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Resource 4: How Cloud Computing Works (Video File)

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Resource 4: How Cloud Computing Works (Video File)

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ICT Capability Learning Continuum: Understanding ICT systems; Manage digital data (ACARA, n.d., p. 16-17)

Resource type: Youtube Video

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGDtujmOBKc

Platform: Any web-browsing device

Cost/Licensing: Free

Age group suitability: Year 7-12

Description and Evaluation:
This is a comprehensive clip which clearly explains the concepts of cloud-computing using cartoons, diagrams and narration.  This resource would be useful when introducing students to cloud-computing ICT system; and also provides some clear information about how cloud computing can be part of a digital data management system. This clip differentiates from other clips on the same subject with its repetitive use of symbolism, particularly the incorporation of the cloud-computing symbol into the cartoon, which may help some students use situated practice literacy when conceptualising ICT system (Henderson & Exley, 2012, p. 23).

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Resource 3: Stay Smart Online: Back up your data

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Resource 3: Stay Smart Online: Back up your data

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ICT Capability Learning Continuum: Manage digital data (ACARA, n.d., p. 16-17)

Resource type: Website

URL: https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/internet/stay-smart-online/computers/back-your-data

Platform:  Any web-browsing device

Cost/Licensing: Free

Age group suitability: Years 9-12

Description and Evaluation:
The Department of Communications and the Arts has published this comprehensive and informative website as part of the Stay Safe Online initiative. The site provides information on data back-up options and comparisons; and instructions on developing a back-up strategy.  Furthermore, as the website is developed by an Australian Government Department, the information and resources are highly relevant to Australian ICT users.  The information is clear and concise and would be an excellent resource to guide students when developing digital data management practices. The list of considerations for a data-backup strategy would be a particularly useful resource to use in classroom explicit instruction regarding data management.

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Data or access to data stored on a personal computer, phone or tablet can be lost, often without any warning. Hardware failure, theft, or malware infection (such as the cryptolocker ransomware attack) can make recovering your data expensive or impossible. You need to back-up your data.

There are two main options for backing-up your data:

performing your own back-ups to a storage device (USB or external hard drive)

backing up to an online (cloud) service.

Comparison of back-up options

Storage device

Online back-up

Some initial outlay

No initial outlay

No ongoing cost

Monthly cost

Mainly suitable for personal computers

Suits all devices

Does not require/use an internet connection

Requires an internet connection and may impact your monthly data allowance

Can be easily and securely stored off-site

Provides an inherent off-site back-up

Generally more 'manual'

Generally more automated

As requirements increase, you may need to upgrade your storage devices

Will scale with requirements (although cost will also scale)

You manage the security of the storage device yourself

Security is managed by the back-up service, which may be hosted overseas and subject to different privacy laws

Back-up applications

Back-up applications are available that can partially or wholly automate this process and can also perform full back-ups. These applications come with some operating systems (for example Windows Back-up or Mac OS) may be bundled with storage devices, or may be purchased separately.

Different applications have differing functionality. Consider the information below and look at online reviews before selecting a back-up product to suit your needs.

Offsite back-ups

If your house or business is burgled or burns down, the back-up storage device may be lost with your personal computer, so offsite back-up is critical.

Store a back-up device at another physical location.

Use online back-up where your data is stored in a datacentre with a high level of physical security.

Frequency and types of back-ups-advantages and disadvantages

Back-up type

Advantages

Disadvantages

Full back-up

backs up all the data on your computer including the operating system and applications

complete restoration of the computer is possible.

needs a large storage capacity

takes a lot of time to complete.

Partial back-up

saves only folders and files you request

needs far less capacity

doesn't take long to complete.

doesn't provide full disaster recovery.

Incremental back-up

performed following a full back-up

backs up only the files that have changed since the previous back-up.

provides full recovery

needs much less storage capacity and time.

incremental back-ups can require careful management, however many applications manage this automatically.

The benefit of multiple back-ups

While maintaining one back-up provides protection against sudden incidents, such as the theft or failure of a computer, greater protection can be gained by having multiple back-ups covering different periods, for example one week ago, one month ago and six months ago.

The limitation of only having one back-up is that sometimes data loss can happen slowly in the background and may not be noticed until too late. Some types of ransomware and hardware faults can cause this, and sometimes users inadvertently delete important files without realising it. The loss of an important file may not be noticed for a while, by which time the most recently backed-up copy will have been overwritten and lost.

While keeping multiple back-ups can require more management, time and capacity, they allow you to 'go back in time' much further to retrieve important files.

While a partial back-up cannot provide full disaster recovery, it can be used in conjunction with the original operating system and application disks to restore basic system functionality. While this may return access to personal files, this process can be time consuming and may not restore the system completely to its pre-disaster state.

