Within the past year the topic of cloud computing has grown into one of the newest and biggest topics in the information technology world. This new innovative money saving system is changing the way students, teachers, and administrators, businesses, and individuals access the applications they use every day.  Schools in Wisconsin and across the country are shifting towards using “the cloud” to access applications such as word processors, image editing software, and even applications that allow them to better connect with their students. Cloud Computing is the solution to many of the challenges universities and school districts face within their information technology departments; saving money, providing more accessible applications, and creating IT systems that require a fraction of the maintenance headaches, Cloud Computing is quickly, and sensibly, growing into one of the most innovative and best IT innovations to hit the market.

What is Cloud Computing?

The “cloud” refers to a myriad of servers and computers around the world that users are able to access via the internet. Instead of a user having to install and applications such as word processing software, photo editing programs, social networking, and media creation, users can simply connect to the internet, sign into “the cloud,” and run the applications he or she needs right off the server or computer he or she just connected to.

Individuals may not realize it, but most people access the cloud on a daily basis. Applications such as Google Docs, Flikr, Facebook, Gmail, and D2L (Desire 2 Learn) are just a few of the many cloud based applications commonly available to users. Applications such as Gmail, an email service from Google, allow users to access, use, and store data on a server rather than on their own computer.  Options like this make it easier for individuals and groups of people to access and store large amounts of data in a manner optimal for education environments.

Cloud Computing is already occurring in education:

Students, teachers, administrators, IT technicians, and school districts as a whole across the country and even here in Wisconsin are using cloud based applications for productivity measurement, scheduling, curriculum development, collaboration, grade tracking, homework tracking, word processing, turning in homework, and even communicating on a daily basis. The Minnesota Online High School, which serves over 300 remote students, recently implemented cloud computing using a suite of applications including a learning management system and applications for coursework, homework, school services, and personal files. The University of Wisconsin system has been using cloud based solutions to provide various applications to its students on a cheap and convenient basis. Students are able to access expensive and computationally taxing software easily in the classroom or even in their homes.

One of the most commonly used cloud based applications used between students and educators are implementations of cloud based applications like the University of Wisconsin system’s Learn@ system. Applications such as these allow both students and educators to post material such as homework, coursework, lecture notes, and even grades. Instead of having to print large amounts of paper and individual deliver them to students, educators are able to simply post the necessary material on “the cloud” where students can easily sign in and access the material. Methods such as these not only save money, but also save a large amount of time for educators and administrators.

Industry Teaming Up:

Administrators and educators are not the only ones seeing the promise of cloud computing in applications in education. In the later part of 2009, IBM launched the IBM Cloud Academy, a group of schools, universities, and other learning organizations dedicated to discovering and promoting ways to use the cloud in education. The proposed goals of the Cloud Academy include finding new ways which students can access resources by using the cloud. IBM is also performing research on cloud accessibility, by using not only desktop computers and laptops but with mobile devices (such as cellular phones). Finding new channels through which the cloud can be accessed will allow educators to use existing equipment and resources for students to access new and innovative technology. Steps like these will allow schools, whether at the K-12 level or the collegiate level, to expand their IT resources available to their administrators, educators, and students without the difficult task of upgrading and purchasing all new equipment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsDGQiCK5IY

The European Organization for Nuclear Research, better known as CERN, a ground breaking research center home to the search for the Higgs-Boson particle, also known as the “God Particle.” The research involves collecting massive amounts of data from particle collisions which is analyzed by over 10,000 scientists from around the world. Instead of having to keep 10,000 scientists in its location in Switzerland, CERN opted for a cloud based solution to allowing all 10,000 scientists to view and analyze the over 15 petabytes (15,000 terabytes or 1.5 million gigabytes) of data collected every year. Instead of researchers having to spend millions of dollars each on computer resources just to support their analysis of the data from CERN, scientists can simply log onto CERN’s cloud from their computer and continue their work with one of the most important research projects of mankind.

The Cloud

Even though cloud computing has only recently emerged, it has shown its strength in providing universities, K-12 schools, and even industry the capabilities of: easily accessible resources, inexpensive and easy IT resource expansion, a platform which large amounts of data can be easily stored and accessed, and a network which students, administrators, and students can better communicate and effectively educate/be educated. For more information on Cloud Computing and how it may be making its way (or maybe how it already has) into your school’s IT department or classrooms, please feel free to take a look at some of the following resources:

·         For a more in depth look at cloud computing take a look at “Cloud Computing Explained,” a very informative and in depth look at cloud computing and its applications.Cloud Computing Explained

www.cloudcamp.org
“CloudCamp is an unconference where early adopters of Cloud Computing technologies exchange ideas. With the rapid change occurring in the industry, we need a place we can meet to share our experiences, challenges and solutions. At CloudCamp, you are encouraged you to share your thoughts in several open discussions, as we strive for the advancement of Cloud Computing. End users, IT professionals and vendors are all encouraged to participate”

www.cloudbook.net
“With the emergence of cloud computing, the community of writers, suppliers and consumers need a magazine that both reflects what’s happening and allows contributors to tell us why.”

·“Cloud Computing in Education,” an article by Berkley examines cloud computing and how it can be used in the classroom: http://inews.berkeley.edu/articles/Spring2009/cloud-computing

·“Is Cloud Computing a Credible Solution for Education?” is another great article put together by campustechnology.com describing the viability of cloud computing in education. http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2009/11/12/Is-Cloud-Computing-a-Credible-Solution-for-Education.aspx?Page=1

Article written by Jarrod M. Feight