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HOWTO: Enhance Course Materials with iTunes U

by Steven B. Combs, Ph.D. Topic: Presentations

Hot on the heels of my Apple TV: “Out of the Living Room and into the Classroom” presentation, I have prepared another entitled, Enhance Course Materials with iTunes U. This presentation was held on January 10th, 2013 from 12:00 - 1:00PM in Poling Hall, Room 201 on the Ivy Tech Columbus campus.

In this post, you will find my presentation outline that includes all the links (and a few more) shared during my 45 minute talk. As always, feel free to add comments or ask questions using the comments section at the bottom of this post.

Opening

  • Welcome
  • About me
  • About the presentation
  • Who are the Mac, iPad or iPhone users in the room?
  • Who are the PC users in the room?

iTunes

  • Gateway to iTunes U
  • Download available for Mac and PC
  • iTunes features include:
    • Music - search, purchase and download music
    • Movies - search, purchase and download movies
    • TV Shows - search, purchase and download TV Shows
    • App Store - search, purchase and download iOS apps
    • Books - search, purchase books to read in iBooks
    • Podcasts - search and subscribe to podcasts
    • iTunes U - search and subscribe to educational content (the main topic of today’s conversation)
  • Link to iTunes content to share online or within a course management system system such as Blackboard
  • Locate and create a link demonstration - the secret sauce

iTunes U

  • Gateway to amazing, and free, instructional resources
  • Accessible through iTunes
  • Content from a wide variety of K–12 and higher education providers
  • Review all content entirely before adding to your own course materials
  • Follow iTunes U on twitter to learn about new content additions
  • Learn more on the Apple iTunes U page

Sample iTunes U Resources

Let’s take a look at some unique iTunes U content available for your course:

iTunes U Course Manager

  • Free. browser based, online content management system to consolidate iTunes U and traditional course resources
  • Link: iTunes U Course Manager
  • Supplement your traditional course materials
  • Easy to maintain and manage
  • Does not include collaboration or assessment tools
  • iTunes U Course Manager demonstration

iBooks Author

  • Optional companion product to iTunes U Course Manager
  • Free in the Mac App Store
  • Simple to use electronic book authoring
  • Interactive components to enhance content
  • Self publish!!!
  • iBooks OS X

iTunes U iOS App

  • It all comes together for the student in the iTunes U iOS app for iPhone and iPad
  • Provides access to course content including:
    • Course information
    • Course overview
    • Instructor information
    • Course outline
    • About the course
    • Posts - formatted weekly
    • Notes - consolidated and can be shared from the app
    • All notes
    • Course notes
    • Audio/Video notes
    • Book notes
    • Materials - consolidated
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
    • Images
  • iTunes U iOS app demonstration

iBooks iOS App

  • Access to the entire collection of books in the iTunes store
  • Students use iBooks to view the course textbook on an iPhone or iPad
  • iBooks demonstration

Conclusion

  • Its free, so give it a try
  • Include a few resources from iTunes U within your current course materials
  • Slowly add resources to a closed course within the iTunes U Course Manager
  • Finalize and publish your course for students to access
  • Self publish your own textbook
  • Drop a comment below and share your experiences

Questions and Discussion


Additional Resources

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