What are the Applications of Cloud Computing in Education Sector?

Cloud computing is a technology that relies on transferring computer data storage and processing power to the cloud and is a server device accessed via the Internet.

Cloud computing applications are extended to provide services in most areas. Now, cloud computing is used in education. There is an increasing demand for the cloud computing system in the education sector.

How cloud computing is useful in the education field?

What are the Applications of Cloud Computing in Education Sector?

What is Cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the use of software and hardware to deliver on-demand computing services from applications to computer data storage and processing power over a network (typically the Internet), without direct active management by the user.

In cloud computing, information technology programs shift from products to services.

Cloud computing ensures that a user gets a service that allows him to store all his data outside the domain of his personal device, i.e., he stores his files and data on cloud computing servers in the form of files he can access from anywhere, where there is an Internet connection.

Cloud computing technology contributes to removing the maintenance problems and helps develop information technology programs.

Cloud computing infrastructure depends on advanced data centers that provide large storage space for users.

With the development of Internet access technologies, many institutions and companies have made their applications available online using cloud computing.

Cloud computing applications are not limited to a specific field, but rather, are extended to provide services in most areas.

It provides beneficial flexibility, for individuals and groups, to both organizations, institutions and companies.

Cloud computing technology has widely benefited users by saving costs in various fields.

The applications of cloud computing technology have spread to a field Education. 

Cloud computing is now used in the teaching and learning process.

There is an increasing demand for the cloud computing system in the educational sectors.

Cloud-based e-learning is the best example of cloud computing applications in education.

Applications of Cloud Computing in Education Sector

Cloud computing applications will form the basis of future information technology (IT) infrastructure in the education sector to ensure the development of software and hardware environments.

Cloud computing technologies allow institutions of higher education or universities to effectively upgrade communication and learning systems without large-scale capital investments in infrastructure.

Some institutions use high computing power associated with cloud computing for research purposes.

There are many cloud computing applications in the education sector, including:

- Google Documents, a service provided by Google, to all its subscribers who have an account, and allows the subscriber to write his documents for one program.

- Spread Sheets.

- PowerPoint Presentations.

- Forms editor.

- Microsoft's Sky Drive service, which provides users with free storage space for files up to 25GB.

- Pat, the Amazon app, allows the user to develop and complete his work, no matter how large its size at the lowest possible cost.

These and other cloud-based applications bring benefits to students, teachers, and all employees in the educational field and represent a qualitative leap for traditional e-learning to faster, broader and easier access to cloud computing.

There are several programs based on cloud computing technologies that can be employed in the educational field such as:

- Google Slides

- Apple Pages

- Apple Keynote

- Microsoft Word

- Microsoft Powerpoint

- Microsoft OneDrive

- Dropbox

- Google drive

- Google Docs

- Capture to cloud

- Apple iCloud

- Amazon Cloud Drive

- Memopal

- SugarSync

- Cloud printer

- Zip cloud

Key Benefits of Cloud Computing Technology in Education

The key feature of cloud computing is that any user can create, edit, and save files in the cloud according to their needs and is, therefore, a kind of self-service like Google Docs.

The advantage of accessing applications anywhere and at any time is one of the most important features as the feature (availability) facilitates access to data and information without limitation of spatial and temporal limits.

The most distinguishing feature of e-learning is the flexibility it offers for education, transcending geographical boundaries and time constraints to provide education to anyone who wants it anytime, anywhere. 

The most influential lectures or tutorials are those that rely on group and peer learning.

Cloud-based E-learning allows classmates in one classroom, in different places or even separate countries to work on one file interactively and simultaneously. 

On the other hand, the information that can be obtained through cloud computing about students in the e-learning system can significantly reveal their educational preferences and study preferences, thus promoting a unique e-learning ecosystem for each user. 

Thus, cloud computing in e-learning will enable students and users of the system in general to access their educational materials and business files. 

There is no need to worry about maintenance, renewable updates, bug fixes or errors. These are the responsibility of the cloud service provider. 

Thus, the use of cloud computing in e-learning will increase the ease of communication between students and get feedback quickly between students and teachers because of the ease of sending assignments and school projects and to accomplish and correct them interactively.

Cloud computing in e-learning is the ideal solution and opportunity that providers can take advantage of to expand their services to reach a global educational world without the need for any additional resources, especially in light of the huge growth in the volume of data and information.

What is the Future of Cloud Computing in Education?

It is estimated that cloud-based educational settings worldwide will increase by more than 25% per year by 2021.

A large number of students will participate in classes online or by watching recorded video lectures and applying various other modern learning techniques.

One of the benefits of cloud computing in the education sector is a significant reduction in the time you spend on dealing with hardware, computing resources correctly, and fitting life, work, and school together.

All this will be possible using more advanced cloud computing technologies in the education sector.

Conclusion:

The Cloud Computing System, like other technologies, contains both pros and cons, but in the field of education, it will be an essential source for e-learning, especially mobile learning, distance learning, and web-based collaborative learning.

Perhaps the major challenge that should be overcome is the comprehensive coverage of the fast internet access service.