How students learn in the cloud

One goal of the program is to get students interested in information technology sooner, Malloy said. That could lead to more IT college majors. Educators also say they hope cloud computing will help students learn more by letting them log on to the program from home. Instead of playing FarmVille or Xbox 360 during their free time, students can use high-end VCL-based software to continue their studies or spark their interest in photography, architectural design and engineering.

William Logan, principal of Hillside New Tech, says his school was chosen because of its emphasis on computer-assisted education.

"We have a one-to-one student-to-computer ratio in each of our classes, and we require our students to use technology on a daily basis to complete their assignments," he said. "We also have a learning platform called 'Echo,' which allows our students to go online to check their assignments and submit their finished work....