OVERVIEW
iTunes U is a free, cross-platform multimedia distribution and learning environment system wherein educational content - course audio/video lectures and supplemental course-related material - is hosted online and made available to students. In addition to course-related material, lectures and presentations from UIS public events, sports, news broadcasts, and concerts can be delivered through iTunes U.
Students can download course-related content from iTunes U using a Windows PC or a Mac, or take it with them using an MP3 player. Students can access iTunes U content from Blackboard with one click. With secure authentication, content within iTunes U can be restricted to registered students, faculty, or staff, or it can be made available to all, depending on an instructor's request.
From a technical standpoint, the service is completely cross-platform for Windows PC or Mac. iTunes U supports many file formats, including mp3, wav, aiff, Apple Lossless, aac audio, and mp4 video.
An iPod is not necessary to play the audio [mp3] files and the files can be played on a variety of devices including your desktop computer.
The University of Illinois at Springfield joins the following elite institutions as an iTunes U campus:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Project Timeline for UIS on iTunes U
- June 2005 - Apple releases iTunes 4.9
- August 2005 - First course-related podcasts and vodcasts at UIS
- September 2005 - The Journal covers podcasting/vodcasting at UIS
- October 2005 - The State Journal Register covers podcasting at UIS
- October 2005 - EdTech Luncheon Series launched; covers podcasting as a communication tool
- October 2005 - "What's New at UIS" podcast released
- January 2006 - Course-related podcast requests increase
- March 2006 - Submit application for iTunes U
- April 2006 - "University of Illinois at Springfield Presents..." podcast launched
- May 2006 - Apple approves UIS as an iTunes U campus; UIS joins universities of Brown, Duke, Berkeley, and Stanford; Michigan [School of Dentistry]; Missouri [School of Journalism]; and University of Wisconsin at Madison as an iTunes U campus.
- June 2006 - Ensure legal paperwork is in place for iTunes U
- June 2006 - Sign SLA from Apple
- June 2006 - MTV Think News covers podcasting at UIS
- July 2006 - Develop documentation for iTunes U
- July 2006 - Develop metadata for iTunes U content
- July 2006 - Develop webpage for front-end access
- July 2006 - Develop sample skins for the iTunes interface
- July 2006 - Develop branding mechanisms for programs/departments
- July 2006 - Receive "example scripts" from Apple pertaining to authentication and authorization.
- October - November 2006 - Put the framework in place for authentication and authorization.
- December 2006 - Testing
UIS on iTunes U Team
Andrew Fitzpatrick
Clay Bellot
Munindra Khaund
Ralph Shank
Sherry Hutson
Terry Powell
Tulio Llosa
Uttra Singh
return to top
