Citation: Johnson, Doug. (December 2009). Computing In The Clouds. Learning and Leading. Retrieved October 16, 2010, Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition- december-janruary-2009-2010.aspx
The myriad difficulties associated with implementing computer technology in schools in a comprehensive fashion and in the home are seemingly ameliorated with the growing popularity of ‘cloud computing’ which refers to the use of applications and file storage that exist on a network rather than on a traditional computer storage drive. The article asserts that common problems with computers in education, such as the costs for programs and applications, and the sometimes inefficient manner in which files and stored and transferred—and lost in the process—are easily solved with such as Google Docs which allow for the free use of web space in which students can store and share information, papers, and projects with one another. The author of the article gives evidence of the ease-of-use and efficient manner in which the different daily function such as email, word processing, photo-editing, etc. can easily be accomplished using cloud computing with free programs offered online in the section entitled ‘Living in the Cloud’. All the difficulties, expenses and different the accounts and memberships one uses can all be done for free in one space. However, as with any new applications, cloud computing is not without some concerns. The main issue being privacy; considering that one put information on a network rather than on the personal storage space of a computer hard drive. However, the article champions the effect that cloud computing will have on the greater availability and use of computers in a student’s education. The advent of netbook computers compliments cloud computing it that the latter eliminates the need for bulky and expensive laptops that preference storage space and instead focuses on basic applications that students use in their everyday classes. As a result of this, the relationship between cloud computing and netbooks will make netbooks as ubiquitous in the classroom as calculators.
Question 1
How will netbooks and cloud computing be implemented on a more practical, everyday basis in my classroom?
Answer 1
The use of netbooks will create a more collaborative environment in my classroom by making group projects more fluid and interaction between students, especially outside the classroom, easier. Coupling this with the cloud computing applications that allow student to manipulate and present information according to their own tastes and strengths, student will invest more creativity into their work. Moreover, if every student in my class has a netbook at their desk—which I would make sure would allow them access to class materials that I would post online—it would completely eliminated the need of what I think is the most useless waste of time during class: copying notes from the board. Students with netbooks would have instant access to notes about the subject matter.
Question 2
How can netbooks and cloud computing tackle the issue of inequality in education?
Answer 2
One of the hot button topics in schools today is the availability of computers in every classroom and the disparity of the amount of computers between rich school districts that can afford then and poorer school districts that cannot. If trends with the use of cloud computing and the lower costs of netbooks continue, one can easily envision in 20 years the proliferation of computers in school districts that cannot afford them today. Students in these schools will then be able to utilize all of the benefits of computer technology in their education.
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