Hardware: Any mobile device capable of internet connection. i.e. PC, iPad, Laptop, iPhone, Android, Tablet
Software: Downloading and signing up to a cloud-based technology such as http://www.dropbox.com or https://www.google.com/drive/
Capabilities & Limitations
While limited free storage is an issue, a greater issue is protecting the security of data.There is a concern of "what information is stored , who has access to it" (Davis & Cavanagh, 2014). Since cloud computing is increasing in popularity, districts need to decide what the best way to protect both staff and student information. If a school district is using the same cloud-based technology, it may be best to have a clear contract made. This contract should also review how information is sold or transferred. According to Davis and Cavanagh (2014), "many districts have not set clear policies for storing data in the cloud". This has led to teachers or students using a variety of different cloud services instead of having consistency using one, leading to confusion between classes. Who has access to the cloud is also an issue. Utilizing the clouds private or public feature could help control this. Staff and students should be made aware that personal information should not be stored on the cloud and complete an in-service on how to share information with a select audience.
I really appreciate the graphic you used that compares google drive to dropbox-very helpful!
ReplyDeleteMichele,
ReplyDeleteI am a visual learner and that graphic really sums it up nicely the difference between the two! I do use Dropbox for personal use and Google Drive for professional use. Google Drive has access to much more storage space than I will ever need for personal use!