Technological future

CLOUD COMPUTING

Cloud computing has received a lot of popularity in the last few years and market observers believe it to be the future, but not if security problems persist.
For people who are not familiar with cloud computing, it is the practice that involves usage of network servers that are remotely located. Users can access the remote servers via the Internet to manage, store and process relevant data, rather than on the personal computer of a local server.Many businesses are using cloud computing that usually turns out to be cheaper, faster and easy to maintain. Now, not only businesses but regular Internet users are also using cloud computing services such as Google Docs, Dropbox and more to access their files whenever and wherever they want.Cloud computing has accelerated with the wide use of the Internet services as well as development of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Many people carry their portable devices when not on their desk and easily access their documents, media and pictures on cloud storage via the Internet.With the development in technology market, experts are also worried about the increased security needs for cloud computing.  "There's no more debate," says Rajat Bhargava, co-founder of JumpCloud, a cloud security startup. "When you don't own the network, it's open to the rest of the world, and you don't control the layers of the stack, the cloud - by definition - is more insecure than storing data on premises."Some members of Open Data Center Alliance, a consortium that includes top IT companies of the world such as SAP, Infosys, Deutsche Telekom, Disney and more, are believed to be cloud enthusiasts. However, a recent survey of the members reveal that around 66 percent of the consortium's members are concerned regarding data security, which is deferring their efforts for cloud computing. A similar survey done in previous years indicated that around 80 percent of the members were skeptic about entering cloud computing due to security concerns.

Security issues over cloud computing is definitely one of the major concerns that many companies are trying to recognize. However, some companies are also concerned about regulatory issues.  Market observers say that 47 percent of the participants in the survey worry that they will be tied to one provider of cloud storage.
Amazon Web Services is a prominent cloud computing provider in the industry. The department is the fastest growing department of Amazon. However, in Oct. 2012, services failed for a while. Users who had their files stored with Amazon Web Services were unable to access their documents.

Experts opine that cloud computing is at its nascent stage and providers will have to address issues related security, availability, and more to expand in the future. 

WEB 3.0

Some Internet experts believe the next generation of the Web -- Web 3.0 -- will make tasks like your search for movies and food faster and easier. Instead of multiple searches, you might type a complex sentence or two in your Web 3.0 browser, and the Web will do the rest. In our example, you could type "I want to see a funny movie and then eat at a good Mexican restaurant. What are my options?" The Web 3.0 browser will analyze your response, search the Internet for all possible answers, and then organize the results for you.
That's not all. Many of these experts believe that the Web 3.0 browser will act like a personal assistant. As you search the Web, the browser learns what you are interested in. The more you use the Web, the more your browser learns about you and the less specific you'll need to be with your questions. Eventually you might be able to ask your browser open questions like "where should I go for lunch?" Your browser would consult its records of what you like and dislike, take into account your current location and then suggest a list of restaurants.

To und­erstand where the Web is going, we need to take a quick look at where it's been. Keep reading for a quick lesson on the evolution of the Web.

WEB 4.0

Web 4.0 is still an underground idea in progress and there is no exact definition of how it would be. Web 4.0 is also known as symbiotic web. The dream behind of the symbiotic web is interaction between humans and machines in symbiosis. It will be possible to build more powerful interfaces such as mind controlled interfaces using web 4.0. In simple words, machines would be clever on reading the contents of the web, and react in the form of executing and deciding what to execute first to load the websites fast with superior quality and performance and build more commanding interfaces. Web 4.0 will be the read-write-execution-concurrency web. It achieves a critical mass of participation in online networks that deliver global transparency, governance, distribution, participation, collaboration into key communities such as industry, political, social and other communities . Web 4.0 or webOS will be such as a middleware in which will start functioning like an operating system . The webOS will be parallel to the human brain and implies a massive web of highly intelligent interactions. Although there is no exact idea about web 4.0 and its technologies, but it is obvious that the web is moving toward using artificial intelligence to become as an intelligent web.

ONLINE EDUCATION

Online education can be defined as an approach to teaching and learning that utilizes Internet technologies to communicate and collaborate in an educational context. Online education has become increasingly more popular due to its flexible access to content from any place at any time. Different technology applications are used to support different models of online learning. Asynchronous communication tools (e.g, e-mail, threaded discussion boards, newsgroups) allow users to participate in an online course at their convenience. They can participate at any time and from any place. Synchronous technologies (e.g. webcasting, chat rooms, desktop audio/video technology) allow the instructors to maintain the synchronous interaction in their online courses. Students are expected to login at the same time but can participate from any place 

Students seeking to take online classes or earn a degree online may do so for several reasons. For students with jobs and families, time is a factor. Online courses offer adult learners the opportunity to further their education and to acquire relevant job skills without having to spend time traveling to a campus or to a workshop site. The flexibility of many online courses also allows students to take control of their learning by working it into their busy schedules when it is convenient.  Online courses are often less expensive than face to face courses, so the financial aspect of distance learning is attractive to students, because they not only save on fees and tuition but they also save on expenses like transportation and housing. 

EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAJES

§  Enhancing student-to-student and faculty-to-student communication.

§  Enabling student-centered teaching approaches.

§  Providing 24/7 accessibility to course materials.

§  Providing just-in-time methods to assess and evaluate student progress.

§  Reducing administration around course management.

Online education opens a lot of doors for students who reside in rural regions or whose local universities and colleges do not offer courses that they are interested in.  For some, fully online programs are the only way that they can take the classes that are required for a certain degree or enter a program that they desire. 

References:

Passary, S (2003) Cloud computing is the future but not if security problems persist. Retrieved November 10,2014, from: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/8449/20140615/cloud-computing-is-the-future-but-not-if-security-problems-persist.htm

Strickland, J (2014) How Web 3.0 Will Work. Retrieved November 11, 2014, from: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-30.htm

Aghaei S., Mohammad A., Farsani, H (2012) Evolution of the World Wide Web: from 

WEB 1.0 to WEB 4.0 Retrieved November 13, 2014, from: http://airccse.org/journal/ijwest/papers/3112ijwest01.pdf

Roughton C., Martin F., Warren., Gritmon (2011) Challenges in Synchronous Virtual Classrooms 

Retrieved November 13, 2014. Adoption by Faculty from: http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Feb_11/article05.htm

COMIC MASTER Activity

ACTIVITY

Level: 6th form
Age: 11-12

1)      The comic must be based on the topic Save the earth.

2)      Use: can – can’t / must – mustn’t / have to – don’t have to. For example: You must close the taps.

3)      Wrtie a draft in a Word Document of the things the characters will say

4)      In pairs, go to Comic Master  and create an account

5)      Create a comic and when it is ready show it to the teacher

6)      Send it by e-mail to two of your classmates

Evaluation criteria

-          Correct use of modals

-          Creativity

If you have any doubts, go back to the Tutorial

Comic Master

Info about Comic Master

Comic Master is an easy to use Web 2.0 teaching tool for creating original graphic novels and comic books. It will appeal to students in all grade levels and can be used across the curriculum. Now students who love reading graphic novels and comic books can create their own with Comic Master. They can design their own multi-page story with interesting backgrounds, characters, props, and customized text. Stories can be saved and printed out. The user interface of this Web 2.0 teaching tool is very friendly and intuitive. Thought and speech bubbles, props, special effects, and caption boxes are easily added with a simple click-and-drag. Although options for characters and backgrounds are limited, it is a fun site that quickly lets you put together an original comic book or graphic novel. Both popular genres are a fun way to entice reluctant readers into creative writing. The final product is sleek, colorful, and prints out great. You will need to create an account so you can save and reload your comic for editing. An email account is needed.

According to Tomaszewski “The popularity of comic-book heroes is apparent from recent box-office returns, and Comic Master takes advantage of that popularity by having students create their own heroes and craft original stories for them. Users go through a step-by-step process that begins with selecting a cell layout and ends with a completely colored comic strip. While the site provides options in terms of character appearance and background design, the story is completely in the hands of students. They can create any kind of scenario, from drama to comedy.”

Do it yourself!

Let’s get started! Click on this link to create your own Comic… Comic Master

1)      On the homepage you will find all the things you can do with Comic Master. Click on the “next” button.

1)      Drag and drop the rows to start creating the layout of the comic

3)If you click on the “more” button, you will find more types of rows. Once the rows are ready, click on the “done” button.

4) You will find a list of assets. To start designing the comic start with the backgrounds option

5) Drag and drop the background for each comic frame

 

6)      Once you finish the background click on “main menu” to select the following options. Go to character art to choose your character and the position in which you want them to appear in each frame

7)      Drag and drop the character in each frame

8)      Go to speech bubbles or thought bubbles. Drag and drop the speech bubbles you want to include in your comic. By clicking on each bubble you can change the size.

9)      Go to caption boxes. Drag and drop the caption boxes you want to include in the frames. By clicking on each box you can change the size.

10)      Go to special effects. Drag and drop the special effects you want to include in your comic

11)      Go to props to choose things you want to include in the comic. By clicking on each prop you can change the size.

12)      Click on each speech/thought bubble and captions at a time and click “T” to edit text.

13)      Once you finish, click on the diskette shape button to save your comic

It's you turn! Let's do an Activity

References:

Tomaszewski, J (2012) Site Review: Comic Master from: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/site-review/comic-master.shtml 

GOANIMATE Activity

Activities

Level: 4 ^th form

Age: 9 - 10

1)      The teacher gives the students the prompt “Solve a problem.” Students have to think of any situation where the characters involved are going to solve a problem.

2)      Write on a Word Document what each character is going to say. Show it to the teacher to check if it is correct.


3) In pairs go to Go Animate and create one account

4)      Make a video with two characters and record the voices of each of you with lines you have prepared the previous step.

5)      Once each pair in the classroom finishes their video, they are going to be shown in a projector. All students are going to watch each video.

Evaluation criteria

-          Creativity regarding problem solving

-          Correct grammar

-          Pronunciation


If you have doubts, go back to the Tutorial

DVOLVER Activity

ACTIVITY

Level: 3^rd form

Age: 8-9

1) Think of two children when they meet for the first time. Write on a sheet of paper the  information they want to know about each other. For example: What is your name? I’m Rocío / Where are you from?
3) Give the drafts to the teacher to correct the information
4)      In pairs, go to Dvolver and copy the information of your draft to the bubbles of each character

5)      Create a movie and when each pair finish the video, send it to another student in the class by e-mail

Evaluation criteria

-          Correct use of verb TO BE in the Simple Present

If you have doubts, go back to the Tutorial

PENZU Activity

Activity

Level: 7^th form

Age: 12 - 13

1) Write fifteen sentences of what you did during your holidays in a Word Document and show them to the teacher to correct.
2) Once they are corrected go to Penzu and create an account.

3)   Create three entries  and copy five sentences of step number 1 in each entry
4)   Attach and insert photos in each entry (you can look for pictures on the Internet for example Flickr or choose and upload from your computer)

5)   Once you finish the entries, ask your teacher to print your journal.

6)   Share your journal with your classmates

Evaluation criteria

-          Correct use of simple past with regular and irregular verbs

-          Correct use of the past continuous

-          Correct use of linkers and time expressions

If you have doubts, go back to the Tutorial