Academics

Cloud Computing Enters School Arena; Challenges Pile Up

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Cloud computing is slowly penetrating the school arena. Students and teachers are using the power of the cloud to access, store, or share content. While that's generally good news, the bad news is challenges are starting to pile up.

This is an ongoing change not only in the school arena. Businesses have also taken into the cloud computing technology. But just like everything that makes use of the ongoing implementation or integration of the technology, it cannot be denied that it is incomplete, ARS Technica reported.

The schools are preparing the children for the next wave of technology. That means the cloud must also be prepared and be ready for that. Businesses have struggled to transition into the cloud and schools are facing the same challenge.

The worst is because schools cater to a variety of demographics their challenges with the cloud technology can be more complicated. The good news is many cloud companies these days are helping schools make a smooth transition. The CEO of Knowledge Matters, a company that delivers cloud services, said the cloud technology in school nowadays face lesser complications than before.

Peter Jordan said the cloud is already transforming the technology used inside the classroom. He said when they started Knowledge Matters they were shipping CD-ROMs to all the schools across USA. They encountered installation problems, troubleshooting problems, network configuration problems, and more.

The technology of cloud in education is very important and more and more education institutions have green lighted it. There are advantages that cloud technology brings: one, it helps meet academic requirement such as evaluation, administration, and learning. Two, it curbs the burden of the management staff by helping effectively manage administration processes, Digital Journal reported.

Moreover, cloud computing makes students more active and participative in classes. It's changing the way teachers teach and students learn. Instead of the teacher being the source of the information students have to learn, they become facilitators and students respond positively that way.

The cloud technology also offers teachers plenty of resources they can incorporate in their course work. But the problem is accessing content also becomes a problem in itself. The lack of platform where students and teachers can start their digital journey together is also a problem as Google Classroom is the only central classroom administrative tool available right now and it's not enough.

These challenges however can by surmounted. It will take three to five years before cloud computing can fit like a glove into the lives of the students and the teachers.

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