Advantages
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There are many benefits for an educational institution and the students, teachers and administrations to move to the cloud instead of using a traditional IT model. These include:
Cost Savings
The most compelling argument for cloud learning may be the potential for huge cost savings. By having an educational institution rely on the cloud and pay as they go, the costs related to storing, heating and cooling servers diminishes. Software does not have to be purchased or installed and there are no costs of upgrading. Using the cloud could also mean that less IT personnel are required.
Increased Availability
To ensure that users have access to whatever they want whenever they want, load balancing and server virtualization is essential. Each request to access part of the cloud is analyzed and sent to the server that would meet its needs at that particular time. This also ensures that updates are available immediately and can be accessed almost instantaneously.
Redundancy
Use of the cloud includes storage of data and information across many different servers. This means that even when a computer has a glitch the information is still easily accessible. There is no longer a need to save data to a physical source like your desktop or USB drive.
Increased Collaboration
Being able to access materials online allows for flexibility and increased collaboration. Students and teachers are able to collectively contribute to projects online and build upon one another’s knowledge.
Cost Savings
The most compelling argument for cloud learning may be the potential for huge cost savings. By having an educational institution rely on the cloud and pay as they go, the costs related to storing, heating and cooling servers diminishes. Software does not have to be purchased or installed and there are no costs of upgrading. Using the cloud could also mean that less IT personnel are required.
Increased Availability
To ensure that users have access to whatever they want whenever they want, load balancing and server virtualization is essential. Each request to access part of the cloud is analyzed and sent to the server that would meet its needs at that particular time. This also ensures that updates are available immediately and can be accessed almost instantaneously.
Redundancy
Use of the cloud includes storage of data and information across many different servers. This means that even when a computer has a glitch the information is still easily accessible. There is no longer a need to save data to a physical source like your desktop or USB drive.
Increased Collaboration
Being able to access materials online allows for flexibility and increased collaboration. Students and teachers are able to collectively contribute to projects online and build upon one another’s knowledge.
Increase Accessibility via Mobile computing
Because using the cloud does not require as many local resources (RAM, Disk Space, Processor Speed) it easily allows for mobile computing. This means that the user can access anything on the cloud from multiple devices including smartphones, laptops and tablets. Students and teachers are able to access materials regardless from the geographic location as long as they have a reliable internet connection. It can allow a student who has to miss school to access information, or a traveling teacher to keep in touch with her class’ progress.
Because using the cloud does not require as many local resources (RAM, Disk Space, Processor Speed) it easily allows for mobile computing. This means that the user can access anything on the cloud from multiple devices including smartphones, laptops and tablets. Students and teachers are able to access materials regardless from the geographic location as long as they have a reliable internet connection. It can allow a student who has to miss school to access information, or a traveling teacher to keep in touch with her class’ progress.
Click on the video below to view the short video clip entitled, “Leveraging Cloud Computing Resources for Students”
As stated in the video clip above, having educational institutions move to the cloud allow teachers to focus on their work and not have to worry about the technical and infrastructural issues.
References
Powell, J. (n.d.) Cloud computing – what is it and what does it mean for education? Retrieved from http://erevolution.jiscinvolve.org/wp/files/2009/07/clouds-johnpowell.pdf
Rindos, A., Volk, M., et al. (2010). The Transformation of Education through State Education Clouds. Retrieved from http://www.ibm.com/ibm/files/N734393J24929X18/EBW03002-USEN-00.pdf
Silva, P. (2010). Availability and the Cloud. Retrieved from http://www.f5.com/pdf/white-papers/availability-cloud-wp.pdf
Rindos, A., Volk, M., et al. (2010). The Transformation of Education through State Education Clouds. Retrieved from http://www.ibm.com/ibm/files/N734393J24929X18/EBW03002-USEN-00.pdf
Silva, P. (2010). Availability and the Cloud. Retrieved from http://www.f5.com/pdf/white-papers/availability-cloud-wp.pdf