Cloud computing and the future of e-learning
Introduction:
E-learning has brought about major changes in the organisational style of educational practice. Where the student is no longer required to attend the university or school at regular intervals, the student can carry his digital environment in his solution and travels, and this has been linked to a great development in the services provided by networks, its features appeared in large storage spaces and high speeds of the Internet, in addition to the availability of a large number It is a software that a student can use without the need for its drivers to be configured on the device he is using. Accordingly, flexibility is one of the important characteristics of the e-learning system, as it (Khamis 2011) indicates flexibility in the learner’s control over what he wants to learn and know to perform educational activities and events more effectively. From here it has become
Global trends for the development of education in general and university education in particular are closely related to the shift towards integrating technology in education, especially after the traditional education systems did not meet the requirements of the transformation of society into a society based on the dissemination of knowledge, skills acquisition, and self-development for anyone who wants to learn at any age ; In order to achieve the idea of continuous education and lifelong learning (Chine, 2009, p752), this development has led to the emergence of cloud computing, where it depends on the process of transferring processing and storage space of the computer to the so-called cloud, which is considered as a server accessed through the Internet. ; To transform information technology from products to services (Zaki 543 p.: 2012).
Accordingly, under the Cloud Computing System, computer users or local network users rely less on applications and programs, as well as the capabilities of the hardware parts in their devices, and instead rely on the capabilities of the hardware components of the cloud computing system. All that the individual needs in networks is a computer connected to the Internet, meaning that the work system will move from devices located in a specific place to other devices that swim in the Internet space, hence the name “cloud computing” (Atta, 2011).Cloud computing is considered a new model of computing as it relies on network computing. It is also considered the basic environment and platform for the future of e-learning, with its data storage and Internet services, as well as great computing power (Hui Et.al, 2010). Collaboration and participation are one of the basic concepts in the environment. Cloud computing, in which resources in the cloud can be accessed and shared anywhere provided it is connected to the Internet.
Research problem:
The use of cloud computing in education has become an urgent necessity because of its advantages that made it an economical option that does not require large expenditures in comparison to the services it provides for sharing, editing and document management. Applications, systems and resources through the Internet. In light of the above, there is a need to take advantage of cloud computing services in education in order to improve the student's educational process and increase his motivation.
Research importance:
Education plays an important role in achieving economic growth for countries at the present time. The style of teaching in the classroom has changed as students are more attracted to technology. Therefore, in a changing environment like this, it is important to think about the latest technologies that help society achieve a better learning and education process. Cloud computing is one of those modern technologies, the need for learning at this time has become an urgent necessity as well as the development and improvement of e-learning, and then we need e-learning to keep pace with technology and the modern trend is to use cloud computing, cloud computing is characterised by a high scalability for development due to the resources it provides Virtualization that can be made available to users has a significant impact on the educational environment in the future.
Research aims:
Learn about the new concept known as cloud computing, its various applications, advantages and disadvantages.
Research on the importance of cloud computing in the educational process: the pros and cons.
Disclosure of the impact of cloud computing on the development of e-learning.
Learn about the future of e-learning in light of cloud computing.
Search terms and procedural definitions:
Cloud computing:
It is a technology that relies on transferring the processing and storage space of the computer to the so-called cloud that is accessed via the Internet (Al-Masalihi, 2013), and defined (Bandar, 2013) as “services that are carried out through hardware and software connected to a network of servers that carry their data. In a virtual cloud that ensures its permanent and uninterrupted connection with different devices (computer, tablet, smart phones, etc.) after setting a special code to unlock the network and thus accessing it from anywhere and at any time. The researcher defines it procedurally as a technology that employs the Internet so that it allows the student to support and process data and applications by storing his files and data on servers in the form of files that he can access from anywhere and at any time where there is an Internet connection.
E-learning:
E-learning can be considered as a method of education that depends on providing educational content and communicating skills and concepts to the learner on information and communication technologies and its multimedia in a way that allows the student to interact actively with the content, the teacher and colleagues simultaneously or asynchronously in time and place and at a speed that suits the learner’s circumstances and ability And managing all educational scientific activities and their requirements electronically through the electronic systems designated for this.
