Cloud Computing

Below is a link to a document that I created to help organize and record ideas of things I want to remember to do as we move forward with next year. It is a very simple word document, but it is nice to have one consolidated location where I can record new ideas that come up in meetings, while reading books, or searching the web.

https://docs.google.com/a/moundsviewschools.org/document/d/1WtdS28pquL6zu629UEX9jd_1GKSuvogmhpIPgjStWGI/edit

The thing I like about using cloud computing for an example like this is that I don't always come up with ideas while sitting at my school computer. Having this document (and other like it) stored in Google drive allows me to easily access and edit them wherever I can access the internet. I can make updates on my phone while driving in the car, or sitting at home on the couch.

Cloud computing in the classroom is a powerful tool for a variety of reasons. First, it allows students to easily work on projects at home, and access them at school without having to mess around with jump drives or other data storage devices. Prezi is a tool that I have asked my language arts students to use. When it comes time to present, it is so nice for them to be able to just quickly login to their account and pull up their project. Due to some of the sharing capabilities in Google drive, cloud computing allows for instant feedback/communication with the students while they work. The ability for multiple collaborators at the same time with many forms of cloud computing opens up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to group work.

I am having a hard time coming up with cons about cloud computing. The real obvious drawback is for students who do not have easy access to the internet. I suppose there could also be security issues. When your data is stored in "the cloud," I would have to believe that it is easier for others to access it. Teachers need to be careful about when and how they share information in the cloud.