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Kristin Ashley, Heidi Hussli, Ellie Reich EDL 755 Team Paper – Cloud Computing July 13, 2011

=Introduction= When looking at different developments in technology one of the upcoming tools available to teachers and students is cloud computing. This tool is new and there is not much information that has been shared about these tools with the Howard Suamico School District. It is important to be up to date with developing technologies to stay on the cutting edge of education. As teachers it is important to provide new technological learning tools for students and provide experiences beyond the classroom. Cloud computing is one way to do that. As this technology grows in popularity it will be important to understand how cloud computing can be incorporated into the classroom, as well as, the problems that might develop while using this technology.

=Definition= Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the internet. The term cloud is used because a picture of a cloud is usually used to represent the internet (Biswas, 2010). Cloud computing differs from traditional hosting in three main ways. First, users can buy services on the spot when needed without any downtime which can be a problem with traditional hosting. Second, cloud computing allows you to have the exact amount of service you want at any given time. Traditional hosting requires you to buy a plan which gives the user a set number of resources (Snow, n.d.). The final difference is that cloud computing is entirely serviced and managed by the provider of the service. The only equipment a user needs is a computer and a good internet connection (Cloud computing, 2007).

Companies and schools currently have IT departments that are in charge of servicing all hardware, software and servers. When an individual wants to use a new program or application, there is a lengthy process of getting the program onto the individual’s computer for use. The pros and cons must be weighed about adding the program to the system, the costs must be considered and everything must be installed before the program is ready to go. Cloud computing offers pre-programmed programs and services that can be tested before a company commits to them. This saves the company not only the time it takes to program everything but also allows them to see if they like a program before they actually invest in it. The additional perk of not having to buy the hardware is very attractive to companies and especially schools where budgets are very tight (Hurwitz, 2010).

Cloud computing is available around the clock and has the capability of being elastic meaning at an instance notice one can expand or downsize the amount of service one desires. The analogy of a rubber band most clearly demonstrates this concept. When a rubber band is holding a bundle of pens together and one is taken out, the rubber band automatically reduces its size and when a pen is added, the rubber band expands to make room for the additional pen (Hurwitz, 2010).

The final difference between cloud computing and traditional hosting is that the user does not have to manage software or server hardware. The cloud computing provider operates the server and storage hardware and in some cases software as well. This minimizes the need for an IT specialist in house. A small business or individual can therefore save money by outsourcing IT services.

Cloud computing is of course the generic term for the concept of offering software and hardware to users through the web. Both Apple and Microsoft have created their own vision of what cloud computing is. Apple offers the iCloud which stores all of one’s content (music, pictures, ebooks, documents, etc.) on a single device but the content can be accessed on any Apple device (Apple introduces iCloud, 2011). Microsoft on the other hand has developed Windows Azure. This, too, allows one to store content but is aimed more at the business world.

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=History= The term “cloud” has been attached to many products, but the cloud isn’t a new invention. The “cloud” is simply the internet. People started calling it the “cloud” because many textbooks would use a cloud to represent the internet in diagrams (Biswas, 2010). Now there are applications in the cloud, as well as storage in the cloud. Google and Apple have made the cloud popular more recently, but cloud computing has been around for much longer.

Early concepts of cloud computing date back to the 1960s when J.C.R. Licklider introduced the concept of an “intergalactic computer network” (Mohamed, 2009). Licklider envisioned people around the world to be able to access data and programs from anywhere at any time (Mohamed, 2009). Others attribute the concept of cloud computing to John McCarthy, who envisioned computation being organized as a public utility during the 60s (Biswas, 2011). The theory of cloud computing may have existed since the sixties, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that network infrastructures began to expand and high speed internet at home became a reality (Mohamed, 2009). Once the internet had increased its reach around the globe the idea of providing services for average users and businesses became possible.

The first big entry into the cloud computing business was Salesforce.com in 1999, which used a website to deliver its enterprise application to sales professionals (Biswas, 2010). The arrival of Salesforce.com paved the way for industries to provide their services over the internet. Amazon then entered the cloud in 2002, offering services such as storage and computation (Mohamed, 2009). A few years later, Amazon launched its EC2 service which allowed companies to save on hardware costs by renting hosted machines to run their software from and was the first real cloud computing infrastructure service (Mohamed, 2009). Google entered the market as well by offering its Google Docs service in 2006 (Biswas, 2010). Google Docs greatest feature was that it brought about a public awareness of cloud computing and helped bring it into the mainstream (Baswis, 2010). This helped spur development focused on cloud computing. Microsoft has even entered the cloud and is offering its office product as a cloud based solution. Microsoft has named their cloud computing offering Azure in 2009 (Biswas, 2010). Apple’s cloud system is going to also be releasing their version of the cloud called iCloud in the fall of 2011.

As the internet has evolved it has become easier for companies to offer services from the cloud. Tools have advanced which has lead to more advanced services being offered in the cloud. The problem of people not having internet access is slowly disappearing as well. As history has shown us technology can often grow too fast, leading to the need to address problems with the technology after it has already been implemented. The “cloud” will be no different since history tends to repeat itself.

=Advantages= Using cloud technologies can provide new ways to enhance the technical capabilities to a company, small business or school district. Cloud computing provides ways to add capacity and lower costs to the software, allows you to try applications without investing in hardware, software or networking, and it allows new connections between businesses, costumers and partners.