Previous studies:
Massadeh & Mesleh (2013) This study describes the different patterns of use, and how this can be an ideal solution to the evolving problems and needs of Jordanian universities. The study found the following:
Jordanian university administrations believe that cloud computing provides an exemplary solution to these problems, but these institutions lack the resources and knowledge necessary to manage cloud computing, and employ it in the educational process, scientific research, and development in universities, and because of the weak budget for higher education and information technology services, which led To increase the demand for cloud services. The study recommends that universities should use and adopt cloud computing to respond to the increased requirements for information technology services
A study (Mohammed Al-Zoubi 2009): It aimed to use cloud computing applications to build a self-learning e-learning environment, which includes a wide range of techniques and tools to create an interactive tool for lifelong learning and self-learning. The proposed environment includes the design and monitoring of educational content and the work of a system that allows the exchange of educational content and the integration of many educational curricula for teaching and learning in the same environment where students and professors can access these applications. The research found the importance of using cloud computing technology to develop education and e-learning to provide smart systems for formal and non-formal education. It also found the possibility of building self-e-learning systems at the lowest possible cost and making them available at any time and from anywhere for learners.
Marica Merci study (2011): This study aims to encourage universities to develop their performance through the use of cloud computing as an alternative to information technology. It also aims to identify the benefits of using cloud computing in universities and the difficulties they face. The study reached the following results:
That cloud computing supports university education, with access to cloud computing applications anywhere and at any time, and provides cloud computing from the university's budget. One of the difficulties that the university faces when using cloud computing is data penetration and disruption of computer management.
Cloud computing concept
Cloud computing is seen as a technology that relies on transferring the processing and storage space of the computer to the so-called cloud, which are servers that are accessed through the Internet to transform programs from products to services. Users can access it online without having to have knowledge, experience and control of equipment, hence some call it cloud services. Hurwitz, et.al, 2010: 9) see the cloud as a set of devices, networks, storage, services and all aspects that enable computing as a service that includes infrastructure software and online storage either as separate components, or as a complete platform on demand. the user. Accordingly, cloud computing is defined as a model for enabling convenient network access on demand for a common set of configured computing resources such as Networks, servers, storage units, and applications so that they can be provisioned and launched quickly and with minimal effort with the service provider.” (Trivedi, 2013: 18), while Hassan et al. (2013) describe it as the transfer of “the processing process from a user’s machine to servers via The Internet and save the user’s files there to be able to access them from anywhere and any device, and programs become just services and the user’s computer is just an interface or a digital window, and servers often use virtual media techniques to allow multiple users to use the same service.” Both Bora and Ahmed (Bora, N Ahmed, 2013) indicated that cloud computing is expected to revolutionise the field of e-learning, especially in universities.
Applications as a service SAAS
It “provides software” as a service. We can mention, as an example, what Google offers through the “Google Applications” package, which includes a text editor, calendar, mail, Gmail, and chat, as well as Microsoft’s Office suite. The concept of “desktop as a service” can also be included within the “applications as a service” model where applications are available to the user but also the device itself is available as a service including the operating system and the desktop and can be accessed from anywhere.
platform as a service PAAS
The Computing Platform is offered as a service and the programming tool itself is hosted on the cloud and can be accessed through a browser. This type of service generally allows programmers to develop and build web applications without having to install any software or tools on their devices. Then they can deploy these applications without the need for systems and network management skills. As an example of this, we can mention (Windows Azure), (Google Apps Engine) and (Amazon Web Service).
Infrastructure as a service LAAS
It provides “infrastructure” as a service. It enables medium and small enterprises to manage the technical infrastructure and programs through the Internet in an easy and secure manner without the need to have expensive data centres, in addition to benefiting from high availability services and the flexibility to change the size of the infrastructure when needed, in addition to exempting these companies From the trouble of maintaining and monitoring infrastructure components such as servers, storage units and network.
And among the most famous commercial companies that provide (infrastructure as a service) we can mention, for example, Softlayer, Amazon and Rackspace … where it is possible to obtain a server on the cloud quickly and easily.
One of the most famous cloud computing services provided to individuals is data storage on the Internet where your files and photos are located on the cloud and you can access them from anywhere, and all you need is a web connection and a screen. The best example of this is what Apple offers through iCloud services, which allow the ability to store files and photos, backup all the contents of the device, restore data, and broadcast photos.
Cloud computing models
Fastener construction models:
Private cloud:
This type of cloud is usually inside the facility so that it can be accessed through the local network and from the Internet and services are provided to the beneficiaries automatically, and it can also be located at a hosting company. In all these cases, the facility can monitor and control the infrastructure components.
Public cloud:
They are commercial services provided by the service provider to multiple clients and are located in a place far from the client, and it is a way to save costs and profit time and effort.
