Download pdf - Cloud Computing Education 21st Century e Learning Study

8/13/2019 Cloud Computing Education 21st Century e Learning Study

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Schools, IT, and Cloud ComputingThe Agility for 21st Century eLearningI tr ductiCloud computing is one of the most talked about solutions on the education scene. School IT managers and educators know rsthandthat technology changesand the potential they create for young learnershave been constant and swift. Each new offering bringsopportunities for pedagogy and challenges for deployment. Here you will nd a brief overview of cloud computing and some things toconsider when deciding if it is right for your school.

What Is Cl ud C m uti g?The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) de nes cloud computingas follows: Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand networkaccess to a shared pool of con gurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers,storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released withminimal management effort or service provider interaction.

There are two basic types of cloud infrastructures: internal and external. In an internalcloud, servers, software resources, and IT expertise are used inside the school systemto build a scalable infrastructure that meets cloud computing requirements. In anexternal cloud, service providers sell on-demand, shared services to a school. IT support,

services, and expertise are included in the package; the school needs to run only theprovided applications and services.

What d es this mea r y ur sch l r district?

1. Teachi g a d lear i g lat rms : Servers can provide some or all softwareapplications, operating systems, and Internet access, rather than having theseinstalled and maintained on each platform separately. Servers deliver on demand,as needed by the school population, to the full spectrum of learning platforms anddevices. For example, a single application might be shared by hundreds of studentsand teachers on notebooks, tablets, and desktops.

2. Sch l IT : Cloud computing allows for cost- and energy-efficient centralization ofschool infrastructures. It takes advantage of server capabilities to adjust allocation

based on demandall invisible to teachers and students. Remote management andmaintenance can save time and increase security. For instance, an application oroperating system served by the cloud can be upgraded once at the server level, ratherthan on each individual platform. Platform access can be restricted or denied in theevent of a loss or theft.

3. Access : Along with the greater control for IT comes increased flexibility for teachers.They can select from the entire pool of available applications those which bestcomplement their curriculum and students at any given time. The wide range ofInternet-based software and tools can also be quickly and easily served by the cloud.

CASE STUDYI tel EducatiCloud Computing Brief


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T Six Reas s t G Cl ud1. Provides a flexible, scalable, cost-

effective model that does not tieschools to out-of-date infrastructure orapplication investments

2. Offers the flexibility to meet rapidlychanging software requirements fortodays and tomorrows teachers andstudents

3. Allows software standardization, a

shared pool of applications for useschool- or district-wide, and easiermaintenance through centralizedlicensing and updates

4. Enables rapid development anddeployment of complex solutionswithout the need for in-house expertise

5. Can eliminate the upfront financialburden of deploying new technologiesthrough a pay-as-you-go model

6. Supports multiple client platformsboth inside and outside the schoolinfrastructure

Key Questi s WheC sideri g Cl ud1. Have you (or your cloud vendor)

ensured that school data, content,and student intellectual property aresecured? State and federal regulations(such as FERPA) may dictate what canbe done internally and externally.

2. Do your infrastructure and networkhave the capability to support cloudsolutions now and in the future? Cloudsolutions can put an increased demandon networking requirements, and mayrequire assessment of both internal andexternal network connections.

3. If you choose a vendor for your cloudsolution, and you are not satisfied orwish to change, how easy or difficultwill this be? Cloud can mean a long-termcommitment with an external vendor,so you will want to thoroughly checkthe terms in advance.

4. Do you want an internal or externalcloud solution? Both models havetheir benefits. Internal offers fullcontrol of applications, data, andresources, but can also require a robusttechnology infrastructure (network,staff, expertise, etc.). External requiresadequate security, confidentiality, and asolid, trusted vendor relationship.

5. Is the cost model suited to your budgetand planning cycle? Cost models varyfrom up-front capital expenditure that

is depreciated over time, to an ongoing,pay-as-you-go model.

I tel Tech l gy:A Reliable Ch ice r Cl udTeaching and learning platforms based onIntel processors have the performance,reliability, and exibility to support anytype of cloud computing con guration.Intel vPro technology adds an advancedlevel of security and manageability idealfor cloud computing, and is availablein Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7processor-based platforms.

Grades K6 : Education purpose-builtlearning platforms provide an energy-efficient, durable platform and supportboth school and Internet applications.

Grades 78 : Intel Core i3 or Core i5processors power energy-efficient, full-sized, capable platforms for graphics,video, research, collaboration, andmultitasking across multiple schooland Internet applications.

Grades 9-12 : Intel Core i5 or Core i7

processors power energy-efficient,high-performance platforms for adultworkloads, data analysis, modelingand visualization, video encoding andediting, Internet usage while managingother content, research, collaboration,and multitasking across multiple schooland Internet applications.

Cl ud Myths

Cl ud c m uti g is Be e its

All or nothing Actually, schools can determine how much and what gets served over the cloud. They also decide whethertheir cloud is private (for the school or school district), shared (with other districts in their state or region),or public (accessible to a wider group, such as Internet users). Hybrid clouds may offer a combination ofrestricted and public access.

Thin platforms Schools will want to determine the combination of rich client platforms and cloud services that bestmeets their needs. Thin platforms are one of the many possibilities offered by cloud-based solutions. The

thinnest platforms are hardware that receives most or all of their applications and operating systems fromthe server. With thin platforms, some applications and operating systems are installed and some deliveredthrough the cloud. Schools can find the right balance for their application and operating system mix andstudent needs. Whatever choice you make, cloud computing works with any combination of platformsdesktop, laptop, or tablet.

Not secure Security needs to be managed with cloud, as with any other computing strategy. Clouds can helpIT centralize and control infrastructure and data, and ensure backup. Shared and public clouds canbe monitored to prevent security risks. If working with a service provider, schools can look for acomprehensive Service Level Agreement (SLA) that includes robust security, and protects confidentialstudent information.

Free Cloud computing can bring cost savings, but it is not free. Server consolidation can significantly reducepower and management costs, while increasing productivity for IT. Many open source and Internet-browser-based applications are available for free to educators. Licenses are still required, however, formany of the common applications and operating systems used in this one-to-many delivery model.


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For more information on cloud computing and the advantages of Inteltechnology-based teaching and learning platforms talk to your local solutionprovider or an Intel representative, and visit www.i tel.c m .

Teachers a d Higher Educati :Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processorspower energy-efficient, high-performance platforms for adultworkloads, classroom management(for teachers), data analysis, modelingand visualization, video encoding andediting, Internet usage while managingother content, research, collaboration,

and multitasking across multiple schooland Internet applications.

IT: Intel Xeon 5000 and Intel Xeon7000 sequence servers support allforms of internal cloud deployments.Servers powered by the Intel Xeonprocessor family are designed forintelligent performance, smart energyefficiency, and 24/7 dependability,while providing schools with theflexibility and scalability to adapt as

requirements change.

EDUCATIon AnD CoMpUTInG:A SpECTRUM of CHoICES

Look for more information aboutthe entire continuum of educationcomputing models on www.intel.com/education .

2010, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the I ntel logo, Intel Core, Intel vPro, and Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corporati on in the U.S. and other countries.

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