Recent investigations in online education reveal an encouraging trend about how cloud computing is positively influencing e-learning strategies by necessitating efficiency and expanding the reach of cloud-based education to students that are barred by distance and busy working schedules.
Cloud computing is employed in e-learning in the following ways:
- Software as a Service (SaaS)—whereby educational software in the form of useful applications are hosted in the cloud. These applications include but are not restricted to word processing software, mathematical analysis and visualization tools, and/or more advanced ones like cyber-physical simulations. These kinds of software could be proprietarily owned by educational institutions or by open source communities for easier and better access by the students utilizing their e-learning platforms.
- Storage as a Service (STaaS)—in this case, all the data generated in the course of learning could be successfully stored in the cloud as either structured data (database) or non-structured data (files and binary large objects). Hence, students as well as their teachers would be able to easily access their stored data by accessing STaaS through their portals (computers, laptops, Smartphone etc). There is no limitation to the amount of data that could be stored through this procedure.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)—Cloud service providers in this regard are expected to provide networking, IT, computing and storage services to those involved in e-learning for the purpose of creating conducive environment for academic collaboration, interaction and management.
The three kinds of cloud computing services highlighted above are meant to guarantee efficiency in all areas of e-learning operations. Hence, each institution that operates e-learning program adopts cloud computing to achieve their goals and purposes which include but are not limited to:
- Providing distance students with efficient virtual classroom tools like video, audio and virtual meeting tools. A syndicated studio infrastructure that includes a PowerPoint presentation software, demo lessons, interactive drawing tools and recorded lesson material can all be successfully stored in a cloud where both students and their instructors can easily access them.
- Cloud-based e-learning also makes virtual interaction between students and their instructors or fellow students easier by providing readily accessible web communication tools, Skype, video and audio content, video conferencing, email, blogs, and documentation review tools that are stored in the cloud. And cloud computing guarantees unlimited access to these learning tools.
- Efficient e-learning management is possible with the adoption of cloud computing, in the sense that course management tools like online surveys, quizzes and exams, assignments, rubrics (learning expectations and goals), course feedback, news, calendars, submission procedures can all be easily accessed through the cloud on learners’ portals (be it their computers, laptops, Smartphones etc).
- Cloud computing also facilitates courseware and information management in an e-learning environment. These courseware include web pages designed to reveal course syllabus, instruction videos, course examples, required reading, sample academic papers, textbook-extended resources, data sheet, application notes, and other online documents that are designed to enhance the quality of e-learning. Some of the courseware used in e-learning can be accessed from open source cloud like Google Docs, Google Books, and code cloud-based tools.
It is evident from the explanation given above that cloud computing offers increasing possibilities for institutions of learning to develop their e-learning programs in a way that efficiency will be guaranteed. The advantages of using a public cloud service are:
- That the process of learning can remain undisturbed no matter the amount of data that are processed from one end of the spectrum to another;
- That unlimited storage capacity can facilitate quick access to vital lesson materials in real-time, unlike traditional hosting that may restrict the frequency of access to vital courseware and other educational or instructional materials that students would need any time anywhere to fulfill their educational obligations.
Be Part of Our Cloud Conversation
Our articles are written to provide you with tools and information to meet your IT and cloud solution needs. Join us on
Facebook and
Twitter.
About the Guest Author:
Jerry Olasakinju, a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree holder, is a passionate researcher and writer whose interest in everything computing is unparalleled. He blogs about his literary works at
http://jerryolasakinju.blogspot.jp/