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:

• Brown University – Apple pilot program has students listening to lectures on the run
• Duke University – iTunes U Making Impact at Duke
• Stanford University – ‘Stanford On ITunes’ Is For Everybody

The Chronicle of Higher Education

• I Upload Audio, Therefore I Teach
• Berkeley Offers Free Podcasts of Courses Through iTunes
• Stanford U. Makes Podcasts of Lectures Available Through Apple’s iTunes

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

• January 2007 – UIS on iTunes U launched
• August 2009 – UIS listed on iTunes Store

 

UIS on iTunes U Team

• Andrew Fitzpatrick
• Clay Bellot
• Munindra Khaund
• Ralph Shank
• Sherry Hutson
• Terry Powell
• Tulio Llosa
• Uttra Singh