5 Ways Cloud Computing Is Transforming IT Services For Education

The benefits of cloud computing for the public sector are well documented in terms of increased efficiency and decreased costs. From providing distance learning to adults to keeping primary school learning materials up-to-date, there’s no denying the benefits of cloud computing for the public sector.

The Challenges Providing IT Services for Education

One of the biggest challenges faced by education facilities when investing in IT services for education is cost, followed by flexibility. The cloud solves both of these problems by offering a cost-effective and customisable experience, allowing each institution to only take on as much as they need. Here are just some of the ways cloud computing is transforming IT services for education for all ages.

Cutting Costs For Textbooks

Textbooks are often one of the biggest expenses for university students, and frequent updates mean that second-hand books aren’t always an option for thrifty-minded students. Cloud-based textbooks solve this problem by offering a cheaper alternative to the doorstop tomes freshers are expected to buy every year. Students can purchase the ebook version of the textbook for a fraction of the cost, or universities can purchase a license for core texts and make them available to all students via a centralised cloud account. Secondary and high school teachers no longer need to worry about children ripping pages or drawing in their textbooks, meaning they don’t have to budget to replace dog-eared texts every few years.

Providing Custom Experiences

One of the problems with many IT services for education is that institutions will use 10% of the functionality while paying for 100% of the product. With cloud-based services, schools can take a pick n mix approach to their software and subscriptions. This allows for greater flexibility and money saving opportunities. Different teachers might have different needs and preferences, which means each one can customise their IT provisions to their unique teaching style.

Eliminating Out-Of-Date Content

When resources are digitised, updates are often included as standard, which means no more trying to teach something from an outdated textbook. This can be critical when it comes to curriculum updates, as students won’t be left catching up before exams, or learning from hastily photocopied sheets from the sample textbook.

Increased Collaboration

We’ve all seen the images on Facebook: a teacher holds a sign asking people to share the picture and comment with their location in order to teach their class just how far an image can spread in a short space of time. While greater connectivity can be a bad thing for safety, there are also countless benefits for cloud collaboration. Students in different classrooms can have access to the exact same materials and work on projects together, without the need for costly infrastructure. A budget £100 tablet can access the same materials as a deluxe £1000 laptop. Collaborative learning can happen between countries or with the classroom across the hall.

Levelling the Playing Field

For students from poorer backgrounds, accessing quality learning resources can be a struggle. The cloud effectively levels the playing field by making learning accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Socio-economic factors are eliminated from the classroom and teachers can focus on teaching, while students can focus on learning. Cloud technology