Journal #1 - Computing in the Clouds - Nets III, IV, V

Johnson, D. (2009). Computing in the clouds. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(4), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/DecemberJanuaryNo4/Computing_in_the_Clouds.htm

               This article is about a man who wrote the journal article “Computing in the Clouds” without ever using the aid of word processing software loaded on his computer. He used several computers in several locations to write the article without using a flash drive to move the file. He shared this article with the editors of L&L without attaching it to an e-mail. Doug also saved his electronic drafts in a place where he can have access to it’s content, even if his laptop is lost, the external hard drive where he keeps his backups fails, and the new version of Microsoft Office refuses to open the file format. And he did all of these things at no cost. The no cost is very good news for schools because of all the reductions in the educational budget right now. You don’t have to buy all the equipment and expensive computers to teach children the basics of computers, which would saves schools money.

                Cloud computing relies on applications and file storage that reside on a network. Because the files and the programs are all stored elsewhere, your local computer doesn't have to hold much on its hard drive, so it can run faster or be smaller. Doug predicts that K-12 schools will at some point ask parents to purchase netbooks because they already ask parents to buy $100 calculators. There are many good things that come from working in clouds such as you can still email, web search and bookmark, you can word process, make presentations, and spreadsheets. You can also store and edit photos, edit webpage’s and use school specific tasks such as grade books and reporting systems. Even though there are many good things with using clouds, there are also downfalls that people have to be aware about. Your files are less secure and private and also whether or not these web-based software will stay free. But he feels most of these concerns will not affect school students but could affect whether or not students will have decent internet access and whether or not the teachers will have good enough training to teach their students.

How, as a teacher, can I be efficient enough in using these on web-based resources?

               Even though I am taking a Education Technology course now, my fear is still not being as efficient as I need to be to teach my students how to use Google docs and netbooks. If schools were wanting teachers to switch over to using new items such as netbooks, then they need to provide teachers with classes where teachers can learn how to teach children web-based products or else to give us sufficient notice that we will need to learn how to use certain web-based documents. If they do this than I can’t teach my students effectively.

How do I get schools and districts to use netbooks in the classroom?

           I would first off have to get extremely acquainted with the product and make sure that I knew how teach and use the product to the best of my ability. I would also have to make sure that the schools and districts could see how beneficial using these web-based accounts can be and how we can get the funding to help buy netbooks and training course for my fellow staff members.