Today’s Forecast: Cloud Computing In Education
It’s hard to tell whether cloud computing is “the next big thing” or just another buzz word, but, according to a recent survey of 5,300 organizations in 38 countries, change is already taking place: “the promises of reduced cost, improved performance and greater scalability” are driving interest in “moving to cloud.”
But what does cloud computing mean to those of us who care about education, teaching and learning?
When an organization “goes cloud” it means that the organization no longer deals directly with many of its computing/IT needs – e.g., software, updates, storage etc. The key to understanding this model and its broader implications is to appreciate the transition it represents: from viewing computing as a product to viewing it as a service. Much like public utilities, IT resources are delivered to users through the internet, just like electricity is