How Cloud Computing Has Influenced Education

Featured article by Calvin Paige, Independent Technology Author

The internet, and more recently cloud computing, has made a huge number of changes in the way many individuals today live their lives. Cloud computing has had a huge impact on both personal and business use of the internet, making it easier for individuals and groups to collaborate, safely store data and information, host websites, and much more without having to even think about a physical server or physical storage devices. Perhaps one of the biggest impacts had by cloud computing in the past few years is on education. We’ve put together some of the main ways in which cloud computing has influenced the way in which we learn.

Online Study

Perhaps one of the biggest innovations in the world of education brought about by cloud computing is online education. Today, the internet and the cloud have made it possible for students all around the world to collaborate and work on projects together or with their professors from the comfort of their own home, with only a laptop and an internet connection needed. Not only are students now able to access all of their course learning materials and resources online, they can also use cloud programs such as Dropbox or Google Drive to work on projects together with other students and quickly send completed work to faculty staff without even having to leave their seat!

Communication

Communicating with the right people is a huge part of getting a good education. However, unlike in times gone by where students would need to pick up the telephone or even pay a visit in order to speak to their professor and other support staff, today, it’s possible to work closely with your professor and complete your degree without ever actually meeting in person. Online courses such as this online FNP degree use all of the latest cloud technology to ensure that students do not suffer any disadvantages when it comes to studying online.

Cheaper Textbooks

The ability to download and save textbooks in the cloud before reading them has revolutionized learning for a number of students. When you are living on a tight budget trying to get your online family nurse practitioner degree, chances are that you’d like to try and save as much money as you can on textbooks and other resources. Thanks to cloud computing and the help of e-reading devices and apps, it’s now possible to download the cheapest versions of textbooks straight to your device.

No Hardware Needed

Today, there’s absolutely no hardware actually needed for students when starting college. Thanks to the cloud, both online and on-campus students can save money on items such as memory cards and external hard drives, as cloud storage means that all they’ll need to access their documents is an internet connection and their login details. This is hugely convenient for students who are able to start working where they left off on any connected computer.

Has cloud computing made studying easier or more exciting for you? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.