Week 8

This week Access seems to be at an end finally at least in this class anyway. I still have to work on the portfolio project for the Access class, so I’m not entirely rid of it yet. I’ll be able to say that in May, then I’ll be 100% done with Access. In this class we worked primarily with filtering information in the database. That’s helpful and frankly really efficient for when there are large amounts of data to go through.

Our instructor for the Access class said she won’t post our instructions for the portfolio project until after spring break. So I guess that makes it totally possible for me to take what I have learned about Access from this OAD class and apply to the upcoming project while it’s still fresh in my mind. Since I’m not sure what I’ll be doing yet for that project I may look at some of the databases we did for homework in this class for homework. Hopefully it gives me any ideas that aren’t too overly complicated.

The intention of this OAD class and the Access class is to give students exposure to the program so they know how to work it if it ever pops up. I can guess where it’s being used but I’m entirely sure how much people use Access or if they choose to work with another program. I guess it’s just a matter of preference. But I figure they still have Access available so someone must use it out there.

Next week is spring break so that means no class. But it’s not all well and good because we have to have an Access quiz. I’m going to have to review some of the material before that. I can just go to the companion website and work with some of the things offered on there as study aides. So hope for an ok quiz and that whatever we move on to next is not too complicated.

Week 7

More Access this week! But is that really a surprise? I’m ok with the fact that it’s taking a bit longer to get through this program. I would rather take more time to fully understand it than just rush on through. Access gets much more complicated as we move on, so I like our class pace. But it seems like we will be finishing it up next week. I’ll be happy to move on to the next topic, but unexcited about that Access test.

Since I am in the Access class IST236, we talk about Access all the time on the class discussion board and sometimes hearing what others say is really quite interesting. This week we were to think up uses for Pivot tables and charts. I really liked what someone suggested by using Access for comparing two products, showing gross pay, and comparing data from several time slots. I wouldn’t have thought of those uses, so I’m glad to hear others ideas.

All of those suggested uses work really well in the business field. My favorite and probably the idea I could figure out how to do on my own would be comparing two products. That could used in compiling data for record keeping or even preparing for a possible presentation about one of the products. The key always seems to be organization and planning, which goes without saying for times when we need preparedness.

My homework for next week is more Access! I did find the flashcards useful on the companion website for the book useful. I think those will help out big time when it’s time to get ready for that dreaded test. It’s really nice when study aides are readily provided like that. So I will be look at those flashcards for chapter two as well.

Week 6

After having a mini break last week because of a snow day we returned to class. The main activity was working on Access. It’s kind of no secret that Access is not a favorite amongst people in the class. Every program has it’s little kinks that make it unique, but at the same time make it quite frustrating. I was first introduced to Access in IST131 and am in the actual Access class right now, so it does take some of the edge off of the program since I am using it for another class. By comparison, although I have not completed it yet, the Access class seems much harder than what we are learning in this OAD class.

One of the activities in class was taking information that was in and Excel spreadsheet and inserting the same information into an Access database. This stood out for me because I have an Excel spreadsheet that I use to keep track of my sold and unsold textbooks on Amazon.com. Maybe once we get a bit further with Access I’ll decide if Access will be better suited for my textbook record. But I do use the graph feature in Excel for my record and not quite sure yet if I can do something similar in Access, which might be a deal breaker.

Access seems ideal for recordkeeping as assignments have indicated. Though personally I have not run into it, I’m sure there are people and companies out there who use it for longer records. Sometimes there is lots of information that needs to be stored and Access fits the bill in that regard. Even though I am not the best with it, it’s good that I’m getting exposure to the program. If ever I do need to utilize it at least I’ll have some working knowledge of Access.

For next week, we need to finish up Access assignments and read about Access. Hopefully the class won’t be on an Access overload. Just have to take our time with Access since it can get so frustrating. We will be done with it soon enough, so there is an end in sight.

Week 4

This week we continued on using OneNote. It was kind of nice to hear what other people thought OneNote should be used for during a class discussion. I can easily come up with my own personal uses but it’s another thing to hear what others think. They came up with some interesting ideas and thought of places that could use OneNote that I honestly wouldn’t have thought of. This included everything from medical office use to a rolodex of clients.
Another point that was brought up would be using OneNote from an academic standpoint by using it to help organize a research paper. Different segments of the paper could be organized within OneNote, such as introduction in one area, purpose of research in another, and so on. It could also be ideal when sources need to be organized. A source’s URL could be pasted in and additional notes about that source could be written or highlighted. If they are necessary to the research pictures could be included with this as well.
If a presentation needs to be prepared for the workplace OneNote still fits the bill. Since it is possible to have multiple users, on a collaborative presentation everyone would be able to see and access the same thing. Also because OneNote integrates other Microsoft programs, if different parts of the presentation were in Work or Excel for example, they could be used within one program rather than being all over the place. Organization seems far simpler when everything is in one location.
Next week we will have to prepare for our quiz on OneNote, it really flew by. But I’m also dreading starting Access. I’m currently in the Access class and it is far from easy. I really have to devote the time when working with Access. But hopefully because I will have Access in two different classes it will give me more of a perspective with the program. I just don’t want it to turn into a big headache because frustration often comes with Access.

