CIOS 110 Lesson 1

I enrolled in CIOS 110 mainly because it is a prerequisite for earning an Associate's Degree in CIOS. It might seem like a step backward to go from a Bachelor's of Science, which I earned in 2002, to an Associate's, but I think the two degrees are quite closely related. My B.S. (ah, the irony of that degree!) is in journalism. Although I started the degree intending to become an editor, there were no editing specializations available at any of the schools within 80 miles of my home. Instead, I chose the school with the best program within that 80-mile radius, since that was as far as I was willing to drive for daily classes.

SCSU gave me a great education, and the program heads were kind enough to allow me to create independent study courses. I think I was the first student they'd ever met who wanted to edit. I can't help it - spotting errors is second nature to me. I even found one on the first page of my textbook for CIOS 110. While I'm happy with my degree, I've found there's a world of difference between book learning and real world learning. Nearly every newspaper, magazine or book I've edited has been done on a different software program, and I've had to teach myself to use them all. My Photoshop skills? All self-taught. Adobe Illustrator? They didn't offer classes in that, either. When I realized that I could earn a degree in CIOS and could tailor it with the Desktop Publishing, Web and Graphic Design program, it only made sense to enroll. As a UAF employee I get free classes, but I hadn't been using them for any purpose. Swimming and yoga are fun, but they certainly won't help me advance my career. And while I may know most of the programs in my field, I've got nothing on my resume to show that I've actually been trained to use any of them.

CIOS 110 is a requirement for this program, but I'm hoping I can again solidify the computer troubleshooting skills I've taught myself over the years. It never hurts to back up personal experience with education.