Cloud computing focuses on four areas of service that have advantages and disadvantages. These include: Infrastructure as a service, Platform as a service, Software as a service, and Business Process as a service.

The following are some of the advantages of Cloud Computing:
 * Cost Advantages: customers only pay for the access and interfaces that they need. The costumer buys only the services they need.
 * Renting rather than buying: Customers do not have to install new infrastructure.
 * Software as a service: Customers do not need to purchase or buy hardware or do anything to adapt their existing in-house center.
 * Immediate Service: Services are provided in real time, without required set-up.
 * Support: Software as a service provided the customer support for operating, maintaining, and supporting all software, hardware, and communications technology.
 * Price: Customers only pay for the technology that they need, and can change as they require.
 * Best Practice and Expertise: Cloud resources provide access to best business practices and expert assistance.
 * Utility Computing: Allows customers to plug-into standardized systems that already exist.
 * Administrative Role for IT: Allows the IT department to monitor use and provide administrative services.
 * Security: Security is provided by formal agreements between service provider and customer.
 * Resources: Provides more resources inexpensively and quickly.
 * Business Improvements: Allows business to improve quickly and efficiently.
 * Scale: Allows business systems to be provided in scale, performance, and manageability.
 * Common View: Allows customer to see and view both physical and virtual resources at once.
 * Automated Change: Allows greater efficiencies for the customer.
 * Holistic Service: Allows for the customer to have a holistic service management of their system (Hurwitz, 2010).

=Disadvantages= As with many things, there are a few issues to be concerned with when considering cloud computing for services:
 * Security: The provider is responsible for all security except initial access. This may be a concern for some customers.
 * Paradigm Shift: Individualized dependence changes from a local infrastructure to a technical dependence for service.
 * IT Monitoring: Important to monitor the amount of service contracted for and how much usage to avoid over spending (Hurwitz, 2010).

= = =Issues or concerns in K12 education= First and foremost, schools must have a robust internet connection. Without access to reliable high-speed internet, there can only be limited use of cloud computing applications as they rely solely on the internet. With a fast internet connection, schools can use applications in the cloud such as Google Docs and Wikis. While this product is ideal for collaboration, there are some issues with this tool. One of the issues with Google Docs is that immediate, in class, collaboration is ineffective. Students struggle with cursor placement and often delete or interrupt other students work. In addition, the word processor provided with Google Docs only offers limited features and is in need of upgrades. One of these would be the spell checker which is extremely primitive and unreliable.

The second issue in K12 education concerning the cloud is security. This is a concern in all arenas but especially a concern in education because of the storage of information about minors. It is important to protect student identity from hackers. While this is a valid concern, a lot of school districts already are using the cloud to store this information and it has not been a problem. Howard Suamico is one of these school districts. Howard Suamico uses the grade book service PowerSchool. All grades and personal student information, including addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, is stored externally on PowerSchool servers. This is the reason that staff can access their grade books from the comfort of their home. With this said, students still need to be informed of appropriate internet safety when using the cloud. While the risk is low for a security breech there is still a small risk.

=Future direction= There are a variety of future applications for the cloud. At this point many believe that the cloud could take the world into the realm of science fiction. As one source explained, electronic devices will eventually learn about their owners and predict their needs (Tadjer, 2010). The site goes on to state that while this is something that will be possible for the future as of now, there has to be more development in the creation of personal clouds (Tadjer, 2010). In the more immediate future there will be more opportunities for individuals. Apple recently announced their iCloud technology being released in fall of 2011 which will be geared for the individual rather than business. To encourage users, Apple will be allowing iTunes users a free trial in the iCloud and then rates will be a reasonable $24.99 annual subscription fee (Apple introduces iCloud, 2011). While iCloud provides smaller storage capacity, it is significantly cheaper than Windows Azure which starts at $59.95 per month (Windows Azure Platform Offers, n.d.). Apple, as an additional incentive, will offer free storage of music and applications purchased through iTunes (Apple introduces iCloud, 2011).

Cloud computing has a strong immediate future for small businesses and a potential future for big businesses. For small businesses cloud computing is beneficial as the business is expanding. When expanding, the small business does not have to invest in the expensive servers for storage of data. The small business can pay for what storage they need by purchasing a subscription to a cloud computing service (Cloud Computing in Plain English, 2011). For large businesses it is not as practical in the immediate future because most already have their own hardware and servers and it is not as economically prudent for them. This could change as technology continues to update at a rapid pace.

It is important to keep in mind that with cloud computing technology the actual uses are still to be determined. Multiple sources express that users will determine the outcomes of the new technologies. There is no way to truly tell the impact that cloud computing will have on the technological culture of the world (Nye, 2006; Shirky, 2010) media type="youtube" key="O_C1TZIT-qQ" height="349" width="560" align="center"

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=Conclusion= Cloud computing is something that has been around for a while, since the 60s but it is just starting to gain in popularity. The advances in high speed internet have made this possible. Surprisingly many areas and people are already using the cloud without knowing much about the technology. When people use Gmail they are using the cloud because they are not storing the content on their personal hard drive. The same is true for Google Docs and Wikis. The advantages for using cloud computing are numerous with the financial benefits topping the list. Due to the financial benefits, schools and other business will be utilizing more and more applications in the cloud. Grades books, work processing and document storage will be the largest used applications for schools. Cloud computing is here to stay and students need to be exposed to producing their own projects, collaborating online with other students around the world and storing material on the internet.

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