You may have heard that the use of cloud-based video is on the rise in the business world, but universities and colleges are also taking advantage of the technology in their own ways.
Cloud use is on the rise with some of the latest surveys showing that 39 percent of applications at colleges are cloud-based, and the number is expected to rise to 62 percent by 2021. Video use in higher education is also on the rise, meaning implementation of cloud video is a good way to embrace convenience and meet demand with the latest technologies.
Video is becoming central to online learning in a variety of settings. Academies, such as lynda.com and udemy.com, have gained popularity by providing video materials and real-time video lectures instead of text coursebooks. Advantages of video include user-friendly delivery (especially on mobile devices) and easy access (across platforms and browsers).
While there is still growth potential for the use of cloud-based video, its use in higher education is widespread in supporting distance learning, video conferencing, simulation, and more.
Benefits of Cloud Video in Higher Education
In higher education, students are no longer tied to their textbooks or even computers. With virtual labs, online assessments, and video conferencing, students and instructors don’t have to worry about geographical distance.
Courses are available on demand, which means time is less of a constraint or commitment. Students who are remote, homebound, working, traveling, or contending with other demands can still take classes and receive degrees. In the past, receiving a quality education meant that students must live on or travel to campus to attend lectures, classes, and events. Cloud video has changed that since students can now log into their accounts at any time from anywhere and receive instruction not only from their professors, but access classes presented by remote professors, guest lecturers, and experts in their area of study.
Cloud video opens the door to higher education for those who would otherwise be constrained by location or accessibility issues.
There are benefits for the institutions as well:
- Cloud video saves time and money. Once your school pays any transfer costs, you can choose a pay-as-you-go system.
- Your institution can attract a broader range of students. Greater flexibility and access mean your institution can serve more students.
- Your institution can serve those students more efficiently. Students can access cloud-based video services via mobile or at home, using only their own resources, equipment, and spaces.
Top Cloud Video Considerations
As with all newer technology solutions, cloud video comes with new challenges. Schools face issues like how to handle network considerations or train support staff to maintain these new systems. And, like with all industries, schools must contend with risks to security and privacy. Education breaches increased 103 percent in the first half of 2017 over the previous six months. Fortunately, there are ways to protect your school’s data with multi-layered protection solutions. Security tools have also evolved and now combine machine learning and data analytics to help detect threats before they do any damage.
Another concern with cloud video is downtime due to Internet connectivity issues. Since your institution’s offerings will depend on the reliability of your connection, obtain the most reliable service possible and consider using a secondary service as a backup.
Success in the Cloud
The key to success for cloud-video services in higher education is finding a reliable, scalable, easy-to-use solution that works with your existing technologies and that offers the quality you need for your goals.
