As technology advances, students and teachers here are storing documents in the intangible “technology cloud.” What does this “cloud” consist of and how will it affect the future of technology and education?

By Amanda Nguyen
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Senior Jason Wing is an active Google user. Wing said he uses Google every day; he said he checks his Gmail every one to two hours.

As an active user, Wing said he’s noticed Google’s prevalence around the web. “My life is basically in Google,” he said.  “I think there is Google domination because every site you go to, there is a Google site bar. Some sites use Bing or Yahoo, but Google is used ubiquitously.”

According to Chris Atkinson, Google certified teacher, technology coordinator, lead science teacher and STAR Discovery Educator, Wing’s experience demonstrates a growing trend in computer users: “cloud computing,” a term that refers to users storing their information from documents to e-mails online, or in the “cloud,” rather than storing those documents on a physical computer.

Atkinson said via e-mail, since Google is so popular, it is leading the way with cloud computing. 

“Google stores its information on Google’s servers. These large warehouses of servers are also known as ‘data farms.’ If we store any documents or e-mail, we are using their servers, which we would call that storing information in ‘the cloud’ for access anywhere we have an Internet connection,” he said.

But while cloud computing is becoming more prevalent, Wing said he has some concerns. He said, “The information cloud seems a little dangerous because there are a lot of hackers online and they can just go through your file and find interesting things that you don’t want other people to know, but the benefits are that if you’re computer completely shuts down or you get a new computer, it’s really easy to integrate your files from old to new making the whole information cloud idea bittersweet.”

Although Wing said the information cloud is bittersweet, Enid Baines, Tech Cadre member and English teacher, said the Google cloud is efficient and cost effective. “The cloud is someplace everyone can go and save their information. Everyone has access to it, too, without the hassle of downloading it. Cloud computing is free, which would save costs especially for schools that have to cut funds.”

Ryan Ringenberg, Tech Cadre coordinator and social studies teacher, said he agrees with Baines. “Computing can be more mobile, collaborative, and flexible as files can be accessed anywhere the Internet is available.

Less hard drive space is needed on personal devices because files and software used in cloud computing are located on internet servers,” Ringenberg said. “It provides more flexibility and easier access to files, especially if working from different locations. It also allows for easier collaboration. For example, with Google Apps, several users can have access to a file and then edit the file from any computer.”

Cloud computing, like any new idea, has advantages and disadvantages. Ringenberg said the pros are easier collaboration, access, mobility and less hard drive space needed. A con is not being able to access the Internet if it is down.

“A risk some find with cloud computing is simply the trust factor,” he said. “When your files are stored with an Internet company, you are assuming several things including that the company will protect the integrity of your files, that they will not lose your files, that their servers are backed up and that the company will take the appropriate measures of preserving your files if they were ever to be bought out or go bankrupt. It is always a good idea to have your files saved in a different backup location to alleviate some of this risk.”

Wing said he agrees that there are risks with cloud computing. “The information cloud gives both the sense of safety and the sense of fear at the same time. In one point of view, it’s an excellent idea because it makes life easier for those with more than one computer or those who have just a home computer as opposed to a portable one. People could just get onto Google and open up files that they need,” Wing said.

“I do have a fear that if I put anything important on Google, then some hacker could access information like my credit card number and pin code, my account information and passwords,” he said. “I feel that even though the Google cloud is in existence, you shouldn’t put anything online that you wouldn’t mind your neighbor seeing, even if you feel that Google is a safe and secure site. That’s why I wouldn’t put any information that could damage my future into the cloud. Sometimes I’m afraid that if Google were to ever shutdown for some reason, that I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Although there are some threats that come with cloud computing, Google has appealed to many people globally. Ringenberg said.  “It’s where the future lies. Schools and universities will start replacing their Microsoft products with Google products.”

Atkinson said more than seven million students are using Google applications nationwide, and that number is growing daily. “Google is truly on the cutting edge of browser-based applications,” he said. “Google applications are powerful cloud-based applications that allow you to perform word processing, create websites, presentations and calendars, all while easily collaborating with others.”

Baines said she was initially interested in Google cloud computing because of its ability to let students collaborate with each other. “Google is sort of replacing Moodle, which is a web managing site for teachers and students,” she said. “Google’s features make it easier for peer collaboration because it will allow people to make changes in a document and edit it simultaneously. Cloud computing will allow you to save on the web instead of saving it on your H drive. This way, you can invite other people to look at your work.”

“With Google, the information has shared accessibility, immediate updates, and you won’t have to download the next version unlike in other software. There is a lot of potential in changing the way of cooperative work. We’re moving away from the pen and pencil and more towards technology,” Baines said. “The next step is teaching students more about cloud computing so that they can put their documents in the cloud up where everyone can get to it.”

Schools are already taking the next step toward the idea of using the cloud. According to Atkinson, over 1,400 students in the Carmel Clay district are using Google applications to create, communicate and collaborate with fellow students and teachers.

Atkinson said, “Google makes it easier to manage my documents, presentations and websites.  It allows me and my students to easily communicate and collaborate with others.”

Atkinson said after working with Google, he only has positive comments about its innovative ideas. “In my opinion Google is a powerful company-a good powerful.  I think their Web influence and expertise are offering new opportunities to students all across our world, and for that I am thankful,” he said.

Ringenberg said, “It is a cheaper alternative to the current way information is stored. Some of the perceived risks might initially keep many businesses, institutions, or individuals from going this route, but as time moves on, I believe cloud computing will establish itself as being safe and will become the preferred method.”