In the past few months, the education industry has come a long way. Ever since COVID-19 stepped in, education was no longer confined to textbooks and classrooms. It has now gone far beyond these mediums to smartphones and other digital devices. Education has become as much reliant on technology as it never was in the past. Nobody could imagine education to progress through such mobile devices, especially not in the underdeveloped states.
Online learning facilities have been prevalent since quite some time and have proven extremely beneficial in the current crisis. It would not be true to say that this year has been a tough challenge for the education and teaching sector, but luckily cloud computing was a lifesaver. We now see learners being able to communicate better than ever, teachers being able to share and communicate knowledge across various channels freely. Instead of preparing for the lectures, it has become relatively more comfortable to play videos and get hold of a bundle of information.
No matter wherever the learners reside, they always remain connected to each other. The main reason behind this increased connectivity lies in the growing power of technology. To realize the impact better, think of a few years back. Could you even imagine studying a course conducting miles away from your location? Well, now the restriction has been removed with the advent of cloud computing technology.
What Is Cloud Computing?
If you are new to the concept, let me tell you cloud computing is a collection of computing resources that can be shared anywhere. If you can send a message, share e-books, and send emails, then you must know that you are using cloud computing in the background.
Due to the ease brought up by cloud computing, it has become possible to unify teachers and students on one single platform. Instead of feeling compelled to organize their data, many high schools are becoming reliant on cloud computing for its long lists of benefits. Do you want to know how? Let’s have a look at the positive impact of cloud computing in the education sector.
⇒ Innovative Role Of Cloud Computing On Education
The continually increasing and positive impact of cloud computing is as follows:
1. Easy Accessibility:
With the use of cloud computing, the hassle of content managementhas been significantly minimized. This computing method has increased the accessibility to broader extents. Students and teachers, living miles away, can still have equal access to shared information. Moreover, students can now share notes and their completed home assignments at the mere expense of a single click.
Since this year has been testing for the educational domain, cloud computing didn’t fail to make its mark. The significant role doesn’t remain limited to data sharing alone, but for people who were unable to grasp a concept in classrooms, now can have recurrent views of a single lecture for a better understanding.
Let’s talk about the advantage of teaching. Teachers benefit equally from the new technology in hand, instead of spending hours preparing lectures and notes, sharing e-books, and finding relevant online sources have cut short the input and time and energy. Moreover, there are many applications and websites available to assist professors in accessing a course to improve their qualification alongside their teaching career.
2. Experience Of The Virtual Classroom:
The primary advantage of virtual classrooms is the reduced expenditure in managing the infrastructural cost. This experience can even reduce the increasing cost of hiring teachers for on-campus training. A better way to utilize the expertise of virtual classrooms comes with the use of cloud computing. The process helps hire skilled trainers from all over the world for a better and improved transfer of knowledge from one place to another. Similarly, teachers can transfer their recorded lectures and relevant internet sources. Moreover, the persistent trend of virtual examination reduces the expenses and time for both students and teachers.
3. No Requirement Of External Hardware:
When we talk about cloud computing, the use of external hardware minimizes to a great extent. Do you want to know how? Let’s take into consideration the use of google drive. The immense storage capacity reduced the urge to have external hardware storage devices. Such applications are easy to surf through desktop and mobile devices.
Since cloud computing has come to rescue us, there is no need to invest bucks of money for different devices. Moreover, attaching these external hardware devices to multiple desktops develops a risk of malware entering your mobile devices. To protect the mobile phone, cloud computing must be among your preferable choices.
4. Access To Collaborative Learning:
Cloud computing has facilitated the concept of collaborative learning, as well. Ever since the introduction of cloud computing in the field of education, distance bound restrictions don’t interfere with the process of learning. Group projects, which are one of the critical factors in facilitating group coordination and problem-solving, are now being carried by cloud computing.
Students who were not happy with the traditional educational setup can now work independently and share it with the rest of the group members via cloud computing for additional discussion.
5. New Mediums Of Learning:
How do you think the current pattern of education differs from the past? Well for us, the era of learning via textbooks and handouts is now gone. When every learner and teacher has easy access to almost everything and every ebook through online sources, there remains no need to carry the burden of books along.
Cloud computing has eliminated the complex system of file management. Instead, all records and databases can remain secured by a straightforward method. With the use of cloud infrastructure, the information has become even easier to access. Do you know what else? The time-based restrictions, limiting the aspect of sharing educational stuff with the students is no longer a matter of concern. With the use of modern mobile technology at hand, it has become relatively more comfortable to share information and ask for help almost any time of the day.
6. Extendibility:
When we talk about the extent of this technology’s usability, it leaves us wondering about it. Along with being easily accessible, usage extends out from school till college and even higher education. By covering an extensive range of areas, cloud computing efficiently handles students’ increasing rush and increases traffic on the platforms.
7. Assists In Saving Extra Cost:
When it comes to exceptional saving, cloud computing stands as a prominent name ahead. While many other technologies demand high scale maintenance, multiplying the cost required for keeping them in usage, cloud computing cut short the expenses.
Both students and teachers enjoy excessive ease through its usage. Students no longer feel the need to buy expensive books, nor are they compelled to spend on their daily travel and other relating necessities. Similarly, teachers do not need to arrange for any white/ blackboard. With online whiteboard service and several teaching platforms, lectures have become more straightforward and cost-effective. Until we have these valuable sources running around, cloud computing will reduce the demand for expenditure for both learners and teachers.
8. Secure Performance:
Think of the time when keeping data stored on your desktop devices was a complete threat. Not knowing anything about when it would stop functioning and the moment the screen goes out simultaneously inflicts our mind that what if our real data would be lost?
Well, this isn’t the case anymore! Ever since the advent of cloud computing, data storage has become even secure. Let’s know-how. Cloud computing is not any form of external hardware that on damage may result in the loss of data. Instead, cloud computing is known for the safe and secure storage and transfer of data from one user to another. A VPN supported cloud computing function enables your data to be protected fully transferred from your desktop to another.
It is advised for both the sender and the receiver to have VPN installed. This may help your data to be safely transferred without any external malware and interferences.
To Wrap It Up!
The list of advantages of cloud computing for the education sector is immense to never come to an end. Since the spread of COVID-19 left all of us way too surprised and scared to think of anything other than personal health, the institutes were left with no other choice. Leaving the core process of learning at risk wasn’t an excellent choice to make hence, it doesn’t surprise us any more than almost all education institutions have adapted to the new concept. All of them are utilizing cloud computing in one form or another. Cloud computing has revolutionized the whole idea of learning and teaching by coming up with convenient, cost-effective, and revolutionized ways of gaining an education.
