The Rewarding Feeling Of Completing IS101

I had a love-hate (mostly love) relationship with IS101. This class has pushed me to think critically, develop skills in computer literacy, and, most importantly, earn my Microsoft Word and Excel certifications. Although these are great accomplishments, they couldn’t have been accomplished without hard work. I would say that I had the most work in this class than in any other class in a very long time. At times, I was stressed and wasn’t sure if I could complete the class. This is the reason that the skills I developed are so rewarding. I know that I couldn’t have completed this class with the grade I have without the effort I put in. I also would like to acknowledge how much help Mr. Wu provided throughout this whole semester. He was always willing to help his students, no matter what time of day. He is truly a great teacher, and he only wishes the best for his students. Thank you, IS101!

Presenting in PowerPoint

What's almost as important as being a good presenter is having a great PowerPoint. To have a well-made presentation it is important to understand the basics of the system. One of the most important features to understand is the Clipboard and Slides Groups on the Home Tab. The Clipboard and Slides Groups on the Home Tab are important to understand so you can create the perfect PowerPoint. The most challenging feature to use was editing the slides, more specifically the Master Slides. The master slide affects every slide after the master slide is edited. This feature is essential for editing a whole presentation faster. Instead of taking time editing a background, or titles, or inserting them on each and every slide, the master slide allows you to edit them all at once. Overall understanding the main features such as the slides tab, duplicate slides, hiding slides, adding sections, and slide panes are all important for navigating PowerPoint.

Formulas Simplified

Learning the formulas in Excel was the most difficult task in Chapter 5. The first important rule in learning formulas is starting with the equal sign for each equation. Although it seems simple this a step that I often forget about. If this equal sign isn't added before an equation, Excel can't solve the problem. It is also important that there is a basic understanding of a table design. For example, understanding what a structured reference is. A structured reference is a cell reference that refers to the table column header, instead of the absolute cell location. These table references make formulas easier to understand on their own. Table rows are a great example of simple formulas. If a table has a total row you can then apply functions like AVERAGE, COUNT, SUM, etc. These rows are automatically added when a table is created. This information helped me simplify equations and I hope it does the same for you too!

Editopia: Exploring AutoCorrect Options

When it comes to an important paper, presentation, or letter one recurring task I always spend the most time on is Proofreading. Proofreading in my opinion, is one of the most important tasks you need to do after you have completed a draft in Microsoft Word to catch any errors you have missed. Some of the main tasks include Replace (Ctrl+H), Spelling & Grammar, and autocorrects options. The most difficult task for me to perfect in this chapter was the “AutoCorrect Option”. This task allows you to modify what Word automatically corrects as you type. This can be helpful when you would like to change a specific word or phrase to replace the one you have typed. I recently have used this to change a small phrase into a much larger one that I didn’t want to take a long  time writing out. To access AutoCorrect Options, go to the Backstage view and click Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. Trust me it’s helpful!

Enhancing Document Accessibility through Navigation Tools

Chapter 3.4.1 Navigating Through a Word Document was the most beneficial chapter. Before learning about navigating through documents, I had yet to learn how to locate anything when it came to my papers and other classmate's articles. The only command I was familiar with was “Ctrl F” which allows you to locate any word or phrase without looking through the whole document. Not only did we learn about advanced find in this chapter, but we also learned how to find a hyperlink, tables, headings, and bookmarks. 

The most helpful form of navigation I learned about in this chapter was the navigation pane. The navigation pane can take you directly to a heading, document outline, or search option, and it allows you to switch to a thumbnail view. These are all very helpful when it comes to my new job. Considering I have to look through a lot of documents the thumbnail view comes in handy. This tool quickly finds and navigates through the content of my documents, which can save me time when working with lengthy documents or when I need to locate specific information within a digital document.

Cracking the Code of Windows Settings

The lesson that really stood out to me was Chapter 2.2.6 (Windows Settings) and 2.2.7 (Windows Settings Facts. Although it's not necessarily the most exciting of the topics, it was definitely the most helpful. Before having a Windows computer HP and iOS were the only systems that were familiar to me. When starting IS101-3003 I realized that there was so much that I had to learn to be comfortable with Microsoft Windows systems. These Windows chapters broke down the settings and taught me some new tips and tricks along the way!

The most helpful setting explained was the topic of Systems. In this setting, there are options to change the system's display, sound, power, configure notifications, and storage. What I did not know is that it's possible to configure display resolutions which allows us to personalize how our display looks. For example, we can increase the size of texts when it comes to any aspect of the computer. If reading texts, websites, word documents, and videos is difficult in a normal font this personalization will definitely be helpful. I used this action to increase my text from 100% to 150% since smaller texts are harder for me to see. Personalizing my Microsoft settings will definitely aid in getting my work done more efficiently in the future.

From Code to Conscience

A new topic that stood out to me in Chapter 1 was 1.1.15: Technology and Ethics. Technology and ethics are not talked about enough. The tech world is very powerful, and if it’s not used correctly, it could be destructive. Ethics describes personal behaviors that show responsibility and trust when no one is watching. The rules of ethics that should be considered when using the internet include confidentiality, human dignity, civility, and digital property rights. The rule of ethics that stood out the most to me was confidentiality. Confidentiality means respecting and honoring data and information we’re not allowed to share. This rule should be considered when posting on social media, writing an email, sending a text, or interacting with others physically. I can say that after learning about these rules, I am more cautious about what I say to others online and in person. For those of you reading, try to learn these rules and apply them to your life as well! They can be very helpful.

First Impressions of IS101

My name is Leina’ala Martinez-Sakay, I previously graduated from CSN with my Associate of Arts. I am currently attending CSN for one more year until I transfer to UNLV the next coming year. I plan on graduating with a business degree in Finance at UNLV and look forward to starting my career after this great achievement. After attending UNLV, I will be most optimistic about becoming a financial advisor. What really intrigues me about becoming a Financial Advisor is first, having the freedom to control a business, the expanding knowledge of money, and financial freedom as well.

IS101 is a class that will help one's real-world skills. Although IS101 is challenging, it teaches skills that one might not ever have access to if one did not attend college or take specific programs for certifications. My first impressions of this class were that it was going to be exceedingly difficult for me to complete the course. Although I do like a challenge! I look forward to learning more about concepts and applications from IS101-3003.