Cloud Hosting

There was a time when, to use files (word processing files, spreadsheets, etc.) on different computers, you needed to save your files on a thumb drive or CD-ROM disk. The drive or disk then traveled around with you so that you could load your information onto other computers while holding your breath until the document or PowerPoint slide was actually retrieved! Not any longer. The safety, stability, and ease-of-use of cloud computing in education is resulting in widespread adoption in educational institutions of all sizes and types.

Why Store in the Cloud?

Are there really any true advantages in education for storing information off-site on a server that could be located anywhere? The answer is yes! A recent conversation about cloud computing with several colleagues in the education field, including a high school chemistry teacher, revealed significant advantages:

Going Paperless

In the early 1980s, F.W. Lancaster predicted a paperless society. We are not quite there yet and many not be for many years to come. There are some instances where paper is still the preferred format for education. Even though we have e-books, people still prefer to hold an actual paper book in their hand. There are situations, however, that going digital makes sense. Classroom and school administrative management is a perfect example. If your school has information technology infrastructure (wired and/or wireless), it is easy to implement cloud computing. And, the advantages of cloud computing far outweigh any disadvantages. From the administrative perspective:

The Big Leap

Going from paper to digital requires a big leap of faith. We want to hold onto that paper item because we can feel, see, and touch it something not available with a digital object. However, think of it this way. Lets say you store your documents in the cloud and back it up in paper format. Along comes a major hurricane and wipes out the paper, yet the digital items are safe and sound and easily accessible because they are stored in a secure environment. No need to worry about having to try and replicate all those paper documents a task that would literally be impossible to accomplish.

I share these insights with you not to promulgate a 100% digital environment. Like thousands of others, I still enjoy reading hard and soft cover books. During another part of my career I was able to let go of that venerable library card catalog but not until the technology proved to be stable and reliable. We are at the time, now, where cloud computing is stable and reliable providing us with opportunities to implement new ways of collaboration and learning while letting go of our educational paper archives.

Originally posted here:
The Benefits of Cloud Computing in Education are Huge ...