Abstract: Cloud computing represents an architecture and paradigm of computing designed to deliver infrastructure, platforms, and software as constructible computing resources on demand to networked users. As campuses are challenged to better accommodate academic needs for applications and computing environments, cloud computing can provide an accommodating solution for mobile, campus laboratory, and distance computing. The need for ubiquitous software deployments, virtual environments, software acceleration, economies of scale, and on-demand services points to cloud computing solutions for expedient network access to a pool of shared resources. In this baseline study, as part of a nascent research track, the researchers examine a proposed design for cloud computing at Southern Polytechnic State University to support action research, applied learning and practical, real-world student experiences at the university. Access to university cloud computing resources via an academic research network, physically isolated from the current production network, is proposed. Following a system development life-cycle methodology, design criteria are derived from an analysis of focus group data involving questions related to academic research, applied instruction, and experiential and service learning. Presentation of findings occurs in the form of a use case and architectural topology rendering to be used as a basis for follow-on study in this research track. Physical implementation of cloud computing models at the University can follow this roadmap as the research track unfolds and data are collected to analyze and evaluate for optimal cloud architecture in support of research and education.

Keywords: applied learning, Cloud Computing, infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), Virtualization

Download this article: ISEDJ - V11 N2 Page 15.pdf

Recommended Citation: Conn, S., Reichgelt, H. (2013). Cloud Computing in Support of Applied Learning: A Baseline Study of Infrastructure Design at Southern Polytechnic State University . Information Systems Education Journal, 11(2) pp 15-22. http://isedj.org/2013-11/ ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2012)