At “Back to School” night last week, the principal highlighted the big changes at our school this year. There were updates to the handbook, a new report card system, and what he termed the “virtualization” of the school.
VIRTUALIZATION!
It bears repeating for emphasis since his tone was so ominous and terrifying as if the Borg were taking over the PTO. While this could very well be true, in reality, it’s just another way to say that the curriculum at my son’s school is moving towards cloud computing.
Several months ago, I wrote an article for ShePosts explaining what it means to go to the “Cloud”.
Have you shared photos on Flickr? Ever watch a clip on YouTube, then post it on Facebook? Maybe you’ve updated a spreadsheet for work on Google Docs?
If so, then congratulations, you’ve soared to “the cloud” without wings and lived to tell about it!
Basically, it’s a jargon-y way to say “do stuff online”. In terms of our school, this means homework assignments, programs, grades, and even communication between the school and the parents has been relegated to some password-protected walled garden online. As a follow-up, I also wrote an article about the Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing— many of which the principal covered in his presentation as well.
While this will save the school money in materials, upgrades, and time, it also introduces a whole new set of issues you just don’t have with pen and paper. For instance, if the computer can’t work, neither can you! A faulty Internet connection or a virus is all it takes to wipe out your entire assignment.
As the principal spoke, there were plenty of reassurances along the lines of “it’s going to be okay” and “we’re working to make this as easy and gentle a transition as possible”. While he seemed to be referring to the students, he was obviously directing these statements to the parents.
In a tiny school auditorium deep in heart(-like facsimile) of Silicon Valley, it was the school who sounded out of touch for even having to announce this to the parents. After all, our children have never known a world without Wi-Fi, Wikipedia, or QR codes in lieu of permissions slips.
What we call “virtualization” and try to ease into with slow, measured steps, my kindergartner knows as “completely normal”. There will be no prodding needed to get the kids to embrace the cloud. It’s the parents I worry about.
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Start the school year fresh! Download *free* trial versions of ChicaPC-Fix and ChicaPC-Shield and clean up your PC. Don’t let an ailing computer be one of your kids’ excuses for why they can’t get their homework done. Make them invent their own!
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by ChicaLogic. I have been compensated to represent ChicaLogic as a Brand Ambassador. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect those of ChicaLogic.
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That’s the kind of thing that makes me feel so old, because I really love having paper!