self improvements ----- muddy points

My self-improvements have been many.  I'm not sure where to start, so I'll just write about what comes to mind.  First, if something is not readily apparent, I have more patience to look for icons and spend time opening up tabs, etc. until there is something that looks like (or is) what I want.  I've also learned that often times the drop down boxes contain a lot of information.  So, after those little technical areas, there is the patience that I mentioned.  There is also the confidence that I won't necessarily lose things if I start exploring those tabs, etc.  I've become much more aware of the overall scale of technology.  I think a part of me thought that if I ignored much of it, it would go away.  I now see that there are many good aspects (apart from the word processing side which I've used (and been grateful for) for years.  I also see the negative aspects and am really interested in how this technology might be impacting those younger than me and who have grown up with so much technology.  On a global scale I see how it can make an impact, too.  It's the psychological side of things (which began with some of our discussions and lessons) that enable me to look at the larger picture of how technology fits into the entire scheme of business and personal realms.  On the practical side, I'm glad I have gained new skills with which to incorporate into my next career.  This class has also caused me to wonder about such things as how the nature of business has changed.  For instance, if more businesses use Facebook, does that require more staff, or does it save money somehow, or does the business generated compensate for the extra manpower?  As far as the muddy points, there are still some areas that puzzle me.  Most of these areas are in the time spent.  I think "How can people have so much time to spend so much of it on the computer?".  It is also so large that it seems overwhelming, and I don't get a lot of the connections between whomever "controls" certain things and those who are the "consumers".

The accomplishment I'm most proud of in the LAC172 class

This might sound facetious, but I am most proud of persevering and finishing (almost) the class.  There were times in the first few weeks that I honestly was going to drop the class.  Since I'm completing my degree for my own satisfaction and not as a requirement for a job, I thought I'd just finish later (and maybe find a university that didn't have such a requirement).  Well, oh my, after almost crying over a few assignments (like the spreadsheet and the power point AT THE SAME TIME, two things I've never done, I took a deep breath (thanks to Michael's patience and help in large part) and thought that I could learn a few new computer skills.  It didn't matter if I would use them again, voluntarily or not.  Somewhere along the way I began to see how the world has been changing through technological advances.  The last assignment we did, the iMovie, was the most enjoyable because I finally felt comfortable and felt like I was beginning to recognize certain patterns and universal computer concepts, icons, etc.   I also had the confidence that if I had not finished it in class, I would be able to do the assignment on my own.