The release of Horizon Report: 2009 K-12 Edition determined that cloud computing will impact teaching and learning in the next 2-3 years. So, what is cloud computing? Depending on the source, it has the potential for providing schools with greater access to " ... specialized data centers that host thousands of servers" (Horizon Report, 2009, p. 19) with large storage space for little to no cost. In addition, cloud computing allows the user to store and access data and/or personal web pages from anywhere. "Cloud-computing based services include Google Apps, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Docs, Amazon, and Microsoft Windows Live" (Smart Schools, 2009) to name a few. For the purpose of its impact on education, cloud computing allows students, teachers, and schools to work, learn, communicate, and collaborate via the named networks (Smart Schools, 2009).
The most crucial problem identified by Horizon for cloud-based computing is that because the service is provided in real time by numerous companies and not through the convenience of software packages (Horizon, 2009). As a result, if the company's server is not working on a given day then access to stored materials is not available. In addition, if the company goes out of business then stored materials will be lost or irretrievable. However, just like there are challenges to using the cloud-based computing,this technology has the potential for providing an excellent venue for supporting learning in a K-12 environment. Smart Schools Program (2009) noted cloud-based computing for schools, teachers, and students can: 1) Serve as a personal workspace, 2) A convenient tool for teaching and learning, 3) Provide a Personal Learning Environment instead of a more controlled Virtual Learning Environments, 4) Minimize the need to back up all files or transfer files from one device to another, 5) Act a repository for information to be accessed anywhere, anytime, and 6) Open up the potential for social interactivity and collaboration (p.1).
For school systems, cloud-based computing will not only lower the cost of purchasing proprietary productive tools, but schools can "... take advantage of ready-made applications hosted on a dynamic, ever-expanding cloud that enable end users to perform tasks that have traditionally required site licensing, installation, and maintenance of individual software packages" (Horizon Report, 2009). In addition, cloud computing allows the user to share content through collaboration, and to distribute the finish work (Horizon Report). Additional benefits include providing "...virtual computers to students and staff ..." without having to go out and buy the latest laptop or desktop computer (Horizon Report, p. 20).
In looking at the challenges of cloud-based computing, an alternative method for storing data has to be considered in the event a company decides to close its doors for good, if schools are to trust this emerging technology for the use of teaching and learning. Given the real-time nature of cloud computing, safe guards should be developed for monitoring misuse by students and eliminating inappropriate materials, as well as the student from being able to use the sites.
Reference
The Horizon Report: 2009 K-12 Edition. (2009). Report of the Horizon Report: 2009 K-12 Edition on Cloud Computing. The New Media Consortium. Retrieved from http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2009Horizon-Report-K12.pdf
Smart Schools Programs. (2009). How to use cloud computing in schools. Retrieved from http://smart.com.ph/SmartSchools/SmartTools/CloudComputingInSchools.htm