Disaster recovery and back-ups

Using a back-up to recover from a disaster, such as the theft of a computer or catastrophic hardware failure, can be complicated. Use of the back-up to restore your (replaced or repaired) computer to its pre-disaster state may require specialised technical services.

Performing a full recovery generally requires the existence of or ability to create "boot disks" capable of accessing the back-up files, or use of a second computer to copy the backed up content to the repaired/replaced computer.

If the new computer is significantly different from the one that was backed up, complete restoration may not be possible. However, even when complete restoration is impossible, individual files should still be able to be restored from the back-up.

Develop a back-up strategy

Develop a disaster recovery plan. Start by assessing your level of risk and identifying what actions you can take to minimise the risk.

Assess what data and programs on your computer need to be backed up and how often. You may either back-up all the data and certain programs on your hard drive each time you back-up, or you may choose to do incremental back-ups.

Incremental back-ups only include the files that have changed since the last back-up therefore saving time and space.

Select a back-up device that is large enough to store the files and fast enough, so it is not too time consuming. Examples include CDs, DVDs, memory sticks or an external hard drive.

Make a note somewhere obvious, such as in an office diary, reminding you to do the back-up.

Regularly test that your back-up process is working.

Store the back-up copies in a safe location away from your computer systems, such as away from your home or business premises. Remember putting this information on portable media makes it vulnerable to physical removal so secure it.

Do not use the same computer or network to store your back-ups. If you system is compromised you may lose or be unable to access the files.

Where to get help

You are experiencing technical difficulties with your computer

your local computer repairer

your local computer retailer.

You are experiencing difficulties connecting to the internet

Your internet service provider.

You are looking for more information on backing-up your desktop or laptop computer

your device manufacturer's website

Whirlpool or other discussion forums.

Information on recent threats

Sign up to the free Stay Smart Online Alert Service.

A full list of useful contacts can be found on the Contact us page.

Find out more:

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Data or access to data stored on a personal computer, phone or tablet can be lost, often without any warning. Hardware failure, theft, or malware infection (such as the cryptolocker ransomware attack) can make recovering your data expensive or impossible. You need to back-up your data.

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Apple Inc. (n.d.). Itunes and App Store (Version 11). Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com

Cipriani, J. (2016). Share Dropbox Files with your Facebook Messenger Friends. Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/how-to/share-dropbox-files-with-your-facebook-messenger-friends/

Department of Communications and the Arts. (2016). Stay Smart Online: Backup your Data. Retrieved from https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/internet/stay-smart-online/computers/back-your-data

Dropbox. (n.d.). Dropbox. Retrieved from https://www.dropbox.com/

Henderson, R., & Exley, B. (2013). Planning for Literacy Learning. In R. Henderson (Ed.), Teaching Literacies in the Middle Years: Pedagogies and Diversity (pp. 18-56). Sydney: Oxford University Press.

ovp. (2014, January 22). How Cloud Computing Works [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGDtujmOBKc

Background image source: https://pixabay.com/

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Resource 2: Apple App Store Review and Ratings

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Resource 2: Apple App Store Review and Ratings

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ICT Capability Learning Continuum: Select and use hardware and software (ACARA, n.d., p. 15)
Resource type: Software
URL: http://itunes.apple.com

Platform: iOS

Cost/Licensing: Free

Age group suitability:  Years 7-12 and Teachers

Description and Evaluation:

Apple App Store Review is a rating and comment style function that allows the user to view other people’s comments and experiences with an App prior to purchasing/downloading.  This digital resource can assist students to compare products when selecting software to suit a specific task.    While there are more comprehensive software review website options, this resource is valuable to initially judge whether an App is worth seeking further reviews and demonstration. As any App store customer can rate and review an App, so it is important that students consider the number of ratings contributing to overall rating; and use text analysis literacy to have a critical view of the statements and detect bias and points of view (Henderson & Exley, 2012, p. 25).

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Back to Portfolio

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ICT Capability Learning Continuum: Manage digital data (ACARA, n.d., p. 16)

Resource type: Cloud-storage

URL: www.dropbox.com

Platform:  Any web-browsing device

Cost/Licensing: Free basic account (2GB storage)

Age group suitability:  Year 7-12

Description and Evaluation:
Dropbox is cloud-style product, i.e. allows files to be accessed by a user on multiple devices, or the sharing and collaboration of files between multiple users.  This digital resource contributes to students’ technical knowledge and skill in setting up and managing shared data folders (ACARA, n.d. p. 17).  Dropbox is a powerful option for sharing across computing and mobile platforms, with the recent option to share stored files through social network site messaging (Facebook) (Cipriani, 2016). While many software products offer, or will soon develop their own cloud storage and syncing capabilities, for now Dropbox offers an easy and secure file share option.