“More Than Just a Computer Class”

Hey everyone!

If you’ve made it to my blog thank you for being here! Whether you’re a fellow student, a future employer, a family member, or just someone curious, I hope this post gives you a little insight into my experience in IS101-3205 (Spring 2025) and the growth I’ve gone through over the semester.

To be completely honest, I came into this course thinking it would just be another tech class. You know, learn Word, learn Excel, move on. But this class ended up being so much more than that.

Taking this class in Spring 2025 has been one of the most valuable parts of my college journey so far. At first, I saw it as just a computer class something to check off the list. But as the weeks went by, I realized that IS101 was about so much more than just Microsoft Word and Excel. It taught me how to manage my digital presence, work more efficiently, and communicate with clarity.

Mr. Albert Wu thank you for holding us to high standards. Your feedback was always direct, detailed, and helpful. It was clear you cared not just about us passing the class, but about us actually learning and growing and to my classmates thanks for making the classroom feel like a supportive space. Even if we didn’t talk every day.

One of the biggest takeaways from this course was how to communicate clearly and effectively through Microsoft office tools. While learning Excel formulas and Word formatting was essential, Module 6.4.6 -Slide Design Tips in Phase3 stood out the most for me. It taught me how to craft presentations that are not just informative, but visually compelling. I learned how to balance images, text, color, and space to capture attention without overwhelming the viewer.This lesson stuck with me because good design reflects clear thinking
and now I feel more confident creating presentations that actually make an impact.

If there's one thing I hope visitors to this blog remember about me, it's that I don't give up. Balancing school, work, and life hasn’t been easy. I didn’t always hit every deadline, but I showed up, pushed through, and caught up. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and excited about where I’m headed.

Thanks for reading, and thank you to (IS101-3205) and Professor Wu for giving me skills I’ll carry into every future opportunity.

Phase 2

In Phase 2, I believe I persevered well and made noticeable progress, especially with Microsoft Excel and the topics on URL components and social engineering. At first, Excel felt a bit overwhelming, but assignments like A4 Fun with Functions and A5 More Fun with Functions helped me build confidence by allowing me to practice logical functions in a fun and interactive way. A6 Spreadsheet Analysis with Trailer really pushed me to apply critical thinking and data interpretation skills. I enjoyed being able to manipulate data and draw conclusions it made spreadsheets feel more powerful than I had realized before.

For Chapter 5, the lessons deepened my understanding of Excel’s analytical capabilities. I felt more engaged in this phase because the tasks had real-world relevance, which made the learning experience more meaningful and practical.

Outside of IS101-3205, I’ve already applied what I learned in Phase 2, especially with Pivot Tables. I used them to organize and analyze my personal expense data, which made it much easier to spot trends in my spending. Instead of going through rows manually, I could summarize everything by category and month with just a few clicks. Learning Pivot Tables has made Excel feel like a much more powerful tool, and I can see myself using it for budgeting, school projects, and even future job tasks that involve data analysis.

As we enter Phase 3, I’m committed to keep my mindset to excelling in them. I want to challenge myself by presenting a more polished presentation with Power Point. I see this next phase as an opportunity to showcase my creativity and growth.

Phase 1 Experience

I've had a good experience in IS101-3205 phase 1 and I feel like I've done well overall. I’ve gained a solid understanding of the material and was able to apply many concepts effectively. There were definitely some challenges along the way, especially in areas that required more hands-on practice, but one section that really stood out to me was 3.4.3 Navigating Facts I learned a lot from it, and it helped me better understand file organization and management.

Moving forward, I want to stay on track with assignments to make sure I’m keeping up and making steady progress. To prepare for the MO-110 Word certification exam, I’ve been practicing LabSim assignments, which have been really helpful in reinforcing key concepts and improving my hands-on skills.

I’d also like to share one of my favorite quotes: "Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration." Thomas Edison. This quote really resonates with me because it highlights the importance of hard work and dedication. Success doesn’t come from just having good ideas it comes from putting in the effort, staying committed, and continuously improving. No matter the challenge, perseverance is what truly makes a difference.

Introduction, First Impression of IS101, Chrome Configuration

Greetings, everyone! My name is Bezhan. I’m 22 years old, a high school graduate, and an avid reader—especially when it comes to history and technology. My biggest inspirations are Lisa Su and Jensen Huang, and I dream of working for a semiconductor or electrical company once I finish my education.

Currently, I’m taking several college courses, and one of my favorites is IS101. It’s an excellent class for getting comfortable with Office applications while also boosting your digital literacy skills. I’ve picked up so many practical tips and tricks that I can immediately apply in my day-to-day life, and it’s been exciting to see how much more confident I feel when navigating the digital world.

One of the most eye-opening lessons I’ve encountered so far is learning about configuring web browsers in section 1.4.6. Let’s face it—most of us use Google Chrome or some other browser daily without giving its settings a second thought. However, after diving deeper into Chrome’s configuration options, I’ve started feeling much safer and more in control whenever I’m online. This simple act of reviewing and adjusting browser settings can make a huge difference in your overall security and privacy.

A particularly useful tip I discovered involves managing whether websites can see your location. By default, some sites request this information for reasons like serving localized content or ads, and often we just click “Allow” without thinking twice. If you’re not comfortable with that, you can simply disable the feature. The process is straightforward: go to Settings, select Privacy and Security, then find Site Settings and locate Location. From there, you can toggle it off or adjust permissions as needed. Once this setting is disabled, you can browse more confidently without worrying about inadvertently revealing your whereabouts.

As someone who hopes to work in a cutting-edge field like semiconductors or electronics, understanding these digital literacy skills is crucial. It’s not just about staying safe online; it’s about building a strong foundation for the technology-driven future ahead. Learning how to protect your personal information, control access to sensitive data, and customize your browsing experience puts you in the driver’s seat rather than at the mercy of default settings.

Thanks for reading about my journey with digital literacy and browser security. If you’re interested in learning more about tech tips, privacy controls, or anything else related to digital literacy, stay tuned! I’ll be sharing more insights from my college courses and experiences as I continue exploring the world of technology and beyond.