Final Blog Post – IS101 Journey and Looking Ahead

Hello everyone,

It honestly feels weird that this is already the last blog post for IS101-3005, Spring 2026. This class was definitely different from what I expected at the beginning. I thought it was only going to be basic computer work, but I ended up learning way more than I thought. Besides Microsoft Office skills, I also learned a lot about time management, staying consistent, and not falling behind on assignments 😭. It also helped me realize how important technology skills are in everyday life, school, and future careers.

For my Chapter 6 topic, I chose 6.6.1 SmartArt. SmartArt is one of the coolest features I learned about because it allows users to turn plain information into visual diagrams and graphics. Instead of presenting information as large blocks of text, SmartArt makes it easier to organize ideas visually in a clean and professional way. There are different SmartArt categories such as lists, block processes, cycles, hierarchies, relationships, and pyramids. These designs help make presentations easier to understand and more visually appealing.

I think SmartArt is especially useful for presentations, school projects, business ideas, and even explaining step-by-step processes. Before learning about this feature, I did not realize PowerPoint had tools that could automatically create professional-looking diagrams so quickly. I also like that SmartArt can easily be customized with colors, layouts, and styles to fit different types of presentations.

Preparing for the MOS exams was stressful at times, but all the practice labs and repetition helped a lot. Looking back now, I feel more confident using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint than before taking this class.

I also want to say that Professor Wu made this class very unique compared to other classes I have taken before. The structure of the course, the phases, the blog posts, and the bonus quizzes made the class feel different in a good way. Even though the class could sometimes feel overwhelming, the class pushed me to improve and actually learn useful skills. I appreciate how much effort was put into helping students improve and prepare for certifications. Reading my classmates’ blogs was also interesting because a lot of us were dealing with similar struggles like work, stress, and balancing school with life.

Overall, I am glad I took IS101. It was stressful at times, but it also helped me grow both academically and personally. I learned new technical skills, improved my work habits, and gained more confidence in myself. As the semester comes to an end, I feel proud of how far I have come and excited for what comes next.

Here is the slideshow I created:

Thank you Professor Wu and thank you classmates for making this semester memorable. I hope everyone succeeds in their future classes, careers, and goals.

Good luck everyone!.🙏😊