LaunchPad

Cloud Drive

Cloud Drive works just like your own computer hard drive, but with more tools, security and flexibility. You can share and edit all of your files from any device. Simple.

Flex Edit- Edit files with free online software or use your own.

Network Connect- Remotely access files stored at school.

Time Machine- Recover lost files and never lose a file again.

File Migrate- Upload all your files to your cloud drive today.

Secure- Access is encrypted using ssl/https.

Virtual Desktop View

Virtual View is your personal cloud desktop. It has instant access to all your software, files and collaboration tools.

My Apps- build your own library of educational apps.

App Library- 100’s of screened educational apps at your fingertips.

Single Sign On- store logins for 1-click access to software.

Remote Windows Apps- run Windows apps from any device* (requires java).

Instructional Desktop View

Instructional View is your personal view of all your classes. It has instant access to all your classwork, drop box, calendar and collaboration tools.

Lesson Pages - Create rich pages with videos, images, and content.

Discuss- Moderated discussion threads linked to a class.

Chalkboard- Realtime interactive whiteboard linked to a class.

Drop Box- Collect and organize work for each class.

Calendar- See entries for one or all classes at a glance.

Share and Collaboration

LaunchPad includes a powerful suite of collaborative tools in both the Virtual and Instructional Views. Instantly communicate with users in your school.

Real Time Chat- Chat with teachers and students in your classes.

Whiteboard- Collaborative whiteboard. (requires flash)

Collaborative Docs- Share documents and type with friends simultaneously.

Screen Share- Share your screen even across different devices. (requires flash)

Web Cam- Have a web cam? Instantly start web cam sessions. (requires flash)

Network Connect

Login to LaunchPad with your existing network login and you can continue to manage users through your Microsoft Active Directory, Novell eDirectory or LDAP.

Secure- Access is encrypted with SSL HTTPS

No New Logins- Use your existing usernames and passwords.

10 Minute Setup- Grant cloud computing to your users in minutes.

Security and Scalability

Login and private data access is encrypted using SSL/https, the same technology used by banks. With LaunchPad, your access is more secure than your own school network!

High Availability- Over 99% uptime guarantee in our cloud data center.

Bank Level Security- Private data access is encrypted using SSL/https.

Ramp Up Capacity- Scale-able to all users accessing at the same time.

Want to see the full feature list? View Full LaunchPad Feature List →

Cloud Computing Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is cloud computing?
2. What is cloud computing in education?
3. What is a Virtual Desktop/Instructional Desktop?
4. Why would a school system implement cloud computing?
5. Does cloud computing mean less flexibility for end users?
6. Is Cloud computing an ‘all or nothing’ proposition?
7. What are the advantages of cloud computing?

What is cloud computing?

As defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cloud computing is a model for enabling 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.

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What is cloud computing in education?

The education ‘Cloud’ refers to a collection of cloud computing resources that are provisioned unique to the needs of the education enterprise. In an education enterprise cloud services constitute services such as a virtual student portfolio (ePortfolio), Student Information System (grades, performance tracking, attendance and reporting), electronic assessment tools, along with an array of instructional applications (Math, Science, Language Arts, etc). Unlike cloud services designed for the working professional, the education cloud, and services rendered by this cloud, must heed Federal (FERPA) and other (COPPA) security and privacy measures unique to the under-age population of students served by the education cloud. The education cloud also has various ‘audiences’ which include the student, teacher, administrator and parent. Each user requires a unique set of applications and services unique to their role in the education ecosystem, each with unique credentials for accessing tools and services in the cloud.

There are two basic types of cloud infrastructures: internal (or “private”) and external (or “public”). In aprivate education cloud, servers, software resources, and IT expertise are used inside the school system (at a District, or Regional Education Service Provider for example) to build a scalable infrastructure that meets cloud computing requirements from end-users. In a public cloud, service providers (vendors such as Amazon, Google, and many others) sell on-demand, shared services to a school and/or school system. In most cases, with public cloud service providers, information technology support, services and expertise are included in the package; the school system only needs to run the provided applications and services. The decision to implement private cloud services is a function of the breadth and depth of personnel and equipment that can be dedicated to building and servicing the private cloud and the availability of a secure and reliable network and physical plant infrastructure in which to co-locate the various servers (application and storage) required to host cloud services. Alternatively, in a public cloud, the various tools, information technology, applications, storage, networks, and servers, are offered as a ‘Service’ to the school system which simplifies, and offers potential for substantial cost savings and efficiency.

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What is a Virtual Desktop/Instructional Desktop?

