Schools are preparing their students for the future by leveraging the power of the cloud.
Gone are the encyclopedias and reams of paper, for the cloud has arrived. As the cloud grows, so does the number of applications for educational institutions, and if you are not familiar with the latest innovations, you are in for a whirlwind of surprises. Cloud-based technology tools are being used to promote learning, as well as prepare students for the future.
A recent 2017 Higher Education Edition of the Horizon Report from the New Media Consortium provides some interesting insight into the massive influence that technology will continue to have over the next few years. This report highlights the array of ways cloud technology can benefit students, faculty, and staff.
Trends boosting technology adoption in schools
Below we’ll highlight a few of the trends as noted in the New Media Consortium report and also include a few additional trends shaping education:
- Increased collaboration – Cloud-based technology offers a host of ways to boost collaboration and connect students with their educators—allowing them to contribute not only in the classroom, but remotely as well. In addition, student data can be shared between administrators and advisors to efficiently track their performance.
- Data is always backed up – Another benefit revolves around data backup. When students and educators use the cloud, they never have to worry about whether their data is retrievable. Most cloud providers go to great lengths to ensure data is always secure and available.
- More interactive learning spaces – Educational institutions are leveraging technology to provide better learning spaces that offer improved flexibility, mobility, and device independence. In an effort to prepare students for the future, schools are beginning to use cloud-based tools—similar to those in the workplace—that are accessible across all types of mobile devices, including tablets, smartphones, and computers.
- Using data to better measure performance – As educational institutions begin to prepare students for an ever-changing workplace, it’s critical that certain skills are taught and mastered. Today’s online education software offers opportunities for data mining and learning management systems for tracking student performance through analytics software. This is somewhat replacing an antiquated grading system with tools that offer insight into the best methods for individual student success.
- Connecting the real world with coursework – To ensure students stay motivated, it’s important to use technology to show how course work is relevant to the real world. Technology offers numerous ways to simulate real-world examples that display how and why students need a wide variety of skills to succeed after graduation.
Cloud computing is here to stay in the educational sector
An eCampusNews white paper cited that 79% of those surveyed are using some type of Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud-based tool, proving schools around the country believe in the power of moving to the cloud. If your organization is interested in leveraging the power of the cloud, reach out to the CloudHesive team today at 800-860-2040 or through our online contact form.
