Title: Cloud computing services and architecture for education

Authors: Christopher Davia; Stan Gowen; Ginny Ghezzo; Ramon Harris; Maritta Horne; Clayton Potter; Sharon P. Pitt; Art Vandenberg; Naixue Xiong

Addresses: IBM Cloud Academy, IBM Global Education Industry, IBM Corporation, 1 New Orchard Road, Armonk, New York 10504-1722, USA ' STG Strategic Alliances, IBM Systems and Technology Group (STG), 600 11th ST NE, Jacksonville, AL 36265, USA ' IBM Rational, 3039 East Cornwallis Road, RTP, NC 27709, USA ' Harris Solutions Services, Inc., 10 South Pershing Drive, Arlington, VA 22204-1356, USA ' Office of Knowledge, Information and Data Services, 15 Fountain Place, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA ' Pike County Schools, 318 South Mayo Trail, Pikeville, KY 41502, USA ' Division of Instructional Technology, George Mason University, 416 Innovation Hall, MS 1F3, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA ' Information Systems and Technology, Georgia State University, 1096 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30307, USA ' School of Computer Science, Colorado Technical University, 4435 north Chestnut Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, USA

Abstract: Cloud computing represents a new field where computing resources can be provided as services and accessed by others from anywhere in the world via internet. Cloud computing services and architecture for education are characterised as being fully managed by the universities, provided on demand, and being elastic as users have as much service as they need in a particular moment. This paper is intended as a resource for institutions that are assessing their institutional capacity and readiness for cloud solutions. Cloud computing is a broad range of concepts and the distinction between 'consumer of' and 'provider of' cloud-based resources may be important in creating a larger ecosystem of cloud computing. Several members of the IBM Cloud Academy have outlined a definition and framework for cloud computing services and have drafted a cloud assessment survey for senior leadership planning cloud initiatives. Three case studies are presented on cloud solutions for K-12 and higher education along with survey results for the three case studies. The conclusion summarises outcomes and considers next steps for IBM Cloud Academy members.

Keywords: cloud computing; cloud services; cloud architecture; higher education; K-12; service consumers; service providers; IBM Cloud Academy; ICA; cloud assessment survey; universities; institutional capacity; cloud solutions; institutional readiness; USA; United States.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCC.2013.055268

International Journal of Cloud Computing, 2013 Vol.2 No.2/3, pp.213 - 236

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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