Cloud Computing in Education and Student's Needs E. Krelja Kurelović*, S. Rako**, J. Tomljanović*** *Polytechnic of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, Rijeka, Croatia elena@veleri.hr ** University Computing Centre, J. Marohnića 5, Zagreb, Croatia sabina.rako@srce.hr *** Polytechnic of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, Rijeka, Croatia jasminka.tomljanovic@veleri.hr Abstract: Cloud computing is not just a buzz-word, it represents a strong direction of IT industry development. Speaking of cloud computing we should distinguish three different service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). The scope of this work is a model of Software as a Service. This represents the lease of computing resources on a network of remote servers where applications are executed and data is stored. The application of cloud computing is very broad and growing daily because of many advantages to the users, and is driven by the increasing use of various mobile devices (laptops, tablets and smartphones) and mobile Internet access being more available. Cloud computing is applicable in education, but it implies the acceptance of these services by all involved in the educational process. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to investigate whether there is a need between our students for applications and services in the "cloud" (SaaS), the extent to which they use them and what types of applications and services are leading. The paper analyzes and interprets the results of this study which provides indications of students’ willingness to "move to the cloud". Keywords: cloud computing, Software as a Service, education, students I. INTRODUCTION In the last couple of years "cloud computing" has increasingly been discussed. This is a relatively new trend of IT industry development, focused on users, and driven by the increasing use of various mobile devices such as laptops, tablet PCs and smartphones. Research has shown that it is one of the fastest growing sectors of the digital economy. European governments and industry plan to invest 45 billion euros in the development of cloud computing by the year 2020 [15]. In cloud computing networks of remote servers, storage systems (data centers and server farms) and their resources are being used upon user request. Term "cloud" is used as a metaphor for the Internet since it doesn't matter where the hardware and software resources that are used are located [14]. For IT professionals cloud computing is a new business model and a new technology platform for developing and deploying applications, and for end-users a new and cheaper way to use applications [3]. Cloud computing has many advantages but also some limitations, both arising from the fact that all data and applications are located somewhere on the Internet. It can be used in various activities of everyday life, including in education. In addition to providing students and teachers (usually free of charge) access to many applications and services in the cloud, which can be used in formal and informal education, cloud computing allows for greater flexibility and mobility in the use of resources for teaching and learning, greater degree of collaboration, communication and sharing of resources, and creates a personalized learning environment or virtual communities of learning and teaching. II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK National Institute of Standards and Technology of U.S. Department of Commerce 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“ [10]. Gartner defines cloud computing as a „style of computing in which scalable and elastic IT-enabled capabilities are delivered as a service using Internet technologies“ [16]. „For everyday users of the Internet and computers, cloud computing is any online activity, such as accessing data or using a software program, which can be done form different devices regardless of the on-ramp to the Internet, as in Figure 1. In this vision, the data or software applications are not stored on the user's computer, but rather are accessed through the web from any device at any location a person can 856 MIPRO 2013/CE