Education is the most important primary functions of growth for mankind. However, most schools still function in the old fashioned way that they used to function a decade back. Only a few educational institutions are there that are using advanced technologies to disseminate education to all walks of life. In fact, education is one of the very few sectors where technical innovations have just started and there’s a long way to go forward. One such advanced technical aspect is surely the concept of cloud storage and computing. One of the greatest benefits of cloud technology is that they have the potential of becoming a part of our daily lives as they provide the facilities starting from cloud storage to creating interactive curricula for students (right from schools to colleges, universities, and even professional tutorials).

In this article we would explore different functions of cloud computing in education industry –

#1 Student Collaboration
There has always been emphasis on projects in schools as they help students learn on a more interactive and practical basis. This is where clouds have made inroads, facilitating progress of learning in a more practical and cohesive manner. In fact, usage of cloud computing and cloud storage (such as Google Drive, Limnu, Ziteboard, and many others) have led to collaborative team works on a real time basis in virtual environment. No matter where a student is located, he/she can access the collaborative cloud storage platform from his/her own device (be it a PC, Mac, or handheld devices such as tablets and smartphones) and complete a project in a collaborative manner.   
 
In fact, there is increasing number of experiments on “cloud classrooms” where students residing in different geographic locations communicate, collaborate, and learn through use of web platforms, accessed through their own devices. The process of communication is made a reality through use of integrated video and webcam facilities. All these aspects lead to immersive learning experience for students located in different geographical locations.

#2 Storage as well as Backup of Documents
Clouds offer extreme versatility when it comes to storage and backing up of documents. Teachers don’t need to maintain repository of physical storages for keeping home works or documents of their students. Everything can be kept in the cloud storage facilities. What the students need to do is upload the homework assignments in the cloud server and the teachers can correct them and keep them in virtual folders in the cloud itself. This has helped teachers manage, and store home works in a more meaningful and efficient manner, thereby getting rid of keeping track of hundreds of documents, assignments, and papers.

In fact, thousands of documents can be carried in a tablet inside a small bag instead of loads of paper documents in vans from one place to another. Just think of a researcher going for a presentation. It can be seen that the extent of paper documents to be carried along with the researchers have come down drastically. This has taken place because of the fact that they don’t need to carry physical books anymore. They can do the same by carrying e-books on personal tablets.

There are many online back-up tools that come with military-grade encryption, providing extra layer of security to the ground-breaking research works.

#3 Content strategies are changing
More options are emerging when it comes to learning, not only for college or senior students but also school students. An example will make it simpler. Let us suppose that a student has completed his/her studies in high school. After that the same person can get GED through cloud platform. This frees the student from moving places and attends classes physically. In fact, the same trend of distant learning or online learning can be facilitated through online education. A professional, facing time shortage can learn job skills through cloud platform and don’t have to be present in a class room physically during his working hours. Virtual classrooms are becoming more and more popular with every passing day, either potentiating or in some cases replicating physical attendance in classes.

These are some of the most popular ways through which cloud computing is bringing paradigm shift in the traditional education system and processes.