Weekly Report and Reflection #7

Hey everyone,

So this week brings week 7 to an end.  This week I got to explore Google Docs.  Over the past weeks I have been learning and exploring new tools that I had never used.  However, this week I had experience with Google Docs in the past.  I love using this tool when working on group projects.  It makes it so much easier to collaborate and ensure that the final report flows properly. I love how you can see the changes being made to the document in real time.  Another great aspect of using Google Docs is when working you can message your group members and ask for ideas or get immediate feedback from them. 

Google Docs is also a great way to keep all personal documents in a place where you can access them from anywhere in the world.  Just because documents are online doesn’t mean that they need to be shared with everyone. Google docs allows you keep the documents private so that you are the only one who has access to them.  I have started to use my Google drive on a regular basis now, rather than making sure I had a Flash drive on me or even emailing the files to myself. When doing this there is always an inherent risk that the file may be corrupted and not open, which can become an even larger problem. 

Google docs allows you to share particular files with family and friends, through Google Drive.  My first experience with Google Drive was a few weeks ago when I had to send one of my managers a few files that happened to be too large for attachments.  So I ended up uploading them to Google Drive and then emailing them to her that way.  The only complaint I have with this method is that due to the file size, it took each file around one hour to upload onto the drive.  Other than that she got all of the necessary files and had no problem opening them. 

Feedly Reader

The article that I will be talking about this week comes from studysuccessful.com and is titled Should You get a Masters Degree.  http://studysuccessful.com/should-you-get-a-masters-degree/

After reading this I am definitely going to spend some time considering all of my options for the future, since I was honestly considering to continue my education after I finish my undergrad degree. 

The article has three main points that they want the reader to consider and they are:

1.   Consider Salary, and whether having the advanced degree is going to make a difference in your starting wages.  Some industries will pay more for a person who has a masters degree in comparison to those who only have an undergrad degree.  
2. The financial cost of going back to school. Do you have enough money to put towards completing the program? Post grad programs are expensive and seeing where you have the financial means to go back to school without putting yourself into more debt. 
3.  Managing classes, there are two ways to complete a master’s degree and they are either full time or part time.  In part time you have the ability to work and go to class at the same time, and for some people it is difficult to find that balance between the two worlds and give enough attention to their school work and or family. 

These are all things that need to be considered when making the decision on whether to go back to school and further your education or just go into the work force.

Have a great day!

Aarti