Looking back on Phase 1 of IS101, I would say I performed fairly well overall, but not without some avoidable setbacks. My grades were solid, and I understood most of the material, but I did fall behind at times. Ironically, part of that came from getting too far ahead early on and I assumed I was more caught up than I actually was, which led to me overlooking a few assignments. Although I eventually completed and submitted everything, it definitely created unnecessary stress. If I could do anything differently moving into future phases, I would focus on consistency. Instead of cramming LabSim work into one long session, I would spread it out and complete it daily. That approach would not only reduce stress but also improve retention. I would also make a stronger effort to attend class more regularly. While I was able to teach myself most of the material, I recognize that being present could have reinforced my understanding and helped me stay better aligned with deadlines.
In Chapter 4.9, which focused on using themes, styles, and templates, I felt fairly confident going in because I already had some experience with formatting in Word. However, this chapter helped refine and expand that knowledge. I gained a better understanding of how to apply styles more efficiently and consistently, and how templates can streamline document creation. Overall, it didn’t feel entirely new, but it definitely made my skills more polished and intentional.
To prepare for the upcoming MO-110 Word certification exam, I have been consistently practicing through LabSim by retaking labs and completing practice exams multiple times. Repetition has been key for me. Each time I go through the material, I feel more confident in my ability to navigate Word and apply the required skills. Instead of just memorizing steps, I’ve focused on understanding why certain tools and features are used, which I believe will help me perform better during the actual exam.
If there’s anything I would share with others taking this course, it’s to stay consistent and not get too comfortable, even if you feel ahead. It’s easy to underestimate how quickly small assignments can pile up. Managing your time and pacing your work makes a huge difference. Also, don’t rely entirely on cramming it might work in the short term, but spacing out your practice leads to a much better understanding in the long run.
Overall, this phase has been a good learning experience for me, not just in terms of technical skills in Word, but also in how I manage my time and approach my work.
Hello Ash, I like how honest your reflection is, especially the part where getting ahead early ended up creating a different kind of pressure. That is something I can relate to, because sometimes being “ahead” does not actually mean being in control, it just means you are stressing earlier than everyone else. Your point about consistency stood out to me, since spacing out practice instead of compressing everything into one long session really does make a difference in both retention and overall understanding.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that physically showing up more often can reinforce what we think we already understand, because there is always something small that gets missed when learning independently. It sounds like you already have a strong foundation, and now it is more about refining habits rather than starting from scratch.
Honestly, Phase 1 feels less like learning Word and more like learning how to manage ourselves under pressure. At this point, I am convinced the real certification we are earning is in time management, Word just happens to come with it for free.
Hello Ash, time management is so important I also crammed LabSim at times and it led to fatigue and making careless mistakes. What matters in the end is that you were able to learn from the experience.
ReplyDeleteHello Ash, I agree on warning of to not get too comfortable when working ahead because the work quickly catches up to you once you've focused on other assignments. I thought I was ahead just 2 weeks ago and now I'm slightly behind.
ReplyDeleteHey Ash, yes I agree, I did the same mistake by doing a lot of LabSims early and then forgetting about it not realizing how fast time flies. Then I look back at my assignments and suddenly I'm behind, kind of like the story of the Tortoise and the Hare! I did the same mistake on my other class as well, going too far ahead and then not realizing deadlines and due dates came by quick. It's a good learning experience for sure.
ReplyDeleteHi Ash, I agree with you, your advice at the end is something everyone in the class can benefit from. Staying consistent, pacing yourself, and not getting too comfortable just because you feel ahead really does make a difference.
ReplyDeleteHello Ash, I like that you say to stay consistent while taking the course. I've been cramming for something, but I notice that I need to change to be more prepared in whatever course I'm in.
ReplyDeleteHi Ash, your focus on understanding concepts rather than just memorizing steps will definitely help you on the MO-110 exam.
ReplyDeleteHey Ash! The same thing happened to me lol -- getting ahead at the very beginning and overestimating how far ahead we actually were. Definitely staying consistent and not getting too comfortable is great advice for not only this class, but all life aspects!
ReplyDeletePowerful last paragraph and relatable too. Consistency is key. It's hard for me to grasp that concept since I get distracted easily and lose track of what was suppose to do. Also, being comfortable and thinking you're ahead in class is dangerous haha. I always thought I am one step ahead and little did I know, I was behind 5 steps back. Lesson learned indeed.
ReplyDeleteYou explained the whole “feeling ahead but actually missing assignments” situation really well because that can happen so easily in this class. I also liked your point about understanding the tools instead of just memorizing steps for the exam that’s probably the best way to actually learn the material.
ReplyDeleteConsistency and repeated practices are definitely building blocks to success!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear Phase 2 has been a good learning experience for you, Ashton :-)
Ashton in IS101-3003/5, Spring 2026 > Life's obligations and challenges ^_^
Hello Ash. It is easy to get behind on assignments in this class, I've also had my setbacks. Consistency is difficult but important especially in college classes. They can really pile up. Thank you for the nice advice, cramming definitely doesn't help with retention.
ReplyDeleteHello Ash, showing up to class was very beneficial, especially taking the bonus quizzes but I experienced something similar with jumping too far ahead and realizing there was steps that still needed to be taken. At least you understand the benefits for future course you may take to stay consistent and remain attentive.
ReplyDeleteHi Ash. You have a point when you say that you will have the best performance when you spread out your time studying or doing an assignment. To support this idea, you should not cram on studying or on an assignment because doing that will make you more tempted to skip an important step that will make the task more efficient.
ReplyDeleteHi Ash , I liked your reflection on how consistency matters more than getting ahead too quickly, especially when it comes to staying on track with assignments.
ReplyDeleteHi Ash, Repetition through LabSim is a great way to build confidence, and focusing on understanding why the tools are used instead of just memorizing steps will definitely help you on the MO-110 exam.
ReplyDeleteHey Ash, that was the key to passing for me was repeating some things on Labsim, styles are cool too because we don't want something to stay the same, We want to make it look cool
ReplyDeleteHi Ash, I can definitely relate it's very easy to overlook assignments and even push them back on when you decide to complete them. Consistency and preparation would absolutely make the process way less stressful and easier. I couldn't agree with you more!
ReplyDelete"To stay consistent and not get too comfortable, even if you feel ahead." is something I agree with Ash. I always fall victim to this because it creates the illusion of you having more time to focus on other things. Very well said.
ReplyDeleteHello Ash. Focusing on understanding how the features work instead of memorizing is smart! It's important to make sure you're actually retaining knowledge as you're learning it!
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