Classroom in the cloud will take teaching and learning at Birmingham Metropolitan College into a new education era.
BMET today announced a ground-breaking initiative with IBM (NYSE:IBM) which will transform the way in which learning is delivered.
From September 2012, students will be able to access learning materials at any time from any place and through any device, on demand, using cloud computing technology. Dr Julie Nugent who is leading the project commented “We recognise that today’s students have much greater access to technology – the increasing growth of social media as well as the use of mobile devices has transformed the way we live our lives. Education doesn’t have to just react to these changes but should lead the way in showing students the possibilities technology can provide them with.”
Having tried BMET’s classroom in the cloud trial, Emma Love, Teacher Training student said, “My experience of IBM SmartCloud for Social Business was as exciting as it was inspirational. The potential for teaching and learning opportunities is now a far more flexible and interesting new journey for us all. It’s clear that exciting times lay ahead.”
“Birmingham Metropolitan College understands the potential of using cloud computing to create learning experiences that complement the digital lifestyles of today,” commented Cailean Hargrave, Education Business Development Manager, IBM. “Students will be learning new skills for tomorrow’s workplace.”
Christine Braddock, Principal and Chief Executive of BMET added, “Our classroom in the cloud will enable us to reach into new domestic and international markets. IBM has brought us new smarter ways of working.”
BMET has recently supplied staff with tablets and laptops and the College is known for its forward thinking approach, recently winning the Times Education Supplement Further Education award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.
The relationship with IBM will see BMET staff and students input suggestions for the future development of IBM SmartCloud for Social Business. BMET will also join a global community of the world’s most successful Higher Education and Further Education institutions as part of the IBM Cloud Academy where they will collaborate and share best practice, furthering the use of cloud computing technology within education.