Week 3

This week as a class we started to utilize OneNote. It’s all quite new, so there is hesitation and uneasiness with working with it for the first time. Every program works differently, so it seems like just a matter of getting used to it. Now based on working with it in class, OneNote doesn’t seem too overly complicated because you can do seemingly anything. You can write anywhere and even draw on a page. It seems like it combines the best features of other programs into one organized thing.

OneNote I think can be used on so many different levels. Personally it can be used for organizing class notes and planning events. The exercise that we need to complete for class is an event and an advantage I can see with OneNote is that you can have all your information there and not in nine million different places. You can have tables, pictures, text, and links all on one page if needed. It seems a better fit rather than trying to make it work in another program such as Word for example.

The workplace is no different than personal use in how it can help organize. Though personally I haven’t seen it, but OneNote would be fantastic for meeting minutes. There could be screen shots of websites perhaps discussed in the meeting rather than just having a boring URL in the minutes. Important files could be attached, such appendixes surrounding a particular topic. Not to mention all the different part of the meeting divided off into tabs and subpages going in order from old business to new business and so on.

For next week I will need to finish up the OneNote assignment for class. It’s not half as bad as I thought it would be using it for the first time. It can’t compare by say using Access for the first time. On the whole, OneNote is very useful and practical and I hope that I will be able to use it in my own personal life and as well as being able to use it from a professional standpoint.

Week 2

This week although it was not part of the lesson plan, as a class we experienced something that is probably all too common with technology, glitches. Technology is always great when it works properly, but when it is not, it be very frustrating. For example, many were having problems creating their accounts for Twitter because the site was overloaded. Also when scanning documents, they would show up crooked and not straight. Technology although it can makes things very convenient, is far from perfect and will always have kinks. Sometimes we have to just deal with it or figure out and use alternative methods to accomplish the same task.

Focusing in on scanning although it may have not worked the way we wanted to during class, it is really quite practical. Besides scanning documents to computers, many people scan photos. We all have photos lying about the house that are before the digital age. Scanning photos is a fantastic way to organize them into simple categories/files rather than just having lots of loose photos lying around. This can be a way of not only preserving photos, but it also makes it possible to send these scanned images to other family member who may not have the same photos. Although I do not have a scanner, I know a friend’s family did this with old family photos and good thing because many of the original photos were later lost in a house fire.

The same concept I think can apply to the workplace. Not all documents are going to be digital files. So, by scanning these perhaps important papers, there can be a digital record. Also if there were perhaps newspaper clippings about the company, there’s another thing to scan in order to keep a digital record. Overall, scanning is another practical application that makes it possible to have our non-digitalized documents, photos, and whatever else, digital and have ready access on a computer.

I’ve been looking over the assigned pages for next week’s OneNote lessons. I have never used this program before and frankly I never heard of it prior. When I mention this program to others they have said they’ve never heard of it either. So, this makes me a little excited that I will be learning about something that not many people know about or use. I feel it may be able to set me apart from other who have no working knowledge of the program.

Week 1- First Blog!!

So, here goes on my first blog entry for OAD220! This week we were introduced to social networking and blogs. I would consider myself an avid Facebook user having an account since 2005 when it stated take off at least with college aged people, although it continues to expand and grow to seemingly everyone. Linkedin on the other hand, absolutely brand new for me! After creating an account, entering my information, and browsing around others accounts, I think it’s a fantastic idea to have a professionally based social networking site. Facebook seems far too personal a thing to be utilized in the same way, at least in my opinion. I hope by having an account with Linkedin I will be able to expand my information, connect with people, and perhaps take advantage of any opportunities that may come along. I am not a stranger to the blog world either, although this is the first time I have ever kept a blog. I’ve been more of a blog reader and one of my favorite blogs out there is http://blog.caseybrowndesigns.com/, which is a vintage dress blog. So, it is a little strange to be on the other side in the blog world, but this will defiantly be a learning process.

Continuing on with the subject matter of blogs, they can be used for seemingly anything. It was recommended in a class I took with Siena Heights University that we keep track of our goals. If we want to achieve our goal, then it should be measurable. Keeping a blog would be ideal for this. It is a way to keep track of one’s progress and record what need to be accomplished next. If for example my goal is to lose 5 pounds, I could report on what I ate during the week, what kind of fitness routine I had, and how much weight I have lost. I could keep the blog until I accomplish my goal to see what I did right, what I could improve upon, and reflect on the experience.

Having a blog would also be ideal in the work world. A blog could be kept about attending a conference in another city or country that coworkers back in the office can read. Entries could be made about the conference itself, what was learned or accomplished, people met, and even tidbits about the location of the conference. By reading this, they could have more or an idea of what went on without actually being there.

For next week, we will need to bring in a cover letter and our resume. I haven’t updated my resume in a while, so that will be something I need to get on this weekend. Hopefully there will be some pointers for perhaps improving my resume. If there’s room for improvement I want to hear about it! But overall, I look forward to each week of the class where I can learn something new that I can hopefully utilize professionally. Here’s til the next post!