Yevgen Yasynskyy
E-Portfolio
for MDDE 610
Cloud computing is basically representation of today’s mini-globalization of the society. It allows us to access documents, emails, databases from anywhere, and removes the need to carry backups anywhere we go. The major models of cloud computing service are known as software as service, platform as service, and infrastructure as service. Some of the big companies, such as Google, Amazon, Oracle Cloud, Microsoft Azure, provide cloud hosting services today.
Software as a service (SaaS). Users are provided access to application software and databases. Cloud providers manage this platforms and infrastructure that run the applications. SaaS is sometimes referred to as "on-demand software" and is usually priced on a pay-per-use basis. Examples of SaaS are: games, emails, virtual desktops, CRMs, etc.
Platform as a Service (PaaS). The PaaS models usually includes operating system, programming language execution environment, database, and web server. Developers can develop and run their codes on a cloud platform without the major cost of buying and managing hardware and software layers. One of the examples for the PaaS could be website hosting.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Virtual machines, servers, storage, network are examples of IaaS. Nowadays, Google Drive taking the market in Education with many useful applications that could be used on Google Cloud, such as:
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Powtoon (animated presentation)
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Wevideo (creating a video from other videos on the Internet)
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MoveNote (presentation with videocam insert)
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LucidChart (mind-map)
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Mindmup ( mind-map with attachments)
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MindMeister (collaborative mind-map tool)
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Templates
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HelloSign (online signing tool)
Below is the snap-shot of my Google Drive account. It allows me to carry my documents anywhere I go, very similar to DropBox but very integrated with other Google applications.
Although cloud computing represents todays trend of innovation in technology it has some issues and threats. Some of them are: privacy, vendor lock-in, security, sustainability, monopoly of the cyber space.
Cloud Computing
Readings & useful links
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DropBox (Dropbox.com);
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Google groups (Google, 2011);
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Google Drive (Google, 2014);
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Cloud computing and adult literacy: How cloud computing can sustain the promise of adult learning.(Richards, G., McGreal, R., and Stewart, B. 2010)
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Cloud Computing – Education will Never be the Same (Ontario Online Learning Portal, 2014)
How would I use what I learned
Most of us using cloud computing in their everyday life. Best example of the cloud computing is web-email (such as Google, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.).
Apple products also using cloud technology, storing your information and syncing all your Apple devices through the cloud. Many of us are using Apple Cloud every day not even knowing about it.
More conscious use of Cloud technology happening by using Google Drive (previously known as Google Docs) and DropBox. I have used both in the past, and planning to explore Google more as it become more and more popular in Education environment. Cloud storage is great for accessing your documents from anywhere (as long as you have Internet access).
