School on the Cloud: Connecting Education to the Cloud for Digital Citizenship

Education and the Cloud

What is School on the Cloud? School on Cloud is a Key Activity 3 ICT network that addresses three key questions:

1. How should education respond to the potential of Cloud-based tools and technologies?

2. What is the impact on education stakeholders?

3. What might the situation be like in the future?

What is the aim of Working Group 1 • Can education organizations take advantage

of the potential offered by the Cloud? • What prevents innovative leadership from

pushing for change? • What barriers are there to implementing the

use of the Cloud in education? • Working Group 1 (WG 1) brings together

organizations dealing with these questions. • The goal is to identify and share technological, social,

economic, cultural and other experiences in different educational contexts.

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i-Manager (WG1)

Transition from ground to Cloud: infrastructure,

mentality, innovation and change

i-Teacher (WG2)

The innovative teacher: the role of the teacher,

teacher training

i-Learner (WG3)

Integrating the Cloud: personalised learning, formal and informal

education, special needs

i-Futures (WG4)

Future prospects: visions on open education,

interactivity, impact and communicating the Cloud

Is Cloud Computing useful for Education?

Cloud computing

Cloud Computing involves storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive. IT services are shared rather than having local servers or software. Why is the Cloud important?

Cloud computing is rapidly becoming a very important delivery method for IT services across Europe. For education, the Cloud provides:

• the ability to share resources and information • great speed, makes IT operations faster • improved accessibility • increased capacity • independence of location • more opportunities • reduced costs • safety for users • security of information

Benefits such as customised solutions, great cost effectiveness and increased efficiency make Cloud Computing an extremely attractive prospect for education. Its appropriate use requires careful management.

anything from anywhere in anytime on any device by anyone Cloud offers a different kind of mental and physical strategies to access education materials (eg. personalized learning by anyone, also by disabled - handicapped - marginalized individuals).

Are you a leader in Cloud education?

Cloud leadership is focused on strategies to transform, accelerate and benefit from using the Cloud.

Do you recognize that Cloud Computing involves unprecedented mobility for users, increased scalability and speed of deployment for your organization?

Is your Organization on the Cloud?

Description of the Cloud leader characteristics by

taking account of...

Cloud leader

teachers

parents

students

interacts with...

the wider community

has specific attitudes toward...

adopts use of...

technological tools/services

Managing the Cloud

Cloud Computing presents a new environment to manage and new situations to master. The purpose is to monitor the applications, data and services being used. Tools are provided to help ensure Cloud Computing-based resources are working optimally and properly interacting with users and other services.

Cloud management normally involves monitoring performance and security, auditing compliance and overseeing recovery and contingency plans.

Characteristics of Cloud leaders in education

• Build an inspiring vision

• Create a positive environment

• Exert influence

• Foresee future problems in the transition

• Give clear guidelines

• Give direction and set stretch goals

• Lead reforms

• Set clear expectations

• Manage resistance to change

• Monitor progress, but don't micromanage

• Win respect and trust

Doukas School, Innovative Learning Network Ltd., EUROGEO, GO! onderwijs van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Istituto Comprensivo Assisi 3, KOKEGA School *form not on google drive*, Department of Sciences of Education and Cultural and Formative Processes, University of Florence, Technische Universität Dortmund, Sozialforschungsstelle, National Technical University of Athens, ATiT, bit

media e-Learning solution GmbH & Co KG, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw Centre, Branch of the National Foundation for Environmental Protection, ITEC Incorporated Company Continuous Vocational Training Centre, Vyara Foundation, Kantonsschule Solothurn Digital Earth Centre of Excellence Switzerland, Mary Immaculate College, Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca,

Bundesgymnasium and Bundesrealgymnasium Waidhofen an der Thaya, National College, University of the Aegean, European Centre of Studies and Initiatives, Univerza v Ljubljani, Fundatia Professional, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, IES SAN ROQUE, Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, 3rd Primary School of Agia Paraskevi, REAL SOCIEDAD GEOGRÁFICA, Universidade da Beira Interior, Universidad de León y , Ghent University, Teachers' training college of the dicese Linz, State University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main,

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Cologne, Escola Básica Integrada de Santa Maria , University of Education Heidelberg, Research Group for Earth Observation, Faculty of Earth Sciences Nicolaus Copernicus University, University of Porto, Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg, European Association of Career Guidance, Thales Foundation, Centre for the Advancement of R&D in

Educational Technology (CARDET), National and University Library, Social Innovations Centre, Komunikujeme, o.s., European University Cyprus, P.M.F. S.r.l., ASSIST Software SRL, E-Ludo Interactive di Salvatore Mica & C. s.n.c., Kecioren District Directorate of National Education, TRAINING 2000, Companhia de Ideias - Media, Lda., Basisschool Zavelberg

ICT Key Action 3 European Project with the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union

www.schoolonthecloud.eu , linkedin.com/groups/schooloncloud-7426807, twitter.com/school_cloud , facebook.com/schoolonthecloud

This leaflet provides information and guidance for Managers and Leaders in terms of the education potential of Cloud Computing in education.

It is the result of a workshop in Lithuania in November 2014. Information about Working Group 1: Karl Donert, kdonert@yahoo.com

With the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This

publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.