Blog #1

1) Description of how you used Microsoft Word and Powerpoint:
For the Miscrosoft Word project, I created an instructional document for installing the SMART Notebook software 10. For the Powerpoint project, I created a lesson about probability for my Algebra I class.

2) What obstacles you encountered:
For the Word project, the only obstacle I encoutered was deciding on how to size the images so they would fit well into the document and not leave a great deal of white space. For the Powerpoint project, I had a hard time sticking to the 6x6 rule and having 3 bullet points. I either had too much information to put on some slides and sometimes, I did not have enough information to put on slides to warrant having 3 bullet points.

3) How you resolved these obstacles:
I resolved these obstacles simply by going back over it again and again and editted it so that I was following the criteria on the rubric.

4) What successes you experienced (what you learned):
I learned how to format using Word. I've created many documents in Word and I've never used the heading or the alt text tools. I definitely see the importance and ease of using the heading tools. In the Powerpoint project, I learned that images do not need to clutter the slides more than necessary. I learned that a "pretty" presentation is not always a good presentation.

5) Ideas about how you can use this application in the future:
I'm definitely going to use the formatting I learned from the Word project more (the headings, alt text, bulletted lists, etc) to create documents. I don't really use Powerpoint for presentations, however, if I ever do, I'll try my best to follow the 6x6 rule and use less graphics (only necessary ones).