Cloud computing has already revolutionized the way businesses and organizations operate. This technology has allowed them to access and store data, applications, and other resources on the cloud, rather than locally on their physical devices. As a result, it has opened up a new world of possibilities, including virtual desktops or Desktop as a Service (DaaS). Like any other sector, education is also fast adapting to the technological changes and responding by rapidly adopting evolving innovations in the cloud computing domain. This technology has the potential to change the face of education and thoroughly shape the learning experiences for students. In this article, we will explore the advantages of using virtual desktops for new K-12 start-up schools.
What Are Virtual Desktops and How They Can Help Your School?
Users can access their desktop client apps using an online virtual desktop which is a type of cloud computing technology. This means that the desktop environment is hosted completely in the cloud. By virtue, this makes it accessible to many users across time zones and regions, through any computer, tablet, or mobile device that has an internet connection. Even though the processing and storage are handled by the cloud, the user interface stays the same.
Many Advantages of Virtual Desktops for Schools
Cost Savings
The ability to use virtual desktops without the use of actual devices like desktop computers, laptops, and tablets is one of their key benefits. Utilizing virtual desktops can result in significant hardware cost savings for new K–12 start-up schools. They can use inexpensive laptops or even refurbish obsolete devices in place of spending a lot of money on desktop PCs. This is especially helpful for institutions with tight budgets. Virtual desktops can help lower the price of maintaining, upgrading, and fixing IT systems. As a result, schools may have additional funds available to spend on initiatives like teacher and curriculum development.
Students Can Learn From Anywhere
One of the major benefits of virtual desktops is that they offer a far more flexible and portable learning environment. Any place with an internet connection, such as a student’s home, library, or community center, can give them access to their virtual desktops. This sort of revolutionizes how a student learns even when they are not in a classroom. Students can log in from the comfort of their home and participate in the class remotely. Furthermore, regardless of the device’s operating system, whether it’s Windows or Mac computers, virtual desktops can still be utilized.
Unprecedented Security
Virtual desktops can also hugely enhance the security of the learning environments. When using virtual desktops, all data and applications are stored in the cloud, rather than on local devices. This means that if a laptop or tablet is lost or stolen, the data stored on it remains safe and secure. Moreover, virtual desktops can be configured to only allow access to authorized users, and IT administrators can monitor and manage user access and security.
Seamless Disaster Recovery
Virtual desktops also offer schools the advantage of seamless disaster recovery. In case of a natural disaster, power outage, or any other event that could disrupt the school’s operations, virtual desktops can be accessed from any location and from any device that has an internet connection. This ensures that students and staff can continue learning and teaching, without any disruption, as long as they have access to an internet-connected device. Moreover, since all data and applications are stored in the cloud, there is no risk of losing important information due to any unforeseen event.
More Processing Power
With virtual desktops, schools can now access the latest software and applications without the need for intensive hardware to host and sustain data. This is possible thanks to the powerful processing capabilities of cloud computing, which can handle the latest Windows 10 version. By eliminating the need for hardware and the related peripherals, schools can instead rely entirely on the processing power and storage capacity of the cloud, saving much time and many resources in the process.
Conclusion
We as educators and innovators have an enormous responsibility of making our students ready for the future and the very first step towards this mission is to transform the learning experiences thoroughly. This is only possible when we consciously adopt new innovations and technologies into the teaching-learning spectrum and help students indulge in the wonderment of new discoveries, traverse the path to true knowledge, and give them the necessary tools to discover paradigms in learning, which were hitherto unavailable to them. Today we are at the edge of the information age, looking towards the new horizon, brought on by AI, AR and other innovations. It is high time we prepared plans to set our students up for success in the increasingly digital world of now and of the future.