In the last few years the term ‘cloud computing’ has become
synonymous with new software releases and internet-based applications. Yet
whether you’re an EdTech enthusiast or a teaching professional who is indifferent
to the use of educational technologies, cloud computing will become an
increasingly important part of the way you store, access and manage your teaching
resources and data.
Whether you realise it or not, you’re probably already using
the cloud. Web-based email services are a prime example with your emails,
documents, and contacts all being stored using the cloud.
To define simply, cloud computing is the use of external
servers hosted on the internet to store, manage and process data rather than a
local server or personal computer.
When you think of the cloud, think of the internet. Cloud
computing is internet-based computing where users can share resources, software
and information, on demand and at any time.
In the case of email, the cloud is used to store your emails
on the mailbox provider’s servers rather than using your computer’s hard drive.
It is this attribute that removes restrictions − enabling you to access your
email data on any computer that has an internet connection.
Accessibility is at the core of cloud computing’s appeal.
Storing data in this way will see an end to the hassle of emailing documents to
yourself, using flash drives and ultimately our reliance on hard drives to back-up
information. However, the one assumption of cloud computing is that you have access
to an internet connection. The UK’s network speed is poor in comparison to
other developed nations but, as we become an increasingly wireless nation,
users will gain enhanced access to their data direct from their handheld
devices – whether they’re in a coffee shop, shopping mall or library, access
will be available on the go and at any time.
Computing is not only improving our physical access to data
but also our financial access, too, and as tech giants continue to compete
aggressively, prices are likely to fall in the coming year (unless you’re Apple
who seem to have the ability to buck most economic trends – read ‘TechTrends in 2013 – Tablets in Education SPECIAL’
blog article).
Using the cloud means low-cost; schools no longer have the
heavy expense of dealing first-hand with their data storage and can instead
devote their limited resources to purchasing effective digital eLearning
resources.
For students, cloud computing supports real-time
collaboration, wherever you are in the world. Skype, Twitter and Wikispaces are
just a few of the tools students use to learn, share and reinforce their
learning. And with soaring university costs, cloud-based distance learning
programmes are set to become an ever-increasingly popular alternative.
LearnersCloud is a cloud-based e-learning resource that
provides students and teachers with smooth streaming tutor-led revision resources, accessible through their computer, tablet or smartphone
device. Combining the benefits of accessibility of the cloud with HD-rich
tutorials, our resources mean students fit study around their lifestyles.
