This week we created maps using ArcMaps Tutorial. This was tedious, but very interesting. My experience with the tutorial was that it was extremely detail oriented, which was helpful, but also challenging because if you missed one small step, it became very confusing and hard to backtrack. It became easier each time, and I definitely feel more comfortable and familiar with the program now, although it will definitely take more practive to master and memorize each function.
I really like the idea of being able to create my own map. This program has enormous potential in many disciplines. It allows the user to create accurate and customized maps, and to set your own agenda for each of those maps. As Professor Shin has talked about in lecture, maps can portray very important information, and information contributes to freedom.
The same reasons that this program has enormous potential creates potential for pitfalls. People can select information to leave out on maps that can be biased or spread inaccurate portrayals of information. Also, since it is a confusing program that takes training to master and understand, everyday citizens who are not familiar with it cannot judge it's accuracies or create their own maps.
Overall I enjoyed the ArcMaps Tutorial, despite it's slightly tedious nature. It would be nice to have more supervised lap time, as some difficulties I encountered would have been resolved more fully with the help of a TA. I look forward to using the program again soon and discover more of it's extensive list of functions!
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