Exposition of Integrating Cloud Computing in Information and Communication Technology Courses in Higher Education

The powerful processing mainframes and thinclient time-sharing model in the 1950s have evolved, with the invention of the internet; to a contemporary model we now call Cloud Computing (CC). Governments are enforcing the shift to CC like no other technology due to its cost effectiveness. However, the shift to CC in education is slower than industry. In this paper, we attempt to answer a question as to how would CC be useful for teaching and learning Information and Communication Technology (ICT) courses in higher education institutions (HEIs). We discuss key challenges and possible opportunities in integrating CC in education. The reviewed literature reveals key challenges namely, controversy about CC definition, concerns about trust due to vendor-lock, security concerns, a new form of a digital divide, and the need to develop academics skills. On the other hand, integrating CC in ICT courses in HEIs allows experiential learning and facilitates a new paradigm for learning spaces. This research is limited to the selected literature. Further empirical research about the impact of integrating CC in the classroom is required.