Journal #10 - Cloud Computing - NETS 5

As a member of ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), I read Learning and Leading With Technology, an online journal published bimonthly that contains articles about the effective use of existing and emerging digital tools. I evaluated, reflected, and wrote Journal Reflections on this current research and professional practice on a regular basis. Teachers and researchers write articles in the journal sharing what is effective for educators using technology in the classroom in support of student learning. I summarized and evaluated the articles as well as posed and answered two questions relating to each article.

Johnson, D. (2009-2010). Computing in the clouds. Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(4), Retrieved May 7, 2010 from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/DecemberJanuaryNo4/Computing_in_the_Clouds.htm

The subtitle of this journal article is: Is there a storm looming on your school's budgetary horizon? Cloud computing may offer a silver lining. The author is writing for an audience of school teachers and administrators for grades K-12, virtually any educator who is interested in saving time and money. Cloud computing refers to file storage and applications that are on a network. This can be a local-area network, a district intranet, or the Internet. The biggest advantage is that cloud computing is free. Beyond that, the benefits are numerous. The user can operate from any computer at any location and work on the same document or project. The files and programs are stored in the network and not on your own computer. This makes your computer faster, because less is stored on your hard drive. Another benefit is that there is no need to use flash drives to transport files. Also, cloud computing offers the user the ability to share and collaboratively edit files with other users, locally or globally. A Wiki and Google Documents are examples of cloud-based applications.
Schools that use cloud computing can free up money by not buying applications like Microsoft Office and powerful desktops and laptops. Instead, money can be spent on inexpensive, less-powerful netbooks, at a cost of about $250. Then, all is needed is a web browser, spy-ware and anti-virus software on the netbook.

Question: What does this mean for the future of Microsoft? If the trend is cloud computing, Google will prosper and Microsoft, that sells its Office suite of applications, will suffer. Cost saving in schools is paramount now as schools and states struggle with budget deficits. I would believe as more school administrators are informed about the benefits, the more schools will participate in cloud computing. For businesses, there will still be a need for Microsoft's products that offer more functions. Google seems to have the jump on Microsoft on many levels, and it should be interesting to see how they compete in the future when it relates to cloud computing.

Question: If I can't get access to the Internet, then what? My biggest concern is relying on the Internet for my computing needs, and then not being able to access my files. There are offline capabilities in Gmail and Google Docs. Then I can sync my files later when reconnected. I believe it would be a risk for schools or individuals to become completely dependent on the Internet. It may be wise to have a back-up plan in place with other computers available that do not rely on cloud computing.