Cloud Computing

   During my research on cloud computing, I came across three sites that could be extremely beneficial to educators everywhere. The first site entitled, "Financial Benefits of Cloud Computing in K-12 Schools," discussed how schools and school districts could qualify for grant money just by incorporating mobile learning into their daily curriculum. Kissko (2010)  ascertained that cloud computing enabled school districts to become candidates for grant money through the E Rate Deployed Ubiquitously Pilot Program. Under this grant schools and school districts could receive funds for promoting mobile learning. Basically, using cloud computing could be a win-win situation for schools and school districts.
     The second site entitled, " How Cloud Computing Can Help School Education" by Krishnan Subramanian sought to persuade the reader how this exciting phenomenon could level the playing field globally in education. With all of the rhetoric proclaiming that though America is the wealthiest nation in the world, yet globally fails to hold the number one spot when it comes to the education of its' students, Subramanian (2009) suggested that cloud computing could "make it possible for students across the globe to receive a universal curriculum" and "make it easy to give students from America to Africa to Asia" the same education.
     The third site by Tuncan Ercay entitled, Effective Use of Cloud Computing" highlighted the cost-effectiveness of  cloud computing in regards to software and hardware. Ercay (2010) asserted that utilizing cloud computing was cost-effective because less software and hardware was needed. "The need for hardware and software isn't being eliminated, but it is shifting from being on premises to being in the cloud."
     In conclusion, these three sites provided suggestions on how school districts could provide optimal educational experiences through the use of cloud computing while working with limited budgets.

Blogging and Twittering

     Blogging and twittering have skyrocketed communication techniques to new and exciting levels. The usage of blog and twitter pages have not only changed the landscape of the tech world, but these two dynamic entities have also changed the way we as humans share information and the way we interact with one another. For example, blogs are websites that allow anyone and everyone to share information that they deem important. This is a much different method than the past where only a handful of people decided what was newsworthy. According to Lee Lefever "blogs give everyone an opportunity to comment on news that is important to them." Lefever also ascertains that since 2003, 70 million blogs have been created. Blogs allow us to post our ideas and allow others to  read them, comment, and create discussions on topics of interests to us.
     Twittering is another phenomenon that has taken the tech world to another exciting level! When I examine the possibility of using twitter for educational purposes, it makes me ponder how in the world we ever taught without it and leads me to inquire "what will they think of next?" The possibility of sending out educational tweets to my already tech savvy students as opposed to subjecting them to rote memorization or bland pencil and paper assignments gives me a huge adrenaline rush! According to the 2009 Horizon report, twitter allows teachers to tap into the "teachable moment-moment where the student is curious about what they are learning." The report further suggests that other benefits of twitter include connecting with peers, teachers, and experts around the world and affords students the opportunity to learn in multiple ways. These can include one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many communications. Using twitter to reach my students, colleagues, and experts without the limitation of time and physical space makes me tremendously grateful to be a part of this day and age.
     There will be several networks that I will be following. First, I will be following TheNextWeb because I am completely fascinated with the tech world and want to be the first to learn about the newest innovations and inventions. Also, I am very health conscious so I have decided to follow WomensHealhMag in order to obtain tips and suggestions on how to maintain my health and also the latest fashion tips (smile). Since my trip to New York, I am now fascinated with all things New York, so I have decided to follow NYPL, the New York Public Library and the New Yorker, a weekly magazine informing readers of events taking place in New York.
    For my first post, this was painless and quite fun! I cannot wait to post more! Thank you Dr. Lambert!