I recently used HTML and CSS to create an invitation to a Halloween Party. I bolded and italicized words using HTML. I used CSS to create a box model for my content. I applied the CSS with a combination of internal CSS and inline CSS.

Since I use HTML and CSS quite often during my job, I was pretty familiar with this language. However, after reading over the assigned readings for HTML and CSS, I encountered some obstacles. I never realized how many bad habits I have picked up during coding. I also never noticed how much I mix internal CSS and inline CSS. This caused me to sometimes assign two different stylings to the same piece of content.

By reviewing the tutorials and websites provided, this helped me pinpoint my bad habits and correct them. I also decided to always use internal CSS unless I was using a span to wrap content. When a span was being used, I would apply the inline styling to that content. 

Completing this project helped me learn that it's always important to take a step back and review the basics. This project was a great refresher on some skills I learned early in my career that I have since forgot. 

I will use this skill in my professional life. From now on when I am coding emails for my company, I will pay better attention to how I am applying CSS. This will help me create cleaner and better code. This project will also help me with future projects in this class. I will make sure I know the foundations of each project before I try to dive in a complete them. 

I recently completed 2 projects. One project was covering Microsoft Word, and the other project was covering Microsoft PowerPoint. For the Word project, I created an instructional manual explaining how to download Google Chrome to your Mac. This included step by step instructions with screenshots to help with the process. I also created a step by step presentation using PowerPoint about how to prepare and upload a Digital Edition magazine/journal.

I encountered a few obstacles while completing these projects. One obstacle was making sure to include all of the appropriate steps. Since I already knew how to complete both tasks, I would catch myself leaving steps out because I was assuming the individual would automatically know how to accomplish certain things. I also found it difficult to explain steps in a brief manner because it's easy to overload somebody with information.

I did a variety of things to overcome these obstacles. I tried to write down all the information I knew about the step and then pick out only the relevant and "must know" information. Then, I went through the process myself and only followed the directions I wrote down. When I came across something that was missed, I would add that to the steps.

I learned a few different things throughout these projects. First, I learned to never assume an individual knows certain information. When writing a step-by-step process, it's important to set the individual using the information up for success. However, I also learned tactical things such as how to use alt text on an image in Word and creating an accessible Word document.

I believe these projects will help me greatly in the future. Not only have these projects improved my ability to write instructional information, they have also guided me to write them in a more concise and brief manner.

My name is Courtnie Smith and I graduated with a Management Information Systems degree from Oklahoma State University. I am currently a Project Manager at a media company in Tulsa, OK. However, I started my career as a Jr. Front-End Developer. 

This blog will serve as my "reflective journal" throughout my graduate course. I will be posting my learning experiences and research related to instructional media or educational technology. I will also be posting other information related to my field of study.