ArcGIS Tutorial

My experience with ArcGIS was had its ups and downs especially, more downs than ups unfortunately. ArcGIS is a high tech gadget that makes you reconsider if you are tech savvy; I thought I knew everything about computer however, I felt like a kindergartener driving a stick shift Ferrari. Yes, it was that bad! The beginning of the tutorial is not the problem it comes toward the middle of the tutorial around page 26.


For the most part the system was cooperative and easy to use until your realize the tutorial is not updated and is a few updates short. This didn't become an issue for me at first until I got into the more technical parts such as doing layers and graphics. The updates are suppose to make the software easier to use but I felt it would have been much easier to use the prior versions to do the assignment. I know it seems as if I am giving ArcGIS a bad rep but there are plenty of benefits to the software.


Once you began to get into a rhythm of how to use the software you begin to glide through the assignment like a hawk searching for prey. For example, when you have to start giving titles and selecting certain parts of the map it becomes mechanical and you complete task with ease; until you hit the part of the section that throws you for a loop and your TA is helping a multitude of other students and you begin to have an anxiety attack(good times...good times). Nevertheless, ArcGIS is a helpful tool and even after a few mishaps it becomes second nature.


Since ArcGIS has a somewhat steep learning curve it is not for everyone to use but if you fight through the hardships whether for your job or a good grade you will realize how far geography has come in the past decade. This software is phenomenal considering you can make a map and layers in a few hours when it would take cartographers months if not years to do. Clearly, the software is well worth the trouble if you are headed into the geography work field but you will find a few issues but I am sure these pitfalls will be fixed in soon to come updates.