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Cloud computing is described and related to adult literacy challenges in Canada.
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Cloud Computing & Adult LiteracyHow cloud
computing can
sustain the
promise of Adult Learning Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 License
Griff Richards, Rory McGreal, Brian Stewart
CNIE May 2011 Hamilton ON
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What is cloud computing and why is it
important for Adult Literacy?
“Cloud computing is a nebulous term” (Anon.)
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“CLOUD” defined
Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, 2006:
It starts with the premise that the data services and architecture should be on servers. We call it cloud computing – they should be in a “cloud” somewhere.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines the term as follows:
Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction (Mell & Grance, 2009).
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“CLOUD” defined
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Gartner Hype Cycle 2010
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Adult Literacy in Canada
Prose Literacy
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Adult Literacy in Canada
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Adult Literacy in Canada
faces endemic regionalization
programming challenges not computing
politics
funding
community leadership
professional collaboration
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Why the Cloud for Adult Literacy?
Lori Herod
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Adult Literacy in Canada
faces endemic regionalization
programming challenges not computing
politics
funding
community leadership
professional collaboration
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Cloud Computing
accessing and using ICT
housed on “server farms” - large industrial scale computing centres.
computing services at less cost
lower energy costs - data centres near power
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Cloud Computing
Virtualization
Device independence
Elasticity
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Cloud Computing
On demand
Pay for bandwidth used
Industrial scale
Reduces capital/energy costs
Reduces physical space, labour
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Concerns over cloud computing
Security
Fast reliable internet
switching costs
hype
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Why cloud computing?
Katz, Goldstein & Yanosky (2009) :
Driving down capital costs of IT
Facilitating transparent matching of IT demand, costs, and funding;
scaling IT;
fostering further IT standardization;
accelerating time to market by reducing IT supply bottlenecks;
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Why cloud computing (2)?
Katz, Goldstein & Yanosky (2009)
Countering consumerization of IT services
Access to scarce IT talent
Supporting a five-9s & 24 x 7 x 365
Renewable energy
Interoperability internal/external
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Cloud service models
3 technical/marketing categories:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) where the expert user implements their own software to optimize use of the computing facility
Platform as a Service (PaaS) where the client customizes their application to run inside the cloud management software
Software as a Service (SaaS) like Gmail where the user simply uses the software provided
suit user independence, expertise, budget and technical needs
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Cloud services
addressing content quality
learner support
compatibility of administrative systems
on-going IT management infrastructures, tools, broadband availability, support services (helpdesk)
evergreening of IT
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Cloud services
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Private Cloud Services
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What is the current state of Adult Literacy education in Canada: Is a cohesive community
possible?Thematic report by OECD lack of a coordinated federal-provincial
policy
special needs of adults neglected
No coherent system of adult education
Adult education is vulnerable to instability in government
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Adult Ed & Literacy:Approaches/Organizations
community groups
community colleges or partnerships of both
. Funding: federal employment & provincial education
Funding is usually short term
Difficult to sustain programs and staff
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Target audiences for adult literacy
Rural and remote Canadians
Aboriginals
School dropouts (working poor)
New Canadians – immigrants who are literate in their own language.
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Needy populations
Aboriginals
working poor
Rural isolation
Urban
Access to IT
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Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR: life experiences and skills - academic credits
“laddering” or transferring credits
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Adult Literacy Networks
National Adult Literacy Database www.nald.ca
Alpha Plus www.alphaplus.com
Canadian Literacy and Learning Network www.literacy.ca/)
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What is the current use of information
technologies to support Adult Literacy?
Basic patterns:
CBTs on DVD or via web-sites.
Online course or workshops
Web searches, email, conferencing,
Writing, blogging & digital media
assistive technologies, e.g. e-text readers
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Problems with uptake
No strong following among providers
Technology as a “moving target”
Accessibility
Few studies on efficacy
Trainers use technology personally but not for teaching
BUT accessibility in a cloud encourages localization and sharing across the wider community
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What is the current use of IT to support Adult
Literacy?
Basic patterns:
CBTs on DVD or via web-sites.
Online course or workshops
Web searches, email, conferencing,
Writing, blogging & digital media
assistive technologies, e.g. e-text readers
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Problems with uptake of the Cloud
No strong following among providers
Technology as a “moving target”
Accessibility
Few studies on efficacy
Trainers use technology personally but not for teaching
BUT accessibility in a cloud encourages localization and sharing across the wider community
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Problems with uptake of the Cloud
Strangulation by big companies
•Predatory pricing
•UBB (Usage Based Billing)
•Throttling
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What might a cloud computing strategy for
Adult Literacy look like?
What are the challenges to realize such a vision?
THEN: email & collaboration software
Now: variety of on-demand services that require tremendous processing power for short instances
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The Cloud for Adult Literacy
1. Provision of personal computing
2. Shared Community Resources
3. Persistent personal storage - augmenting cognition
4. Analytics and personalization
5. Policy issues
6. Beyond text - Is literacy obsolete?
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Conclusion:
Impact of Cloud Computing
1. Utility
use of free services
Elastic: power on demand
OER
Web services: text to speech; translation etc.
Mobile learning
21st learning is not possible without the
skills for accessing and using the Internet
