Thirty-First International Conference on Learning

Abstract

This paper explores the educational potential of cloud computing, and how it can be used in enhancing interactions between students and lecturers to better improve the teaching and learning process to advance the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in higher education. Espousal of the ideals of SoTL is considered a crucial approach for transforming the higher education context that is currently in a state of evolution because of advances in information and communications technology and the changing needs of students. This is a qualitative study in which a purposive sample of fifteen postgraduate students in the Department of Mathematics Education participated in. Data was collected through interviews. Thematic analysis was used to report the findings. Three themes emerged from the data analysis are: personal workspace, online collaboration, and convenient tool to engage in the scholarship of teaching and learning. The paper reports that cloud computing as an online platform can enable lecturers and students to practice the ideals of SoTL. Using the cloud approach in teaching and learning, everyone can work on the same document at the same time to make corrections and improve it dynamically in a collaborative manner. Cloud computing as an online tool has a significant place in higher education since the correct use of online tools can improve engagement among students and lecturers in a cost-effective manner. Although, there are security concerns, but they do not overshadow the benefits.