When appropriately implemented cloud computing enables the creation and delivery of a ‘virtual desktop’ for each user. This ‘virtual desktop’ can be tuned to the unique needs of each user (teacher, student, administrator) based on the users’ unique information and computing needs and the ‘credentials’ for this user as established by school system IT personnel. Conversely, in a typical implementation of computing infrastructure, end-user files and applications are stored and accessed from the local hard drive (or solid state flash drive) of an end user computer and thus the end-user (or an IT support person) is tasked with managing and maintaining, and keeping current, the suite of files and applications stored on the local computer. In K12 education, this support of end-user devices is an extraordinary challenge given often limited availability of IT support personnel. In an education cloud implementation these same applications and files are delivered to the computer (via a public or private network connection) from the cloud. The end user desktop is now ‘virtualized’ and rendered visible to the client computer (whether laptop, tablet, traditional desktop, thin-client, netbook, or mobile smartphone) unique to each user profile. This effectively lowers administration costs of computing (particularly in one-to-one computing environments) and provides a centralized environment from which services can be provisioned and managed. Using a virtual desktop an end-user student, for example, can access their files, applications, and learning tools, from any machine, anywhere, so long as this device has access to the public or private network infrastructure.

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Why would a school system implement cloud computing?

School systems have struggled with implementation of computer assisted instruction at scale. Scale is defined as a one-to-one learning environment in which each student, and educator, has always on access to their own personal learning device (a laptop, netbook, smartphone, or other internet enabled device). Presently, most schools offer one computer for every 3.5 students. This ratio of students to computers renders technology in schools as purely supplemental tools which augment otherwise traditional methods of teaching and learning (stand up, teacher led instruction drawing from traditional print core and supplementary instructional materials). Moving to a ratio of 1:1 is an impossible task for school system IT support personnel to sustain given limited staff allocations. Cloud computing provides school systems the ability to increase the number of devices supported (e.g., achieve a ratio of one student per device) without adding more IT staff. In short, cloud services provide an affordable and scalable means to manage a vast number of end-users without having to ‘touch’ or otherwise support the end-user computing platform. This also frees up valuable dollars invested in ‘edge’ devices (which can now draw from an increasing palette of inexpensive appliances such as the netbook, or smartphone) into tools and applications that enhance instructional services delivered to the student.

In addition to providing a means to achieve 1:1 learning, cloud computing also lowers the cost of administration of applications and content accessed through the cloud. Rather than supporting a wide array of servers deployed at local school buildings, IT personnel can now ‘update once’ the cloud applications and this update rendered automatically on the virtual desktops of the end users.

Also, in addition to enabling scale in the delivery of technology for the education enterprise, cloud computing allows for cost- and energy-efficient centralization of school infrastructures. It takes advantage of server capabilities to adjust allocation based on demand – all invisible to teachers and students. Remote management and maintenance can save time and increase security. For instance, an application or operating system served by the cloud can be upgraded once at the server level, rather than on each individual platform. Platform access can be restricted or denied in the event of loss or theft of the end user device. [Courtesy Intel Corporation Cloud Computing Brief]

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Does cloud computing mean less flexibility for end users?

On the contrary, along with greater control for IT comes increased flexibility for end users (teacher and student alike). They can select from the entire pool of available applications those which best complement their curriculum and students at any given time. The wide range of Internet-based software and tools can also be quickly and easily served by the cloud. And, through implementation of Single Sign On (SSO) access to these applications, the end-user no longer has to maintain a wide array of passwords and user names in order to access their needed tools. [Portions excerpted from Intel cloud computing Brief]

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Is Cloud computing an ‘all or nothing’ proposition?

No, school systems can decide what elements of the cloud they would like to host internally (at the school district data center for example, or at the local school building if desired) versus served in the ‘cloud’. The ‘cloud’ can also be a private cloud (for the school or school district), shared with other districts in the region or available through a regional education service provider (e.g., Education Services Cooperative such as BOCES, or Region Service Centers), or public (accessible by a much wider group of users on the Internet). Hybrid clouds often reflect a combination of public and private access.

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What are the advantages of cloud computing?

Cloud computing allows the education enterprise to accelerate the pace of implementation of 1:1 learning programs. By investing in scalable cloud delivered infrastructure and services education 1dollars can now be more strategically targeted at achieving a manageable ratio of one learner, and one educator, per learning device. This movement to 1:1 learning infrastructure and access ensures that instructional services and tools can be tailored to the needs of the individual thereby allowing school systems to implement instructional services that yield the highest performance gains for their unique and differentiated population of students. Cloud services also allow school systems to embrace student owned technology (e.g., laptops purchased by students and/or parents of students) accelerating the pace at which ‘consumer’ adoption of technology can be integrated with school supported tools and services.

In addition to achieving the mission of schools (to increase student graduation rates and college attendance rates) cloud computing also simplifies, speeds the implementation and reduces the cost of, operation and maintenance of complex IT infrastructure to support teaching and learning. IT professionals, educators, and all stakeholders can now invest their expertise into designing effective teaching and learning strategies rather than infrastructure procurement and implementation. Cloud services also simplify the relationship with multiple vendors (both in terms of licensing and provisioning). Platform(s) and applications can be on premises, off premises, or a combination of both, depending on the needs of the school system and availability of network access and infrastructure at individual school buildings. Cloud computing also allows schools to choose a subscription or a ‘pay as you go’ or ‘pay as you use’ plan for instructional tools and applications.

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