Journal 1: Computing in the Clouds (NETS-T I, III, V)

Johnson, D. (2009, December/January). Computing in the Clouds. Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(4), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200912#pg18.



Summary: In the current economy with school budgets decreasing and cost cutting rampant, the author writes about a cheaper, flexible and equitable solution to making more technology accessible to the student by utilizing cloud computing. Cloud computing makes use of technology (e.g. applications and file storage) that reside on a network, not on the computer you’re using. Many web-based applications use this technology already—as when you’ve uploaded pictures to a website for sharing or ordering prints. When cloud computing is coupled to one of the most economical computers on the market—the Netbook—a student/school now has access to applications and storage with minimal investment of money.


Q1:  Sounds too good to be true….what are the problems?
A1: Well, for one, since you don’t own the hardware or the applications, what happens if the website goes down? You’re out of luck until it is back on line—although websites claim this is a rare occurrence. The other problem is how secure can the website be? Most websites say your data is secure and the data is owned by you and not the website. Still, I wouldn’t put anything confidential or sensitive on the site. The other problem is that even though a Netbook is one of the cheapest computers one can buy; it still comes with a price tag just under $300. Some households still would not be able to afford the technology. In the case where you had more than one child needing to use the technology is one computer sufficient or would each child need their own Netbook because of in-class usage required by the Teacher? If that is the case, then the cost will be on a per child basis. If that is not the case, how convenient and realistic is sharing a Netbook between siblings. I guess the answer to that will be dependent on how the Teacher uses Cloud computing and Netbooks in his/her classroom. As with all new technology there are still a lot of unknowns to be worked out. All-in-all, as a techie, I believe it’s worth a shot.


Q2:  Do I believe that Cloud computing can decrease the digital divide between those in opposing economical classes?
A2:  I believe that yes it can. Although I stated some arguments above as to Netbooks still costing a significant amount, the bottom line is that is it more affordable. I have seen families, who are at or just above the poverty line, sacrifice so that their child/children can get a computer. What happens is that once the purchase of a computer is made, the family is at a loss of how to set up the computer, what to do when there is a problem and once it’s up and running, don’t know how to navigate through the system to do some of the most basic tasks. With a NetBook, the student can bring to class and with the help of teacher and staff, get their computer functioning to carry out the assignments and access the wealth of knowledge the internet holds without the help of parents who may not understand any of that computer mumbo-jumbo. To have the Cloud computing available to this type of student, means that even less of an investment on the part of the family needs to be made to have a functioning and up-to-date system.