The importance of Cloud Computing in Education
Education has always played a major role in the growth and development of a country. Traditional learning methodologies haven't done much to improve the current scenario of the changing world, so we have to shift our focus from traditional ideas to innovative solutions, as that is where the key to progress lies. With evolving technology, the amount of data that is being generated by every individual is enormous. The right resources need to be used to be able to store the data being generated. One such solution for this problem is Cloud Computing.
What is Cloud Computing?
It is used in providing an on-demand availability of computer system resources, data storage and computing power. All this occurs without the direct management of the user. In other words, cloud computing uses hardware and software to deliver a service over a network, which typically is the Internet. This technology has caused a major turn of events in the education sector, for the better. Now that the interest of the student is at the center, it is time that teaching practices also change along with the growing demand of a learner-centered environment.
What cloud computing helps achieve is that it dramatically helps reduce the time, funds and infrastructure for administrations. These funds can be used for different purposes, such as revamping the current curriculum so that it provides students with an opportunity to explore what they learn. This also gives the school a centralized control, while the students engage themselves in the options presented before them. The added profit if you're a teacher, is that you get to pay attention to what learners need, rather than having your day annoyingly filled with administrative tasks that you would individually have to go through.
This year, cloud computing in education is estimated to cross $12 billion, according to a report by MarketsandMarkets. Also, 48% of the higher educational institutions saw that moving to cloud was a top priority, which proves cloud computing to be beneficial to the education sector.
How do you incorporate cloud in education?
Cloud for education, (or for any administration), is deployed through three service models:
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Software as a Service (SaaS). This model allows an administration to use educational applications and software on a cloud platform. This uses the internet to deliver online applications for learning, that manage operations online. These subscription-based online learning solutions are available in different forms, which gives users the flexibility to scale operations as per their needs.
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Platform as a Service (PaaS). This model allows an educator to create and customize acquired applications, and tailor it their requirements. For example, an educator can create a virtual lab for his/her students that discusses a subject, lets say Biology. But, this model would need the educator to have a technical background, or the educator could use the help of an IT team to build the required application.
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Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The service provider helps educators to install and run the software, which also include applications and operating systems. Along with providing operating systems and related software, it also gives educators and administrations the needed networks, processing and storage.
So, here're 7 reasons why educational institutes are moving to cloud, and why it has proven to be beneficial:
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Your teachers, in a virtual environment. This is the most significant advantage cloud computing has offered institutions. Cloud computing has the gain of providing face-to-face instructions from anywhere. This increases student-teacher partnership, which leads to a more engaging experience. It also helps use limited faculty and content resources more efficiently.
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Self-paced learning online. Cloud helps administrations offer what's called distance learning, where lessons or lectures are conducted without a student having to be physically present in the school or college. In fact, cloud has helped create a 24/7 open destination where students from any corner of the world can access and take courses online. This also helps remove the need of a dedicated system to access sophisticated learning materials.
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Cost-effectiveness. When an administration gains cloud technology, it removes the need of an in-house IT-supporting infrastructure. What it does offer, is an expenditure that is now converted into a nominal operational cost that is on-demand.
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Unlimited storage. This technology helps institutes offer courses with a tonne of learning material, that can be managed using the SaaS platforms that cloud computing provides. These platforms give unlimited and secure storage for courses, assignments and student data, that can be accessed through any device. A cloud account can also be accessed on multiple internet-enabled devices that students own from anywhere.
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Data Security. When a cloud backs up data to its storage, data that is being backed up stays on the storage, even when issues of data security breach and loss of data occur. Hardware failures at either the educator's or learner's end do not affect the backed up data. Content on the cloud is also encrypted end-to-end, thereby ensuring security.
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Flexibility of Customization and Scaling. Teachers who deploy cloud technology enjoy the flexibility to customize their online portals according to their branding as well as student-base. As an educator's student base widens, cloud offers the flexibility to accommodate the growing numbers in its systems.
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Helps the environment. Cloud platforms and service providers work on a 28% less carbon-intense power mix. This has helped lower the total energy consumption while running software applications by 87%.
Cloud computing has helped change education and has made it available to remote and under-developed areas. A report conducted by UNESCO, mentioned that the global demand for primary and higher education through the cloud would double by 2025. This would mean educators and institutions need to adopt and adapt to the changes in the field of technology to provide an education system that encourages a new path in learning.
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