Journal 1: “Computing in the Clouds” (Nets 5)

Johnson, D. (2009). Computing in the clouds. Learning and leading with technology, 37(4). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/DecemberJanuaryNo4/Computing_in_the_Clouds.htm
Doug Johnson, Director of Media and Technology for the Manakota public schools, predicts that the use of netbooks and cloud software can save schools money while increasing student usage of technology. Johnson describes cloud software as programs that exist online, rather than on an individual hard-drive; the specific programs Johnson focuses on, like g-mail and google-docs, are free to use. The advantages of cloud programs are that they are free, allowing schools to spend money on other resources, they do not use computer space, allowing students and schools to rely on inexpensive netbooks rather than more expensive computers for standard computing needs, and because files and resources are stored online instead of on a hard-drive, computers become interchangeable and the user is not tied to a specific device. On the flip side, there are concerns about security and privacy with online cloud programs. Furthermore, netbooks and cloud software do not provide the necessary programming, or computer power, to complete complex or large projects like film and photo editing. Though there are limitations to “computing in the clouds,” Johnson ultimately thinks that cloud software can be useful for schools and that most students will eventually own at least a netbook.
Question 1: What are the funding possibilities for getting netbooks into classrooms?
If the faculty was able to stop using programs like Microsoft outlook and move to g-mail accounts, for example, the school district might be able to save some money that they could relocate to funding netbooks in the classrooms. Furthermore, grant money and donations from companies could be pursued. Like the article mentioned, in some districts asking the parents to buy the netbooks as part of the school supplies might be a possibility. My parents were asked to buy calculators, just like Johnson was.
Question 2: Would netbooks be disruptive in classrooms?
A well-written and enforced student usage agreement would need to be in place to keep netbooks from being more distraction and disruption than teaching aid. In order for netbooks to really be useful, wireless internet and web-browsers need to be available, and with wi-fi and google comes a host of possible distractions. Teachers would need to be aware of ways of minimizing this, students would need to be aware of the proper usage of netbooks as well as the consequences for improper usage, and the administration would need to carefully draft the usage agreements in place.