Private Cloud Communities for Faculty and Students

Authors

  • Daniel R Tomal Concordia University Chicago
  • Cynthia Grant Concordia University Chicago

Keywords:

cloud, online learning, learning platforms, educational technology, technology instruction, virtual communities, cloud computing

Abstract

 

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) and public and private cloud communities continue to flourish in the field of higher education.  However, MOOCs have received criticism in recent years and offer little benefit to students already enrolled at an institution. This article advocates for the collaborative creation and use of institutional, program or student-specific private cloud communities developed as a way to promote academic identity, information dissemination, social discourse, and to form a bridge between faculty, administration and students.  Concrete steps to build a private cloud are described.  Placing a greater emphasis on meeting the needs of enrolled students versus engaging the masses in a MOOC for “edutainment” purposes is recommended. 


 

Author Biographies

Daniel R Tomal, Concordia University Chicago

Distinguished Professor of Leadership, author of 16 books, 200 aritcles and studies and former chair of the department.

Cynthia Grant, Concordia University Chicago

At the time of this writing, Cynthia Grant, PhD, LCSW, was Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Research at Concordia University Chicago. She is currently the Quality Improvement Clinical Manager at Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network in Englewood, CO and a Lecturer in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado-Denver.

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Published

2015-08-26

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2015): Open Educational Resources and MOOCs: The Changing Face of Higher Education

Section

Theme Articles

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