There is an undeniable trend toward cloud computing these days. An array of devices that lack features like optical drives and standard USB ports point toward a future where our crucial information resides in the cloud instead of hard drives and device-specific storage modules.
For our Web 2.0 tool evaluation, I chose CloudApp. As the website so succinctly describes it, CloudApp allows you to share images, links, music, videos and files. You simply choose a file, drag it to your menubar and let Cloud App take care of the rest. You are then provided with a short link that is copied to your computer’s clipboard and can be shared with others.
As an avid google doc user, I was skeptical that CloudApp would offer me much more than what is already available from other collaborative and cloud computing tools. I’ve got to say that I’ve only been using CloudApp for a couple of days, and I’m blown away with the simplicity and ease of use. Being able to upload literally any file I would create (it even supports zip files and URL bookmarking) and share with a short URL makes so much sense. As more of us get through our work weeks using multiple computers and devices, it is going to become more and more crucial to have mission critical data all in one place and accessible anywhere.
So, how would I leverage CloudApp in the education space? I think the specific uses for it are as obvious and varied as the work that people do. Almost everyone has a need to access data easily and share it with others in an efficient way. What I think is more interesting to ask, it what are the implications of this cloud computing trend to education? Because of my own career, I’d like to focus specifically on higher education.
I found two great Educause reviews that take a look at cloud computing in higher education. The discussion here goes way beyond the desktop user experience of easily accessing personal files anywhere and instead looks at the impact of providing open course materials and content aggregation. The dialogue can get pretty esoteric and even delves into the threat that this kind of cloud-based aggregation of educational content could have on the brick and mortar research institution model that has existed for centuries.
Charles Vest, president emeritus at MIT asserts that: “We are seeing the early emergence of a meta-university — a transcendent, accessible, empowering, dynamic, communally constructed framework of open materials and platforms on which much of higher education worldwide can be constructed or enhanced” (Wheeler, 2009). I believe it is a bit lofty (pun intended) to believe that CloudApp will be the catalyst to create the modern day “Meta-University” I do think it is a great tool that illustrates just how powerful this trend could be in education.
References
Golden, B. (2009). Cloud Computing: "Be Prepared". Educause Review, 44(4), 64-65. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
Wheeler, B., & Waggener, S. (2009). Above Campus Services: Shaping the Promise of Cloud Computing for Higher Education. Educause Review, 44(6), 52-66. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
CloudApp screenshot from http://www.getcloudapp.com
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