Data Storage Solutions
Data storage at GPHS has been built on mistakes that you don’t need to make.
Both VV and GPHS have navigated many changes in media production technology in the last ten years. Data storage is a really important consideration for CEDS and there are numerous affordable alternatives. Desktop computers and smartphones will max out their data storage capabilities within one semester of student projects. In St. Paul Public Schools, for example, every students has a 16Gbs iPad. After you factor in Apps and personal data, there are only a few Gbs left for video production. That means that workflow needs to incorporate downloading data regularly.
Dedicated online servers are often available at schools I work with in St. Paul, Minnesota, as they were used during late 90s early 00s for web-based literacy and testing. School Tech integration specialists will know about availability. If available, servers can retrieve and store data at all computers on system. Before getting too far into the process of alternative data storage techniques, find out if your school has a server available.
Cloud storage via Google Docs is an option, but requires a dependable and fast internet connection. 50 minutes of class time isn’t much if you need 10 minutes each day to download production files. Additionally, the teacher needs to retain access to all files, and that requires the instructor to have a high capacity, business level account with incurs monthly data storage charges. It is a great solution to upload completed work to Youtube or Vimeo as an online archive. Raw data from the production process can also be archived, but the working data from the film editing process should be deleted to save space.
Many schools migrate toward having dedicated editing space. If you develop an editing room, a wired server connecting all computers is preferred. Use a Unique ID for all data to easy tracking and archiving.
QUESTION: IS THERE A PREFERRED METHOD? WHAT SHOULD BE SAVED AND DELETED? HOW OFTEN SHOULD