When cloud computing was first introduced to the masses, companies rejoiced, consumers became curious and industry leaders looked to how this technology could be harnessed to expand their industries. What wasn’t anticipated was how much the cloud would influence education.
Today, students are studying engineering online, prepping for the SAT via their laptops and having video tutoring sessions with teachers on the other side of the continent. Cloud computing has already changed how this generation of students studies, and it’s widely thought that future students will be further influenced as the cloud continues to take shape.
Expanding Online Learning
While students have been using computers to load encyclopedias via disc, and word processors to type up their research papers for years now, most source materials came from outside sources. In other words, computers and technology aided student learning, but it was nowhere near what is now capable of.
Online learning is at the forefront of education, with students completing their masters of engineering online and even earning their PHDs via home computers. With the cloud, online learning has expanded exponentially, enabling students to find all of their source materials in a convenient central location.
Making Education More Affordable
Cloud computing now makes it possible for educators to give their students access to proprietary information at the click of a button. Instead of ordering the latest books and scholarly articles via the mail, materials can be uploaded to the cloud and shared on a selective basis. Students are able to save money on external hard drives and USB sticks by saving their work via the cloud as well.
When schools are no longer required to spend a large part of their budgets on reference materials, they are more free to expand extracurricular activities, hire more educators and invest in students that have the most needs individually.
Connecting Students and Teachers Remotely
Teachers have been taking advantage of the interactive portion of cloud computing in an effort to work with students collaboratively. What would it be like if a student was able to submit their homework to the cloud and receive feedback nearly instantly? With the cloud, this is not only possible, it’s a much more regular occurrence.
Educators that have been adopting cloud computing at lower grade levels have reported improvement both in student effort and results. Time is a major factor in education, and cloud computing has made it much easier for teachers to provide timely feedback, notice problems quicker and employ solutions more effectively. Interestingly, this is also the case for higher education – proving that the cloud disrupts education at all levels.
Remotely storing documents is a great way to keep them safe in case a computer crashes or becomes compromised. Cloud computing has made it so that students are able to go back in their records and see how much they have progressed during the course of their educational careers.
Takeaway
Although remote learning and cloud computing cannot replace the classroom experience, it can enhance the tools that educators use to help their students advance and feel empowered while learning. Cloud computing will continue to change the way that students tackle the learning experience, aiding them in every way as they work to reach their goals.
