First of all, we should know that there are a significant number of cloud computing standards and specifications that are still in draft form; several organizations are doing significant efforts to avoid duplication and contradiction in terminology about cloud computing.

For an example, the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) defines Cloud Computing as:

a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models. (NIST, 2011: http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-145/SP800-145.pdf)

The NIST definition gives a point of view about cloud computing that can be useful to understand the concept, and as consumers be able to compare cloud services from a baseline. I suggest you to review the full standard and maybe we can dialogue about the Cloud essentials characteristics in the community to get a deep knowledge about this subject.

Samples of software for education with this technology:

-There is a research project in Spain financed by HP Labs named “Rural Schools Virtual Communities for Education in the Cloud”. Here is a video that explains what it is: http://youtu.be/12qkbusBQCQ,

-Moodle hosting on Cloud services (like in Amazon): http://www.moodlenews.com/2012/moodle-hosting-on-amazon-cloud-services-for-15mo-amazon-aws/

Finally, I recommend you to check out this nice cloud infographic made by Bessemer Venture Partners in 2011 where you can find several end user cloud applications: http://omnilligence.net/cloud-computing-infographic/cloud-infographic-top-computing-vendors-the-1183926/