Application Software Comparison

This blog is to fulfill Research Task 2 – Critical Thinking Chapter 3 page 191 item 3 Research – Application Software Comparison

Web applications are becoming increasingly popular, and some people prefer the convenience of using a Web application instead of application software installed on their computer. For example, some prefer to use Google Docs (a Web application) to Microsoft Word. Your boss notices this trend, and asks you whether it will benefit the company to use Web applications instead of application software. Compare software installed on your computer with a comparable Web application. Are any security risks associated with using the application software? How do the features compare between a Web application and the application software? Would you recommend using a Web application to application software? Why?

Web applications have been extensively useful to me personally and professionally. Personally, I didn’t want to spend money on buying application software. I knew I would use a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, and database software, but spending hundreds of dollars for this software wasn’t in my budget. Professionally, I wanted to have students submit written work electronically to save paper and printer toner. It also allowed me to grade students work and give them feedback so they could edit their papers without having to print multiple versions. Another reason I liked the Web applications was so I could grade from my smartphone on the fly without need for my laptop. I was the co-worker that pushed for using Google Apps in Education at Battle Creek Academy. I ended up being the only teacher that used Google Apps in Education extensively because other teachers didn’t want to learn a new “software”. It is important to remember that Google Drive has similar functionality to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations like Microsoft Office Applications but they do not have the same creation features within each type of web application. http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/13/technology/enterprise/microsoft-office-google-docs/ pointed out that Google Drive “productivity tools may lack some of Office's advanced features” but what they do have is easier to use. This CNN article also pointed out three of Google’s main selling points - the service is free, it is accessible anywhere you have internet connections, and it supports significant sharing and collaboration between users. The biggest drawback for our school was the issues with institutional internet connections through Comcast that could from time to time disappear - then students couldn’t work on anything because there was not an offline option of Google Drive to use. This con is also changing as Google Drive continues to evolve.

There are inherent security risks with any digital file, but even more so with cloud based digital files like those on Google Drive. I would not put confidential material in Google Drive files because it is as simple as being logged into Google and a few clicks and I am into someone else’s Google Drive where I can access all their files says http://www.eweek.com/storage/google-drive-10-reasons-to-choose-another-cloud-data-storage-service/ . There is also the sharing features of Google where you can give read or write access to different levels of individuals. Sharing digital files this easily puts those files at a security risk if there is confidential information or information that should be kept private. It is also important to consider that files uploaded to Google drive or created there may be “lost, stolen, exposed, made irretrievable, or obtained directly from a service provider with a court order” says http://www.darkreading.com/risk-management/google-drive-privacy-4-misunderstood-facts/d/d-id/1104086 .

I would recommend using a Web application if the file being created does not need to be private. I would recommend using a Web application because it allows users to collaborate and create content together in real time from anywhere with an internet connection. I would recommend using an offline application software for financial information and content that should be kept private.

Ethics in Action - Plagiarism

This blog post is to fulfill Research Task 1 – Web Research Chapter 1 page 52 item 5 (Ethics in Action - Plagiarism)

The Internet has increased the ease with which students can plagiarize material for research paper assignments. Teachers are using online services, such as TurnItIn and PlagiarismDetect.com to help detect plagiarized papers and to hep students understand how to cite sources correctly. Visit the Turnitin Web site ( turnitin.com ) and then write a summary of how this service is used. How does this service attempt to prevent plagiarism through the Turnitin Write Cycle? How prevalent is plagiarism on your campus? What is your school’s official policy on disciplining students who submit plagiarized papers? Does your school have an honor code?

The TurnItIn website is used to help a writing instructor give feedback to a student quickly to help a student improve his writing. The cloud based program compares the written work submitted by a student to a database of written work to determine how original the submitted written work is. A color coded report is created reflecting what percentage of the written piece comes from a particular database source.  There is also a part of the program that allows peers to comment and critique the submitted work. This can help the submitter to develop critical thinking skills as the written submission is edited. TurnItIn can be integrated with an existing learning management system.

The service attempts to prevent plagiarism by using the Turnitin Write Cycle. I found an infographic at http://www2.bgsu.edu/departments/english/cconline/spring2013_special_issue/Vie/history.html that outlined the turn it in write cycle. First, the idea is that the “originality check” will inspire a writer not to plagiarize content in his initial written submission. That hopefully will engage a writer to write original content rather than copy content from another author. Second, the “PeerMark” peer reviewing process helps a teacher manage assignments and facilitate collaboration between students to enhance the submitting writer’s writing. Third, “GradeMark” paperless grading allows a teacher to provide in depth feedback to a writer so future assignments can be better written based on the feedback. These three components make up the Turnitin Write Cycle.

I was unable to find any data on how prevalent plagiarism is on the Kellogg Community College website. I am sure it happens. Kellogg Community College has an official “Academic Integrity Policy” found at http://www.kellogg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Academic_Integrity_Policy.pdf This policy states that a student who admits responsibility for some form of academic dishonesty will first receive a warning, if it happens again the student will be put on probabion, if it occurs for a third time the student will be suspended, and if there is a fourth infraction, the student will be dismissed from Kellogg Community College.  Kellogg Community College's honor code is “Define Yourself“ and that seems to encompass the ideas that a student needs to take responsibility during their time at Kellogg Community College to develop who they will be when they leave. I think academic honesty is a big part of that as people look for jobs after their education has ended.

Plagiarism is so much easier today with the availability of digital resources that can be copied easily. Programs like TurnItIn can be useful to help fight plagiarism and help writing instructors teach students how to cite sources properly.