Benefits of Cloud Computing in Educational Institutions

Based on the previous post we know what Cloud Computing is and how it can be used to increase business productivity. In the business industry, Cloud Computing has numerous applications and benefits, it allows you to set up what is practically a virtual office, it gives you flexibility and allows you to connect to your business anywhere and at any time. Cloud Computing isn’t just restricted to IT and business organisations, cloud computing can be applied in industry’s like medicine, education, agriculture etc. Today’s post is going to focus on how cloud computing can benefit the educational sector, cloud computing has so much to offer in the educational sector. Cloud computing is helping to advance the way we do things and I don’t think the educational sector should be left behind.

The cloud keeps your content up-to-(today’s)-date
A lot of the information in the materials and textbooks used in schools are old, some of them contain information that’s 10 years old and older. The pace at which the world moves and advances is fast, information is constantly being updated, this makes the information in these materials outdated and sometimes even incorrect. Cloud-based materials allow the teacher to easily update their content in real time. With cloud-based materials, students would always have access to the most current learning resources.

Cost savings
Cloud computing is a great way for schools to cut cost, especially for government schools or schools being run on tight budgets. Cloud computing can help reduce cost on items like textbooks, textbooks are very expensive and some students can’t afford to buy them but with cloud-based textbooks, this problem is solved. Digital content is significantly less expensive than printed content, this levels the playing field so that lower-income students can have the same access to quality learning. Cloud computing reduces cost on other items like photocopiers, ink cartridges and paper. Cloud computing also reduces infrastructure and maintenance costs, with cloud computing lessons can be accessed anywhere and at any time. As such, teaching doesn’t have to be delivered face-to-face, it doesn’t even have to be in real time. Lessons can be delivered remotely in the form of webinars, webcasts or audibly via podcasts.