The desktop virtualization solution we provided for Stafford Township School District offers a glimpse at the technology revolution about to occur in the K-12 education market.

As the key enabling technology underlying cloud computing, virtualization lays the groundwork for new and exciting ways to engage students, support collaborative and individualized learning, and streamline administrative tasks. The cloud (i.e. using the Internet to access web-based applications and IT infrastructure as a service) not only allows schools to dramatically reduce their IT infrastructure costs, but opens the door to a range of exciting learning experiences that leverage mobile and social innovation.

Virtualization in all its forms — including desktop, server and storage virtualization — is the catalyst for a fundamental shift in the way schools will choose, use and manage technology over the next decade.

Many school districts are already moving into cloud computing. The 2011 K12 Horizon Report from New Media Consortium (NMC) cites the cloud as the top emerging technology in K-12 education, with a timeline for widespread adoption of one year or less. The report notes that schools are increasingly using “ready-made applications hosted on a dynamic, ever-expanding cloud that enables end users to perform tasks that have traditionally required site licensing, installation, and maintenance of individual software packages.”

One of the biggest attractions of cloud computing for school administrators is the savings in money and resources. The hard truth is that the computer gear in the vast majority of U.S. school districts is usually outdated long before it can be fully depreciated. The cloud delivers huge budgetary relief by allowing K-12 organizations to scale and grow without having to own the technology.

For their initial foray into the cloud, most school districts have adopted cloud-based tools designed to streamline administrative tasks. Schools now commonly use cloud-based applications to manage calendars, rosters, grade books, and communication between school and home.

In the coming phase, look for schools to further leverage the cloud ecosystem to enhance the classroom experience for students. The ability to access a wealth of online resources from any device, anywhere, at any time is an advantage that cannot be ignored.

Teachers are increasingly utilizing a variety of cloud resources for online curriculum/ learning (Moodle- www.moodle.org, Reading Eggs – www.readingeggs.com , and videos / music from the vast library on YouTube www.youtube.com). The benefit of ubiquitous access is substantial.  The fact that students, parents and faculty can utilize content in the cloud anywhere and at anytime (with appropriate controls & security) is compelling.

The Khan Academy http://www.khanacademy.org) is an example of how social media and the cloud have changed education. A banker trying to teach his niece math and science decided to record videos and post them to You Tube.  Bill Gates saw his vision and invested in their mission to “provide a free world-class education to anyone anywhere”. This free resource has videos that teach everything from kindergarten math to chemistry, history to astronomy- all available to anyone at anytime for free via the cloud.

Another benefit of cloud utilization is the ability to provide individualized learning.  Recognizing that people all learn differently- visually, by listening, or by actually doing- the ability to craft a learning plan for each student , based on an individual assessment or IEP (individualized education program) is on the horizon.  It is happening on a small scale right now in developmental curriculum but think of it on a larger scale. If the infrastructure and right licensing model was there, it would change the course of education.  An IEP for every child, which in turn provides an individualized curriculum and learning method accessible for the child, parents and teachers from anywhere. That is customized education.

Even now, textbook manufacturers are looking toward digitizing textbooks for download to computers and mobile devices. Enabling “free or for a fee” downloads of individual chapters of textbooks vs. the entire text will also expand educators ability to craft customizable, individualized curriculum from various resources without a heavy outlay of cost.

Then there is the fundamental shift toward mobile devices. The mobile computing experience has become commonplace for those in the K-12 age group.  It’s been reported that 83 percent of school-age kids use cell phones. The market research institute Nielsen reported that 44 percent of U.S. children ages 6-14 requested an iPad for Christmas in 2011.

The current generation of students already relies on their smart devices and social networks like Facebook to communicate, share and get information. So, why should their formal educational experience be limited to a traditional classroom setting?

There are already many mobile apps that can be used to augment the teaching of language, science, mathematics and more. For example, students in chemistry, physics, astronomy and biology can use Socratica (http://socratica.com) to access — and create — study modules.  GapMinder World (http://graphs.gapminder.org/world) allows students to explore statistical information about income, health, life expectancy, fertility rates, natural resources, and more in a visual, interactive way.

The coming use of cloud-based tools in the classroom doesn’t represent just a technology change but also a cultural change. Cloud computing technology has the potential to change traditional teaching methods and give students access to a virtually unlimited pool of resources. The potential to enhance learning opportunities, streamline administrative tasks and cut technology costs presents a compelling case for further investment in cloud computing.