The document discusses how cloud computing can benefit K-12 schools. It notes that over 40% of schools currently use cloud applications, which is expected to save an average of 20% on IT costs. The cloud provides benefits like stronger communication through platforms allowing access from anywhere, secure storage of student data in case of disaster, cost savings by paying for storage as needed rather than upfront infrastructure, and fast recovery of data. Overall, the cloud enables more collaborative and efficient learning environments while saving schools money.

1. 1 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
What’s Your Cloud Strategy?
A Look at Cloud’s Role in K-12

2. 2 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
Objective
• Learn how schools can implement cloud-
based technologies and applications,
transforming classrooms into more
collaborative, BYOD-friendly learning
environments, while also providing schools
with cost-effective options for ensuring the
integrity and availability of educational and
administrative applications.

3. 3 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
What is the cloud?
• Climate controlled rooms full of
servers are quickly being replaced by
remote storage technology,
whimsically referred to as "the
cloud."
• Over half of U.S. businesses use some
form of cloud computing to back up their
important data and improve
productivity
• Instead of trying to find the capital to pay
for a secure server structure, businesses
are subscribing to cloud services and
paying for more storage as their needs
grow

4. 4 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
Does Cloud Apply to K-12?
• The practical uses of cloud computing
technology does translate to K-12
classrooms
• Cloud storage saves space, money and
time for teachers, parents, students and
administrators
• A report by CDW Government found that over
40 percent of schools use cloud applications
to store their data and by 2016, schools are
expected to spend 35 percent of IT budgets
on the cloud
• Right now K-12 schools report that their cloud
initiatives are saving them an average of 20
percent on IT costs
• By 2016, those savings are expected to reach
27 percent.

5. 5 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications

6. 6 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
K-12 Applications & Benefits of Cloud
• Stronger communication through access –
• Through K-12 cloud platforms like Edline,
teachers have better communication with
parents and students regarding assignments,
tests and projects
• Parents can log in from anywhere (including
their phones or tablets) and instantly know how
their kids are progressing
• Teachers can post important messages and
keep an archive of completed work in one spot
• Depending on the school, cloud forums may
even allow parents and students to contribute in
the application for a two-way dialogue

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K-12 Applications & Benefits of Cloud
• Disaster planning –
• Schools collect a lot of information on their
students and that data impacts decisions
and the well-being of the kids
• It takes a lot of time to build student
databases and maintain them
• If a man-made or natural disaster threatened
the physical location of school records,
whether hard copies or stored on servers, it
could mean a catastrophe when it comes to
student information
• Using cloud computing ensures that student
records are secure and accessible, no
matter what happens to the physical school
building.

8. 8 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
K-12 Applications & Benefits of Cloud
• One-stop shopping –
• Cloud platforms are able to bring
together data pools that were
previously unconnected so that
educators and administrators have
everything they need in one spot
• Since there is no physical equipment
that schools must purchase to get
started with cloud computing, there is
also a pay-as-you-go mentality
• Schools do not need to pay upfront
for infrastructure and can add cloud
storage as their needs increase. It saves
money, space, time and other
resources.

9. 9 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
K-12 Applications & Benefits of Cloud
• Fast recovery of data –
• If you've ever experienced a server
crash on a personal or professional
level, it can be a long time while you
wait for your information to come back
• Cloud-based businesses recover data
quickly and often handle any technical
issues that might arise in a "crash"
situation
• A word that is often associated with all
cloud applications is "redundancy"
because the technology eliminates
any chance of single-point failure

10. 10 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
K-12 Applications & Benefits of Cloud
• Some peripheral benefits of cloud
computing –
• Decreased energy costs and high security
features to ensure protection and privacy of
student information
• As K-12 schools move toward cloud
computing, student information will be better
preserved and shared content more
accessible
• While use of the cloud does not have a large
direct impact on classroom activities it does
improve teaching efficiency overall
• It also has long-term savings attached which
is always a bonus when it comes to K-12
technology spending.

11. 11 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
The Cloud and Your School…
• Does your school currently
leverage the cloud?
• If so, what elements, how long
and what efficiencies has your
school gained?
• Are you seeing benefits not
addressed in the previous
slides?
• Does your school have plans to
leverage the cloud?
• What are your expectations by
leveraging the cloud?

12. 12 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
Summary
• The Cloud is very applicable to K-
12
• The Cloud enables a more
collaborative environment that can
support a combination of one to
one and BYOD learning
• The Cloud scales with your growth
demands instead of paying for it
upfront and growing into the spend
• The Cloud saves money across the
board, from energy, space,
hardware & maintenance to time
better spent and efficient,
collaborative environments

13. 13 Copyright 2016 FairPoint Communications
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