Documenting a Day (Application Reflection)

Technology is part of almost everything I do from work to school to even my personal life. While working on the “Documenting a Day” assignment, I got to use several types of software that helped me understand how useful application programs really are. Specifically, I worked with a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, and a database application. Each one brought something different to the table and using them helped me see both their strengths and where they fall short. This reflection explores how each of these applications works, their pros and cons, and which one made the most sense for telling the story of my day.

 

Word processors, like Microsoft Word, are great for writing. I used one to create a journal entry about my daily routine. It made it easy to organize my thoughts, fix grammar, and format everything neatly. I could just type freely and structure things as I went along. One of the best things about word processors is how user-friendly they are. But they’re not built for crunching numbers or handling large sets of data. Outside of journaling, I also use Word all the time for writing papers, creating resumes, and even jotting down quick notes for work or class (Shelly & Vermaat, 2020).

 

Spreadsheets, such as Microsoft Excel, helped me calculate how much time I spent on each activity during the day. Excel was incredibly helpful for this because of its formulas and ability to create graphs and charts. It made the data feel more real and gave me a better visual understanding of how my time was spent. However, Excel isn’t as beginner-friendly when it comes to more complex functions. It took a little bit of trial and error to get it just right. Besides time tracking, spreadsheets are great for budgeting, project planning, or anything that involves a lot of numbers.

 

PowerPoint came in handy to present my daily routine in a visual format. It let me take what I wrote and turn it into something more engaging with images, bullet points, and transitions. This made it easier to share my experience in a quick and interesting way. Still, it’s easy to get caught up in the design and forget to focus on the content. Presentation software really shines in classrooms and meetings where you need to get your message across quickly and clearly.

 

Databases, like Microsoft Access, are a bit more advanced. I didn’t use one too much for this project, but I can see how useful it could be for organizing repeating data like logging daily routines over time. Databases are great at keeping things sorted and linked, especially when there’s a lot of information to handle. But they require a good understanding of how to set up tables and run queries. One place I’ve seen them used effectively is in tracking IT support tickets at my job, where we need to pull up device histories and user information quickly.

 

Of all these applications, I think the word processor was the most appropriate for documenting my day. It gave me the freedom to tell my story in a way that felt natural and personal. It allowed me to focus on the details without worrying about formatting or complex functions. For a reflection assignment like this one, being able to write freely was the most important factor.

 

In the end, each application has its place depending on what you’re trying to do. Word processors are best for writing, spreadsheets are powerful for analyzing data, presentations make ideas come to life visually, and databases are perfect for managing lots of structured information. This project helped me see how each one can be useful in different parts of my academic and professional life, and how important it is to choose the right tool for the task.

 

References

Winston, W. L. (2021). Microsoft Excel data analysis and business modeling (7th ed.). Microsoft Press.

Campbell, J. T., Vermaat, M. E., Freund, S. M., Frydenberg, M., Last, M. Z., & Pratt, P. J. (2016). Discovering computers & Microsoft Office 365 & Office 2016: A fundamental combined approach. Cengage Learning.