3.Hybrid cloud:
It combines the characteristics of a private and public cloud. An organisation can have a private cloud through which it provides some services to the beneficiaries, while resorting to public cloud solutions to secure other services. Some companies get a private cloud environment within the public cloud of a large commercial provider such as (Amazon) and then sell services to other customers, and this also falls under the concept of hybrid cloud.
Community Clouds
It is the result of a collective cooperation between a group of organisations with the same interests, and the infrastructure is shared among them in order to achieve common goals such as information security, regulatory compliance, or achieving high performance. It can be managed internally or externally by a third party.
Types of cloud computing
Cloud Computing Components:
To deal with cloud computing technology, the following elements must be available, or what can be called cloud computing components, which are:
A- The beneficiary or User/Customer: who will use this technology and benefit from its services through the use of his personal computer or mobile phone.
B- Platforms: They are the donors of this service by providing giant servers with their storage capacity and speed of data processing, such as Google and Apple.
C- Infrastructure: It is the cloud infrastructure on which the service is relied, and it includes the availability of personal computers, the Internet, and information storage spaces.
D- Applications: These are the application programs that the beneficiary can run in the cloud, and they include word processing, presentation, tables and information transfer and sharing services.
E- Service: The service used by the cloud, and the topic is more related to the term Software as a Service, which is the process of converting computer products into services.
Cloud Computing Elements
Cloud computing features:
Cloud computing has a number of characteristics, as follows:
User centralization: It means that once the user connects to the cloud, he becomes the owner of what he stores on it, and he can share what he stores over the Internet with other users.
Centralization of tasks: Instead of the cloud focusing on applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and what can be done, its focus is on meeting the needs of users through these applications.
Infrastructure centralization: The cloud provides huge servers that help in conducting operations, which helps free you from the burdens of creating and managing the infrastructure.
Centralization of applications and documents: which are run, stored and edited in cloud servers through any device connected to an internet line, which provides permanent availability, and the original owner has the right to authorise the right to access your files, modify, delete and add to whomever he wants from customers, and this enhances cooperation between members of groups.
Computing power: It is produced by linking thousands of devices and servers together.
Access: Storing data in the cloud allows more information to be retrieved from a different number of repositories.
Intelligence: It is a requirement to extract and analyse huge data stored on various cloud servers.
Programming: It is a basic requirement when dealing with many necessary tasks in the cloud, such as protecting information security.
Flexibility: Cloud computing offers more flexibility (often called extensibility) in matching IT resources and business functions that were dependent on past computing methods. It can also increase employee mobility by enabling access to business information and applications through a wide range of sites and services.
The sharing of resources through computing services provides greater ease and flexibility when performing various tasks. It offers the capabilities of linking several websites, such as social networks.
Ease of implementation: the organisation can adopt and deploy cloud computing applications without the need to purchase hardware, software licences, or installation, operation and maintenance services.
Scalability: Organisations using cloud computing do not need to add hardware and software with higher standards and efficiencies as the number of users increases, and they do not have to buy new extenders (purchasing more computers, storage systems, switches, and routers) in the end, as most of these resources are untapped throughout Time, but can instead be collected and subtracted capabilities as network loads dictate, and it can develop and expand by clicking on the appropriate boxes on the service provider's website, and cloud computing ensures speed in joining and dealing with modern technologies on the Internet.
One of the characteristics of cloud computing is to ensure service continuity and ease of access to private data at any time and anywhere, and the success of cloud computing depends on the efficiency of communication that provides continuous, secure, good and urgent services, as well as preserving the environment where the number of devices and storage units are reduced, and others, which have a bad impact on Soil and environment It is possible to replace the laptop and the smartphone in dealing with the systems, as the need for storage and software decreases, and the role of the smartphone becomes only in contacting the service place.
Cloud computing benefits
Minimum access to information technology capabilities: Cloud computing allows access to all user applications and services from anywhere and anytime via the Internet environment, because the information is stored on the servers of the company providing the service, that is, it is not stored on the user's private hard disk.
The possibility of expansion and development: Instead of the user buying or renting a new server with high space and higher specifications, all he has to do is enter and change the settings only, and in seconds he gets what he wants.
Maintenance and development: One of the most important benefits of cloud computing is making the burdens of maintenance and software development technical on the provider companies, which reduces the burden on users, and makes them focus on using these services only.
