| Those who are in their 50s might remember | | | | Basically, cloud computing means than one uses |
| what an absolute chore working with a computer | | | | programs, resources and systems on-demand via |
| used to be. One would have to enter a sterile, | | | | the Internet. These tools remain in the public |
| usually chilly room to literally create a series of | | | | domain, and users are not tied down by a physical |
| punch cards containing the instructions for one's | | | | computer mainframe. Those unaccustomed to |
| computer. Then they would be handed over to | | | | this technology need not fear the term "cloud" as |
| some absolutely apathetic technician who ran the | | | | it is a synonym for the Internet. |
| cards through the system, while the student | | | | Utilizing new technology as part of an online |
| awaited his response on some gigantic spread | | | | degree program can help students further save |
| sheet. | | | | money. Programs such as Google Documents can |
| Then came the personal computer and the | | | | be accessed by any user with an account. They |
| Internet. With the advent of the 80s, people didn't | | | | can save their written documents to their online |
| need to learn such bizarre languages as COBOL, | | | | account, which means they need not purchase |
| Basic or ALGOL. They could even go online from | | | | expensive word publishing programs in order to |
| their homes instead of the local library to do | | | | complete their coursework. |
| research. It also brought an absolutely new | | | | In addition, working with cloud-based technology |
| meaning to the term distance learning. Thanks to | | | | often means that an individual's work can be |
| the web, it became online education. | | | | accessed from any place in the world. Military |
| As it was, online education is now a lot more than | | | | spouses or those married to powerful executives |
| a way to do research, transmit term papers and | | | | may find that they relocate often. While the |
| take a final exam. Such innovations as chat | | | | travel can be exciting, some also find it disrupts |
| rooms, student forums and video conferencing | | | | their education plans, and setting up a new |
| have turned the entire experience into something | | | | computer and Internet connection can take time |
| completely different. It is making even the | | | | and energy. Using cloud-based programs allows an |
| educational processes of barely one or two | | | | individual to simply pop into a nearby Internet |
| decades ago look as antiquated as the one-room | | | | cafe, for example, to work on their coursework, |
| schools of the 19th Century. | | | | no matter where in the world they are. As a |
| Still, there's another innovation about to have an | | | | result, online education can be a convenient way |
| even further impact on online education and that's | | | | for anyone to learn and become a part of today's |
| cloud computing. There are those who haven't | | | | exciting technological advances. |
| heard of this new development, however. | | | | |