Reading Apprenticeship Inspired Assignment
Reading Apprenticeship Inspired Assignment
One of the most important things I can teach my technology students is how to learn more on their own. Throughout the course, they practice searching the internet for more information before completing an assignment. In this assignment they do that again and are forced to see both sides of a debate before making their conclusion.
This assignment covers 3 unit-level SLOs:
- explain the different types of cloud computing
- identify why an organization might want to use cloud computing
- analyze how current trends in e-commerce technologies, including cloud computing, online transactions and user interface, influence an organization’s competitive advantage
This assignment covers 2 course-level SLOs:
- Research, analyze and evaluate information to solve business problems using Business Information Systems concepts.
Effectively employ Business Information Systems concepts and terminology in professional communication.
This unit is towards the end of the course after students are familiar with many business information systems. They have been working together in teams all semester and are used to reading/annotating together in Perusall before they apply their knowledge in an assignment.
Prior to this assignment, students have already completed three social reading/annotating assignments in Perusall:
- A Manager's Guide to Harnessing Technology: Chapter 10, Section 6 and 7: Cloud Computing
- SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS
- Computer Networks and Cloud Computing
The assignment will be graded using a rubric in Canvas:
In my Think Aloud video, I model skimming and noting key words and making connections to prior knowledge. I kept the video short and stopped after a couple of the items and ask students to then expose their thinking. It is key to get students working actively after a brief demonstration to scaffold their work.
This is an asynchronous course/activity, due a week after the first cloud computing reading.
Instructions for the students:
- Review the submission options below and choose one.
- Consider this essential question: If you were running a small business with limited funds for information technology, would you consider using cloud computing?
- Think about your hypothetical small business and the conditions it is operating under.
- Review both the pros and the cons for using cloud computing.
- Find some web-based resources on this topic to learn more.
- Back up your conclusion with multiple reputable sources and information.
- Review the rubric below and submit your creation (from the list of submission options below to this assignment.
Submission Options
- Paper: Write a brief (approximately 1-2 pages - no need for double spacing) paper about why you would and would not consider using cloud computing.
- Make sure your paper is split up into appropriate chunks for easy reading. It should not be one long wall of text, aka one paragraph filling a page. Bulleted lists or 3-4 paragraphs would be great! :)
- Please cite your sources by giving me URL links to them, no need for MLA or APA formatting.
- TurnItIn will be used on this assignment so you and I can both check your paper for originality. I highly recommend the following resource to help you avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It
- Presentation: Create a 4-8 minute PowerPoint presentation about why you would and would not consider using cloud computing.
- Use what you have learned about effective presentations earlier in this course.
- Please cite your sources by giving me URL links to them on a works cited slide at the end. No need for MLA or APA formatting.
- Video: Record a 4-8 minute video about why you would and would not consider using cloud computing.
- Do your best to get your thoughts organized beforehand and imagine you are discussing this topic with other business executives.
- Please cite your sources by giving me URL links in a submission comment.
Assignment shared: Canvas Commons
Quickly view the assignment in my Canvas course.
There are many ways in which companies can use cloud computing. You are probably familiar with a few of them.
| Cloud Computing Use | Examples |
|---|---|
| Files can be stored in the cloud | Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox |
| Websites can be hosted on someone else's server | Squarespace Website Builder, GoDaddy |
| Software applications are available for use over the internet without needing to download anything | Microsoft Office 365, G Suite (Google Docs, etc.), Salesforce |
| Whole data centers can be outsourced to another company | Amazon Web Services (AWS), Oracle Cloud, MS Azure |
Amazon Web Services (AWS) 6 Advantages of Cloud Computing
Video: Modeling a Think Aloud while reading the AWS text above
