getting your head into 'the cloud
TRANSCRIPT
Education Graduate Students' Association (EGSA)/ Association d'étudiant.e.s diplomé.e.s d’éducation (AÉDÉ)
Presents:
Tech Talks by Rebecca
Getting your head into ‘the Cloud’
About Rebecca
• PhD Candidate• Technology adoption and mobile learning• B.Sc. in Computer Science• MA in Distributed Learning (Distance Ed)• Blogger
– http://rjh.goingeast.ca– http://goingeast.ca/blog
Agenda
1. Evolution of the Internet2. Changing Software Models3. Synchronous Collaboration4. File Management Services
What is ‘the Cloud’?
“Cloud computing” Data and services anytime, anywhere
Evolution of the Internet
World Wide WebTim Berners-Lee
Mosaicfirst browser
Internet Explorer
“Web Log”Jorn Barger
“Web 2.0”Tim O’Reilly
Wikipedia
YouTube
Social Media
iOS App Store
1989 1993 1995 1997 1999 2000 2004 2005 2006 2008 2011?
‘The Cloud’
Influencing Factors
Increases in connection speedIncreases in Internet connected mobile devices
1. Changing Software Models2. Synchronous Collaboration3. File Management Services
Changing Software Models
‘The Cloud’ as a shift in Software delivery
Software as a product
Software over the Internet
Software as an App (in an ecosystem)
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Product versus service – an analogy
When you buy “Software as a Service” or SaaS, you are ‘renting’ access to the computers that run the software
Example: Adobe Creative Suite
Product: Adobe Creative Suite (CS6)Design and Web Edition
Service: Adobe Creative Cloud
$449.00 (education price) $29.99 / month (education price)
9 Creative Suite Applications All 24 Creative Suite Applications
Version CS6 Latest version of all applications
Although Adobe Creative Cloud is sold as SaaS, the applications do not run in the Cloud. You still need to download the applications to your computer.
Example: Virtual Campus
Product: Blackboard Vista (Web CT) Service: Blackboard Learn
Hosted on uOttawa servers(uOttawa owns and maintains servers)
Hosted at Blackboard(Blackboard owns and maintains servers)
Support provided by: 1. uOttawa Blackboard2. uOttawa IT
Support provided by:1. uOttawa Blackboard2. Blackboard
Governed by Licence agreements Governed by Service Level Agreements (SLA)
Example: Qualitative Analysis Tools
Product: NVIVO Service: Dedoose
$670 $12.95/month
Windows Windows or Mac
Application based Browser based
Data on your machine Data in the Cloud
Supports collaboration (shared data sets)
Synchronous Collaboration
Example
Activity: Collaborating with Google Docs
• Precursor to Google Drive• Allows multiple people to work on a document at the same
time• Requires Internet connection
Activity Debrief
• What do you think?• Do you see using it for:
– Teaching?– Research?– Collaboration?
File Management Services
File Management Challenges
• Getting files onto devices• Keeping track of most recent version• Keeping old copies• Backing up just in case
Managing Multiple Versions
If you want to access a file when you are not connected to the Internet (offline access), you must make a copy of that file for your local deviceThere is no ‘magic’ solution to managing multiple copies – just services to help you keep track of the latest version and avoid conflicts
Making changes
Two versions of the same file
Data Synchronization
Every time your device connects to the Internet - the application checks to see if you have the latest version or if you have made changes
If necessary it automatically uploads or downloads the new files
Data Synchronization may happen:
• Automatically when you connect• Only when you connect via Wifi• At specific intervals (for always connected devices)• At specific times• When something changes (e.g. you close a file)
A synchronization service also manages conflicts
Activity: Dropbox
• This activity focuses on file sharing, synchronizing, and collaboration
• Dropbox also helps with file management across devices(we will cover this in the next session “Going Mobile”)
Debrief
• How did Dropbox differ from Google Docs?• When would you use one versus the other?
Workshop Evaluation
Your feedback is important!
EGSA Tech Talks by Rebecca
Tue Feb 12 Going MobileWed Mar 6 Creating your
online identityThu Apr 4 Participants’ choice
These events are free; however, donations will be accepted to support the work of
the Caring and Sharing Exchange