Cloud Video Conferencing for Geographically Distributed Colleges

This paper will discuss the use of cloud-based video conferencing services across a geographically dispersed college system – to improve communication amongst academic staff and to provide access to educational programmes for small, scattered cohorts of students. The paper will discuss student acceptance of the technology and will present guidelines for making course delivery more effective and interactive, as well as explore new techniques that transform traditional closed classes into open global hubs that can integrate customized seminars and incorporate specialist guest speakers. It will also investigate the utilisation of this technology at the Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE, and compare it to traditional video conferencing rooms in terms of cost, access and utilisation. Concluding remarks will be presented and discussed at the end of the paper. 1