This document discusses cloud computing and open source tools that can be used by teachers. It begins by defining cloud computing as storing applications and files online rather than locally, allowing for increased collaboration, sharing, and portability. Potential downsides include software limitations and reliability issues. Open source software is described as free to use and modify. Benefits include cost, customization, and improvements by users, while potential challenges include usability and support. A list of specific popular cloud and open source tools for teaching is then provided.

1. Get Your Head in the Cloud!
Cloud Computing and Open
Source Tools for Teachers
Presented by Kevin Pitts and Jennifer Peters-Lise
Teaching and Learning with Technology Day
March 1, 2010 | Markham Campus

2. Cloud Computing and Open Source?
Cloud = Internet
Computing = applications you would use on a computer:
Office software, Web pages, Quizzes, Video creating/editing
It's like moving your computer software and storage
online.
No downloading, updating/upgrading - you just visit a
website to create and save.
Open Source = computer software for which the source
code is freely available
programmers will often modify and build upon

3. Jafari, McGee, Carmean (2006)

4. Cloud Computing - yea!
Increased collaboration - can even edit together in real time
Increased sharing - anyone can access or just users you
identify
Files are hosted online for you - you don't have to worry about
finding server space
Portable - don't have to save your work onto a flash drive just
sign in to the website and it's there
In many applications you can revert to a previous version if
there are any issues

5. Cloud Computing - boo!
Software can be clunky and pared down
Some providers are unreliable (lost files)
Work is stored on someone else's server which could
cause issues (e.g. The Patriot Act)
Editing a document with others could be risky
how much can you trust them?

6. Open Source - yea!
it's free
can be as good or better than proprietary software
less restrictions (EULA, DRM) - you can use the
software in any way
enable "unlimited tuning and improvement of a software
product" (source)

7. Open Source - boo!
might be a bit tricky for novice users (installing,
updating, lack of help documentation, etc.)
might be buggy (but anything can be buggy,
remember Windows Vista?)
no tech support to call
software might be clunky and pared down

8. Google forms
Wordpress
SeneMA
How we used cloud and open source tools for Tech Day

9. Some popular tools...
Google SlideShare
Google Docs post your slides online
Word processing, Slides,
Spreadsheets, Forms (for Flickr, Photobucket
quizzes, surveys, post your photos online
invitations, etc) SeneMa,YouTube, Vimeo,
Gmail, Calendar TeacherTube, etc.
Maps, Earth post your videos online
Sky
VoiceThread, Yahoo Media
OpenOffice
Word processing
Player, etc.
Slides post your voice online
Spreadsheets Skype
Wordpress communicate online
webpage PBWorks
website wikis, collaborative sites
e-portfolio

10. More tools...
Moodle UStream
course management system broadcast live
(like Blackboard but open Animoto
source) create a video in 5 min
Audacity SchoolForge
voice recording and editing links to many open source
Screencast-O-Matic, Jing, tools for teachers
CamStudio, Blogger
screencasts - create a demo create a class blog or
from your computer webpage
Project Gutenberg, Google
Books
free ebooks

11. Tools for Teaching
Group Collaboration Web Conferencing
Wiggio WiZiQ
Ning Yugma
Facebook
Blogging/Micro-Blogging ePortfolio
Wordpress Mahara
Blogger Content/Learning Objects
Twitter Merlot
CMS Google/Google Books
Moodle Project Gutenberg
Sakai Google Books
Video Open Courseware
YouTube/TeacherTube Academic Earth
SeneMA Wikipedia
TED
CLEA