Where do I begin? Google docs is a fun freeware -- filled with exciting information and tutorials which helped a great deal as I was completing this class assignment. But, this may be where my comparative experience ends. Having worked in state government for many years, I find that I was limited to the performance of my clerical duties governed by networked computer equipment complete with firewalls to not only prevent viruses but limiting a large amount of internet activity. As an employee of the state, collaboration with persons outside the network would not have been tolerated or encouraged. Employees were limited to one or two main word processing program. In relation to my work experience, the programs used most often were those found within Microsoft Word or Microsoft Office. Google was not used to perform word processing functions. It was, however, used mainly for searches and research as well as providing quick access to specific website addresses. Google, which I can now see is fast and efficient, and accessible to the Google public was not used for word processing. Using Google for our CIS 109 class assignments like blogs and creating spreadsheets has really opened new horizons for me and I look forward to finding opportunities to use it even after this class ends.
The negatives of using Google for my CIS 109 class assignments concerns mainly the textbook on Google Apps. It has a copyright date of 2010, however, it like many other information technology textbooks are already out of date and the information found within them tends to be different. The assignments we've received so far were completed only after I learned to depend upon the more current online resources and links showing me how to complete our assignments correctly. It was stressful to realize this at first, but now that I'm aware of what needs to take place in order to complete my assignments, I'm okay with it.
