Google's applications for undergraduate University courses: Tools for sharing, communication, and collaboration

Following technology's evolution and society's needs and demands, the current study examines the integration of cloud computing with higher education. The study uses cloud computing, and specifically Google applications, to enable students and faculty to communicate and collaborate, aiming at the same time to develop a student-centered learning (SCL) environment, where students have an active role and take responsibility of their own learning. A case study approach was employed in three undergraduate courses using qualitative data through online activity observations as well as focus groups with the students and lecturer. To achieve the above, outcome and process evaluation were conducted. The primary conclusion is that Google applications facilitated the development of a SCL environment. Specifically, the SCL cloud environment enhanced students' motivation and responsibility towards learning, built student-teacher relationships, promoted active learning, and finally, achieved the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills.