Your background – Stephanie Aiken
1. What is your major and class level? – Geology, senior.
2. What is your class work and research so far in Earth and Space Exploration (or
geology or astronomy; what are the major classes you have taken, etc.)? Geology track classes with anthropology electives. Currently taking
paleontology and orogenic systems.
3. What are your interests in Earth and Space Exploration? – geoarchaeology.
4. What are your plans after you complete your degree? – moving on to a grad
school to study how geology affected human evolution.
Your computer experience
1. What is the operating system that you know best (Windows, Macintosh,
Linux/Unix)? - windows
2. Do you have a computer? If so, how old is it? What kind is it? What are the
main pieces of software? – dell latitude with windows 7 purchased a few years
ago.
3. Which of these pieces of software have you used and what is your level of
aptitude with each (beginner, intermediate, expert):
1. Microsoft Word - expert
2. Microsoft Excel - expert
3. Microsoft Powerpoint - expert
4. HTML editing software (any kind) - beginner
5. Adobe Illustrator - none
6. Adobe Photoshop - none
7. ArcGIS - intermediate
8. Matlab - beginner
9. Linux/UNIX operating System - none
10. Other programs? – google earth
4. What are the main pieces of software that you have used for your classes or
research or work? - ArcGIS, word, excel, powerpoint, onenote
5. Do you know about and use ASU MyApps? – yes, but last time I used it the
servers kicked me off every few minutes.
6. Do you read blogs? Have you used any collaborative internet software for
classes or research (Blackboard, other listservs, Wikis, etc.)? What is effective
in your opinion? – no blogs, use blackboard. Wiki is only useful for finding
other sources since it can be edited by anyone.
7. Are you active using social networking tools such as Facebook or twitter or
instagram, etc.? – facebook only, mostly for games to keep me entertained at
work.
Your ideas and expectations
1. What do you expect to get out of this class? – I hope to learn more about how
to utilize ArcGIS. I plan to use ArcGIS in a research project I am working on
this semester. Matlab is an area I’m very bad at and know I will likely need to
use it in the future so I’m hoping with a better teacher to get more proficient
with it.
2. What are the main topics you would like to see covered or emphasized? –
ArcGIS. I’d like to see how software can be used to recreate a picture of
paeloenvironments, if possible.