Not only are businesses and medical facilities integrating the cloud into their daily operations, it has also grown into one of the most impactful technologies across education systems from K-12 up through college. In fact, 80 percent of edtech leaders surveyed by the Education Week Resource Center and Consortium for School Networking said that their districts are currently using cloud-based software.[1] On top of that, the global cloud computing market in the education sector is expected to grow more than 26 percent per year until 2021.[2]
Schools and universities alike have migrated their IT functions to the cloud, which offers the potential for significant cost savings in addition to enhancing collaboration and making distance learning programs possible.
Increasing Communication and Collaboration
As funny as it may sound, some of today’s students have never used a thumb drive. While there are still some instances where this small storage device can be useful, most often students store their assignments in the cloud, which grants them easy access to their work from any device connected to the internet.
Solutions like Google Docs are an example of the power that cloud applications bring to modern education, by providing free access to all the requisite classroom tools, such as word processors, spreadsheets, presentation slide software and more. Students can use Google Docs to collaborate with peers, teachers can provide edits to their students’ work and stored files can be accessed across computers, tablets and smartphones.
Furthermore, companies such as Blackboard provide university-wide intranet systems that allow students to upload their assignments and communicate with their professors outside of the classroom. Similar cloud platforms are being adopted by K-12 educators to enhance communication with students and their parents about assignments, tests and projects. These platforms also streamline the grading process for educators and make grade management more time efficient.
Supporting Distance Learning Programs
The cloud makes distance learning programs possible.
At the K-12 level, educators are using cloud-based applications for their students to collaborate with peers across the country and around the globe. Meanwhile, high school students are taking advantage of distance learning programs to enroll in dual enrollment programs and get a head start on undergraduate course work remotely. The educators themselves are also taking advantage of online programs for continuing education to further enhance their skillsets.
Cloud-based distance learning programs are giving college students the ability to work on their degree from a coffee shop or around the globe. The cloud has also paved the way for a multitude of colleges and universities that only have a virtual presence without any ties to brick and mortar facilities.
Reducing Costs and Improving Education Tools
Cloud applications have proven to be a very cost-effective alternative to onsite IT infrastructure, allowing schools to have 24/7 access to the latest software and online education tools without expensive upfront costs or the time and staff resources to manually upgrade multiple desktops and laptops. Gone also are the days of investing in high cost textbooks and learning tools, which now live on the cloud and feature the most up-to-date information for students.
“Cloud computing reduces the overall cost of ownership and improves staff productivity,” states Jhansi Mary, Lead Analyst at Technavio. “The use of cloud-based resources in education helps all the stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers and faculties by providing access to several learning avenues and possibilities for students, in turn enhancing the learning experience.”[3]
A Humanized Approach to Cloud Service
365 Data Centers’ cloud is built on industry-leading server, storage, compute and software resources for maximum performance, redundancy and resiliency.
Our solution architects and experienced engineers collaborate with you to configure the right cloud solution. We will work with your unique requirements and design a solution to meet your educational institution’s needs.
Click here or contact our team at 866-365-6246 to get more information about our cloud solutions for education institutions.
[1] EdWeek Market Brief – Cloud Computing Market Poised to Grow in Education Sector, Report Finds
[2] Cloud Computing Market in Education Sector – Top Drivers and Forecasts by Technavio
[3] Cloud Computing Market in Education Sector – Top Drivers and Forecasts by Technavio
