Week Four Reflection Question

2. Why is it advantageous for educators to share resources and programs on a network? What concerns are associated with program sharing?

Many of the advantages to shared programs refer back to a simple money and time issue. There are many advantages to using shared resources and programs on a network. The way that a shared program works is that a program resides on a server’s hard disk, and the work stations run the software from there to a network. This allows access to the program from multiple sites, not just the system in which it originated. This in itself is an advantage in that it saves money for multiple transport devices such as jump drives/flash drives or even CD transfers. Another advantage of shared networked software is that many companies offer discounts for network versions of software. In today’s economy, this can prove to be an effective way of gaining technology without the expense generated in the past. One of the final advantages to shared programs, is that every software eventually needs to be upgraded. When shared programs are purchased from a corporation, each software program will receive updates as they are produced along with the support of a technical staff.

Though there is a list of many advantages to shared resources and programs, there are, as with much of technology, negative aspects. Because work stations rely on server software, if anything was to happen to the work station or the software on the server, the complete system would shut down. If this were to happen, one would run the risk of losing all saved information. As a safety precaution, many system owners purchase backup systems to save data if there was ever a technical error.

With the network that was adapted by The University of Southern Mississippi, TK20 provides excellent opportunities for students and professors to communicate and send information via the web. This network allows for students to upload documents that allow the school to have the data needed for NCATE, when that time comes. As I have both seen and heard, there are great benefits to this network. One of the drawbacks is that there is a fee for each student, around one hundred dollars, to activate their personal account. Although the information/data that can be uploaded is endless, there will come a time when the account will expire. When this happens, and the student chooses not to renew the account, all files are then lost. This is an example of shared networks that I can best relate to on a personal level.