Cloud Computing: Providing Tools to Enable Next-generation Case-Based Learning in Undergraduate MIS Courses

Cloud computing technology has been receiving a lot of attention the last decade or so, with an apparent impact on the lifestyle of the current generation of students by offering numerous technological opportunities to enhance their education. The current study examines the deployment of case-based learning (CBL) in Google’s Cloud for educational purposes. Students and lecturers perceptions regarding the practices of CBL in a cloud environment are explored in terms of teaching process design, facilitation, and cloud technology tools and services. Without any loss of generalization, the target group of the study consisted of MIS undergraduate students and the study results concluded that CBL is a valuable learning practice when used in a cloud environment as it allows students to explore, analyze and discuss complex real-world situations and problems. Furthermore, it aims to help students acquire theoretical and practical understanding of the subject as well as develop critical reasoning skills. The paper also addresses the issues of using cloud computing tools (Communication, Collaboration, Authoring) for pedagogical facilitation of CBL activities