Reflection on My Experience Utilizing Applications: Word, Excel and PowerPoint

 

The Role of Applications Reflection Essay for Documenting a Day assignment 1

 

Charla Miller

The University of Arizona Global Campus

TEC101: Fundamentals of Information Technology & Literacy

Ali Abedin

05/26/2025

The Role of Applications Reflection Essay for Documenting a Day assignment 1

Introduction

In today’s digital world, application software plays a critical role in productivity and efficiency across a wide array of tasks. Each type of application in reference to Word processors, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and Access databases, each serve a different and distinct function and purposes that is specific to each different users needs. In this essay I will discuss and compare the different functions of these applications, and discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and recommend the most appropriate application for Documenting my Day Assignment, then highlight scenarios where each application type excels in utility.

 

Comparing Productivity Software Applications

Word Processors: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer, Apple Pages

Functions: Word processors are designed for creating, formatting, editing, and printing text-based documents. They allow you to make a wide variety of changes and manipulations to a document, including text editing, paragraph styling and formatting, spelling and grammar check. You can Insert features, such as images, tables, charts, hyperlinks, headers, footers, page numbers. Pre-designed Templates: layouts for resumes, letters, reports, APA formatted Essay templates. File Management, save, open, and export or print. Options to collaborate through Microsoft Teams for instance. You can also attach your document to email and share it or combine it with another data source.

 Advantages

Word processors are so much more efficient than writing by hand or typing on an old school typewriter, faster and easier. Editing and Formatting is user-friendly, it is so easy to navigate and understand what each tab and selection of options, and it has a vast number of options to choose from, in formatting, design, layout. Spell check and grammar correction tools which help in producing professional documents. Collaboration features are easy to work with, especially with cloud-based applications, because it lets multiple users work on and edit the same document simultaneously in real-time.  Experienced users benefit from the complex tools available. (Williams, 2024)

Disadvantages

If you’re a beginner, advanced features may be complex to understand. (Williams, 2024)

 You can run into compatibility issues, and a file may not open correctly in different programs. This happens to me sometimes when uploading my work to Waypoint. You may have to incorporate additional software or tools for advanced design features or infographics and complicated complex layouts. It can take quit a bit of time to become proficient in Word processors.

Spreadsheet Applications: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers

Functions: I prefer Microsoft Excel, but I have used Google sheets quite a bit on my phone. Spreadsheet applications, like Excel and Sheets, allow users to analyze data, create charts and tables, and perform calculations systematically using rows and columns. Excel is designed for data analysis and manipulation, and it provides a grid-like structure for entering and managing data, with advanced tools for calculations, statistical analysis, and to visualize data. It is ideal for creating budgets, tracking expenses, and creating spreadsheets.

Advantages

Excel has hundreds of different formulas to help you organize, visualize and get insights out of your data. While many of you rely on the same formulas every day. (Pidgeon, 2024)

Integration of other applications data can import/export to and from databases, the web, and other Microsoft Office tools, that allow users to perform mathematical operations. Data visualization tools, like graphs, charts, and pivot tables, help present data in a orderly and organized manner.

Python is now available in Excel, you can now create, edit, and re-calc Python formulas in any workbooks on your browser, along with Windows. (msexcel Steel Contributor, 2025)

Disadvantages

It can be frustrating for beginners/users not familiar with formulas or advanced features, which can lead to a tough learning curve, so I highly recommend tutorials to overcome this issue.

Even though it can create basic reports, it is not intended for long-form text documents.

 

Presentation Software: Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Google Slides

PowerPoint

Functions: Presentation software like PowerPoint or Apple Keynote and Google Slides is made for creating visual presentations that combine text, images, and multimedia into slides. Share presentations using OneDrive or SharePoint, you can collaborate in real-time also with Microsoft Teams as well.

Advantages

Engaging visual formats with the ability to incorporate videos, animations, and graphics can enhance your audience’s engagement. User-friendly interface with drag and drop functionality. Pre-designed templates, and design tools make the application accessible for users to create visually attractive slide shows without needing graphic design skills. After watching a few tutorials and some practice you can begin to get better at creating visually appealing presentations.

Disadvantages

 The customization options may be limited compared to dedicated design software. Presenters seeking highly customized and unique designs may find PowerPoint's options somewhat restrictive. (Adams, 2025)

 Information overload can occur if too much data is presented on slides, taking away from the message. Visuals can enhance a presentation but relying on them too much can overload your presentation and takeaway from the text you need to present. PowerPoint requires an understanding of some presentation techniques and engaging audience strategies to be effective. Tutorials can help in this area too.

“PowerPoint Presentations may pose accessibility challenges for individuals with disabilities. Issues such as small font sizes, lack of alt text for images, or inadequate color contrast can make it difficult for visually impaired or hearing-impaired individuals to fully engage with the content”. (Adams, 2025)

Each of these applications are compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, and PC, and work seamlessly integrated through each Operating System.

Recommendation & Scenarios

Based on my experience in documenting my day, within each application, I believe that Microsoft Word Processor is the best choice for this assignment. It was easy, creating a narrative, and formatting the text and including images to enhance my story, and overall best met my needs for documenting daily activities. The flexibility allowed me to focus on content, while easily editing and adding images and finishing with a shareable format.

Additional Scenarios for Each App

Word processors are particularly useful in creating academic essays, reports or business proposals for college assignments. Excel spreadsheets is invaluable in creating a budget plan,  and documenting my personal and professional finances. PowerPoint presentation software is the type of application ideal for preparing pitches or educational lessons where visual aids enhance understanding. A scenario could be a project presentation to stakeholders, where visually telling a story would keep my audience more engaged.

Conclusion

In my essay, after reflecting on my experience creating a journal entry, calculating percentages, developing a presentation, and manipulating a database, as well as my current understanding of software applications, and now to complete the Role of Applications Reflection Essay. Support your statements with evidence from the textbook or additional sources, as necessary, and described at least one additional scenario where that application would be most useful for each application type, then recommend the application software that was most appropriate for documenting the information about your day. I compared the functions of word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and database applications, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each application.

  

References

Adams (2025) What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint | The Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint: Explore

msexcel Steel Contributor, (2025) What's New in Excel (March 2025) | Excel Blog | What's New in Excel (March 2025) | Microsoft Community Hub 

Pidgeon, (2024) Unlock the power of Copilot in Excel, now generally available | Excel Blog | Unlock the power of Copilot in Excel, now generally available | Microsoft Community Hub

Williams, C., (2024) What is the Difference Between PowerPoint, Word, and Excel? | Tech Training HQ | What is the Difference Between PowerPoint, Word, and Excel? - Tech Training HQ

Link to my Presentation I published in UAGC's My Portfolio: A Day in the Life.

Check it out!!!

 https://portfolium.com/entry/a-day-in-the-life-powerpoint-presentation