson+ eTextbook for the Exploring Series provides a market-leading approach to keeping pace with Microsoft® 365 updates. The authors regularly review Microsoft’s updates to their applications and update the eText every semester as needed. This ensures that the instructional content and examples remain up to date in between editions, setting students up to succeed both in the course and in using these applications outside of class.
Features of MyLab IT for the 2025 Edition
- NEW: MyLab IT for the 2025 Edition has been built in the new MyLab IT NextGen platform. This platform’s streamlined functionality ensures improved speed, simplicity and ease of use for both instructors and students.
- UPDATED: Auto-graded Grader projects require students to work live in Office applications in real-world contexts. New Hands-on-exercise Grader projects offer access to helpful features such as images with instructional callouts and explanations of the purpose of each step of the process.
- NEW: Personalized simulation training activities, included with every Grader project, offer tailored scenarios that adapt to each student's learning gaps and specific needs.
- NEW: Realistic Microsoft® application simulations mimic the actual applications themselves to help students explore and practice skills. Simulation Expanded Learning Mode provides contextual information between simulation tasks, fostering a more robust learning experience.
- NEW: Copilot Pro Simulations enable students to practice using Microsoft’s new AI tool across the Office suite. After a brief overview of Copilot, students can dive into projects covering a range of tasks.
- NEW: Using AI Projects features provide ready-to-assign activities that teach students how to use generative AI effectively, in school and at work.
Table of contents
- Microsoft 365 Common Features: Take the First Step
- Introduction to Databases and Microsoft Access
- Understanding Tables and Simple Queries in Relational Databases: Design Essentials and Extracting Information
- Retrieving Information through Queries: Query Calculations and Expressions
- Basic Forms and Reports: Simplifying Data Entry and Producing Information
- Data Validation and Data Analysis: Reducing Errors and Extracting Better Information
- Action and Specialized Queries: Advancing Beyond the Select Query
- Advanced Forms and Reports: Moving Beyond the Basics
- Get Connected: Exchange Data between Access and Other Applications
- Fine-Tuning the Database: Designing for Performance
- Enhanced Database Techniques: Using Macros and SQL in Access
Author bios
About our authors
Mary Anne Poatsy (series editor) is a senior faculty member at Montgomery County Community College, teaching various computer application and concepts courses in face-to-face and online environments. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Education from Mount Holyoke College and an M.B.A. in Finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Mary Anne has more than 25 years of educational experience. She has taught at Gwynedd Mercy College, Bucks County Community College and Muhlenberg College. She also engages in corporate training. Before teaching, she was Vice President at Shearson Lehman in the Municipal Bond Investment Banking Department. In addition to her role with the Exploring Series, Mary Anne is an author of two other Pearson publications: Technology in Action and Better Business. Mary Anne is married to her husband, Ted, and has 3 children: Laura, Carolyn and Ted.
Jerri Williams (Access author) is Senior Lecturer at Montgomery County Community College and works as a technical editor and content developer for corporate clients. She is interested in travel, cooking, movies and tending to her Pennsylvania farmhouse. Jerri is married and has 2 daughters, Holly (a senior project accountant and mother to an adorable son, Meir) and Gwyneth (a corporate defense attorney and law firm partner). She also has a wonderful son-in-law, Evan (full stack senior developer), who shares her love of IT. Two beautiful granddaughters (Kayla and Nina) joined the family in 2022 and 2024. Jerri and Gareth live in the suburbs of Philadelphia and enjoy their home and garden, spending time with family and friends, lots of babysitting lately, and supporting the Philadelphia Eagles and Wales rugby.
Amy Rutledge (Access author) is a special instructor of management information systems (MIS) at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She coordinates academic programs in Microsoft Office applications and introductory management information systems courses for the School of Business Administration. Before joining Oakland University as an instructor, Amy spent several years working for a music distribution company and automotive manufacturer in various corporate roles, including IT project management. She holds a B.S. in business administration, specializing in MIS, and a B.A. in French modern language and literature. She holds an M.B.A. from Oakland University. She resides in Michigan with her husband, Dan, and daughters, Emma and Jane.