Implementation of Cloud-based Virtual Labs for Educational Purposes

Cloud computing is used to provide users with computer resources on-demand any time over the Internet. eLearning systems usually require many hardware and software resources. There are numerous educational institutions that cannot afford such investments, and cloud computing is the best solution for them. For educational purposes lecturers and researchers can leverage cloud computing to enhance their e-learning experience. The main objective of this paper is to present how the cloud computing provides on-demand virtual desktops for problem solving, on-demand virtual labs for special courses. The focus is how cloud services can be used, how they can be integrated into the existing infrastructure, and how new didactic models could look. The proposed solution helps in significant savings when compared to the cost of physical infrastructure procurement and maintenance for the user institution as well as the entire science and higher learning community.