High School Students Building Clouds in Computer Networking Class

Most technology experts predict enterprises will continue adopting cloud computing during the coming years, but increased cloud usage creates a need for IT employees with experience and skills related to the cloud.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City-area high school students in Granite Technical Institute's computer-networking class are already learning the intricacies of building a cloud-based system. The class teaches students how to implement a cloud solution from the ground up, and provides lessons regarding security in a cloud environment.

"It gives them the fundamentals and allows them to take the experience to potential employers and say, 'Not only do I have experience with cloud computing, but this is what I've built,'" Chris Grayson, an instructional designer for innovation at Utah-based technology company Novell, told the source.

The class is also a testing ground for Novell, which provided students with a cloud-computing manual and a learning course, the report said.

Meanwhile, Granite students have quickly realized the cloud's immense future in technology, and many are excited about future job prospects in the industry. Cloud computing has generated enough student interest in the networking class that the institution is building a cloud lab.

"The cloud, from what I've seen, it will be the future," said Kenny Huynh, a senior who commutes to Granite twice per week for its networking class, as reported by the source. "With the cloud and the virtual machines, you can make it so one really strong computer can do what five decent computers can do."

According to a recent report by WANTED Analystics, an increasing amount of IT positions now require cloud-related skills. The report tracked job postings during a 90-day period, and the number of new ads for positions requiring cloud skills increased 61 percent year over year.