What is Cloud Technology?!?

Today one of my advisors Dr. Bojan Lazarevic, asked me to explain cloud computing and cloud technology. When he first asked me the question I thought I knew what it was, but after thinking about it I found myself unable to give a logical answer. Since I was unable to put my answer into words he decided to roll over a white board and asked me to draw out my thoughts. I was skeptical at first and then I started drawing a giant cloud at the top of the board. Then I proceeded to draw photographs, myself, my information and drew arrows towards the cloud. From there Dr. Bojan took the liberty of pulling the right answer out of me. We discussed that cloud computing is not actually a giant cloud, it is actually energy. Cloud Technology is Internet based computing by means of shared resources, software and information that are provided to computers and other devices (such as iPads!) on demand.

Dr. Bojan continued to explain what a server is and how it is used. A server is a computer program that allows access to a service in a network. For example, many people use Facebook daily. Facebook is an example of a server. When you sign up for Facebook, you are requesting access for a certain amount of memory. This is the reason why you are able to sign on to Facebook on any computer or mobile device without a problem.

Now lets talk about why you can do that! Have you ever heard of Web 1.0 and Web 2.0?



Web 1.0 was created in early 2000 and lasted until 2005 when it was updated to Web 2.0. You cannot modify the information in Web 1.0; Web 1.0 was a new way to use the Internet. Those people who were skilled enough to created their own website with a certain code were the only ones who were allowed to modify the website. For example, imagine yourself in a college lecture. If you think about it, you're not discussing anything, your professor is feeding you information and you do not add to the presentation. That is similar to Web 1.0; Another example is Twitter. You can change your picture, your background, your profile, and you can even send other people messages while posting your own. With Web 1.0 you can only read the information on the screen, you cannot change it.


Web 2.0 was created in 2005 and it is still being used in the present. The best way to describe Web 2.0 is to say that it is two way information. Let me explain, with Web 2.0 anyone can modify information they see on a website. Take this blog for instance. I can write in the blog and anyone can comment below a post. They are putting in their input and modifying the page at the same time.

Fun fact of the day! Did you know that the iPad comes from Web 2.0 technology?!?

Check out this wonderful website filled with fantastic Web 2.0 tools for the classroom! http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ (wikispaces is Web 2.0 technology too!)



The advantages of Web 2.0: Have the teachers be constructivists, allowing and creating conditions for students to lean on their own.