Reducing costs: It is no longer necessary to buy the fastest or best computers in terms of memory or the highest in terms of hard disk space, but any ordinary computer, using any web browser, can access the various cloud services in use (editing documents, storing files, editing pictures, etc.). There is also no longer a need to purchase equipment such as expensive servers to provide email service, or huge storage units for backing up data and information.
Sustainability: ensuring that the service works permanently, with a lot of time and cost on the user, as the cloud storage service provider is committed to making sure that the service works around the clock, in the best possible way, and the service provider is committed to fixing any emergency malfunctions as soon as possible .
Take advantage of the huge infrastructure provided by cloud services to carry out scientific experiments and experiments.
Speed: Some complex calculations take years to perform on regular computers, while companies like Google and Amazon make their clouds of thousands of linked servers available to perform such calculations in minutes or hours.
Cloud-based e-learning
Cloud computing is more useful when applied in cooperation with e-learning, which results in improved computer performance, reduced maintenance costs, infrastructure cost, as well as software cost, in addition to increasing computing power and improving compatibility between operating systems, as well as increasing data security and document transmission and facilitating collaborative teamwork.
In fact, the use of cloud computing in e-learning brings many benefits that can be summarised as follows:
It enables the user to access his files and applications through the cloud, without the need for the application to be available on his device, thus reducing security risks and the required hardware resources.
Provides a lot of money to purchase the software that the user needs. All the user needs is a computer connected to the Internet, and to be connected to one of the sites that provide the software he needs.
Helps students and teachers to use applications without downloading them on their devices.
Reducing costs by reducing the number of infrastructure devices, and providing the number of workers in hardware and software maintenance in the organisation.
Ensure that the service works permanently, while saving a lot of time and cost, as the company that provides the cloud storage service is committed to ensuring that the service works efficiently and continuously, and is also committed to fixing any sudden malfunctions as soon as possible.
Existing cloud computing infrastructure includes the availability of data centres that are able to serve customers located worldwide.
In this context, several conferences were recently held that dealt with what cloud computing can provide for education, including the Cloud Computing Conference at Taibah University, which was held in 2012, and among its most prominent recommendations was the need to benefit from cloud computing in higher education, and the second international conference of the Omani Society for Technologies Information, which was one of the axes of cloud computing and its educational uses.
It is worth noting that the theories that support cloud computing in education stem from the philosophy of constructivist theory. When the learner uses cloud systems and applications, he feels his ownership of the education system, which pushes him towards continuous activity within the system in order to build his knowledge himself, instead of logically acquiring it.
The building process occurs either singly through individual applications provided by the cloud or collectively through social applications provided by the cloud and allow learners to communicate and co-create the learning content.
And e-learning applications in the cloud (e-learning based on the cloud) have other advantages, the most important of which are:
Giving computing opportunities everywhere.
Students can create a repository (bank) of information.
The most free and open source software.
Learning can continue even after class hours.
Offer solutions at low cost.
Flexibility is available to maximise investments.
Employing cloud computing in education
The employment of cloud computing in educational situations also depends on the principles of motivation theory, which indicates that the learner's impulse to participate in computer applications of cloud is based on three main motives:
The first of them is related to self-motivation based on personal enjoyment, as computer cloud applications allow various processes to save and publish content through a technological umbrella that the learner can access at any time without restrictions, in addition to presenting his ideas and contributions, which gives the learner a sense of personal enjoyment.
As for the second motive, it focuses on community commitment, and in this context, computer cloud applications give the learner the opportunity to implement his obligations towards the learning community related to the participatory building of content and its exchange with others, which helps in developing the capabilities of members of learning communities.
Finally, the external motives that focus on the self-development of the learner from an umbrella that contains various media and files that the learner can use and interact with in an individual or participatory framework and without any constraint associated with a prior preparation of the work environment greatly helps in the processes of self-development of the learner, where the learning media are always available in his hands.
Cloud computing represents the future of e-learning and is due to the advantages that cloud computing offers, which are closely related to reducing the cost of learning environments in terms of hardware and software. These servers store their own files with the ability to share these files with others, in addition to using some application programs via the server site such as word processing programs, power point, excel and other programs.
The computer cloud and its applications is an ideal solution for educational institutions that want the dynamic expansion associated with the provision of e-learning services in a framework of participatory and low cost.
Examples of the most important educational and educational applications of cloud computing
A report issued by Google shows the increasing demand for the cloud computing system in the educational sectors, for example, the Google Apps service launched by the company, which relies mainly on cloud computing, is currently used by more than 8 million users around the world, belonging only to the components of the educational process, from students Teachers and educational institutions / If we know that the total users of this service from all sectors, up to 25 million users, the education sector constitutes the largest part. A study by a researcher at Campus Computing indicates that more than 80% of schools and institutes in the United States of America tended to accreditation on cloud computing services.
Other than the Google Apps service, there are many other cloud computing applications that the education sector benefits from, including:
Google Documents is a service provided by Google, to all its subscribers who have an account with it, and allows the subscriber to write his documents for one program.
The Skydrive service provided by Microsoft, which provides the user with free storage space, files approximately 25 GB in size.
BAT, the Amazon app, is known by its acronym A. W . S, which allows the user to develop and complete his business, regardless of its size, at the lowest possible cost.
These applications and others that are based on cloud computing technology bring many advantages to students, teachers and all those working in the educational field and represent a qualitative leap for traditional e-learning to e-learning that is faster, broader and easier to access in the light of cloud computing.
Advantages of cloud computing in education
Cloud computing service can include many benefits for learners, including:
Take exams online (online)
Ease of sending exercises and projects to learners.
Easy access to tests, exercises, and projects submitted by students.
Get feedback.
Ease of communication between students.
Help teach students in new ways and help them manage their projects and assignments.
It helps students to use applications without downloading them on their devices and helps them to access stored files from any computer by connecting to the Internet.
Students at universities can access all programs at any time, from anywhere.
Access to development systems to develop applications and store them in the university infrastructure.
Setting online quarterly exams and cancelling them after the end of the semester, creating accounts for many users to do their projects and training. (Al-Shetty, 2013) and thus it became possible to harness cloud computing technology to serve educational goals in several areas, including providing lectures or lessons remotely, so that they are uploaded to the virtual cloud (which may be in the form of a website or application on smart tablets or mobile), thus being available and stored for viewing and browsing at any time and from anywhere.As well as the participation of the course or part of it through the participation tools provided by cloud computing services, and in a survey published by the “Middle East” newspaper, the opinions of some university students in Saudi Arabia were clearly shown about their evaluation of the use of cloud computing services, as most of them saw their importance in handing over and following-up the required duties and costs. With the course professor in a way that relieves them of the burden of printing it in paper form, handing it over and returning it again, i.e. reducing the financial cost on students, in addition to serving students in the field of cooperative education by studying collectively on the Internet.
Obstacles to using cloud computing in e-learning
The obstacles that prevent the optimal use of cloud computing technology (Shyshkin & Kyiv, 2011) can be summarised as follows:
Security concerns and information privacy: Some people are afraid of placing their information and files with companies providing cloud services, and thus the responsibility to protect this data from hackers and hackers is in the hands of service providers and not the university concerned.
Protection of intellectual property rights: It represents one of the obstacles that raise the concerns of users of that service; As there is no guarantee that the intellectual property rights of the users will not be infringed.
Internet speed and availability: The cloud computing service requires the availability of a permanent Internet connection at high speeds, and this may not be available in many developing countries, including Sudan.
Dependency on service providers: Some universities may find it difficult to access their data sources and also difficult to move to another cloud service provider due to the difficulty of transferring data to another place.
Sharing among many users: Sharing storage and network resources among many users is also a computing constraint.
Reliability: Who guarantees that when the user deletes his files, they are actually deleted. On the other hand, who guarantees the possibility of recovering those files while they are in a sound condition in case they were lost due to some damage.
Reuse: Software and hardware reuse among a large number of users creates the risk of deleting important data for universities.
Conclusion
Finally, the entrance to cloud computing can be considered a new and innovative approach to solving many problems facing educational institutions of all sizes, types and orientations. Overcoming the obstacles facing its application.
Cloud computing can be used in various educational institutions of all sizes, types, and orientations, as it brings many benefits, including access to file storage, e-mail, databases, educational resources, applications, and search tools anywhere so that it is available to students, teachers, or faculty members. Teaching, alumni and employees of those institutions.
The main objective of applying cloud computing in educational institutions is to effectively and efficiently manage the educational institution’s needs of the required IT resources, which is to supply software, provide the required development platform, and store data within the scope of computing used to accomplish the learners’ acquisition of the provided educational knowledge that applies the IT environment in the process. The educational and cloud computing service associated with it, which is better than the traditional information technology currently in use in educational institutions.
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