Distance Learning with iTunes University

October 17, 10:10 AMRichmond Distance Learning ExaminerCindy Wolfe

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iTunes University takes distance learning access to a whole new level.
Image by crass

Distance learning takes on a new dimension with iTunes University. Apple's iTunes U opens the doors to learning to an even broader audience than the campus classroom. Available through the iTunes Store, iTunes U boasts over 200,000 educational video and audio files. Anyone with an iPhone, iPod Touch, or computer can access the database of quality lectures, course materials, seminars, and podcasts. Much of the content is available to download free of charge.

Free iTunes software is required and must be downloaded for access to iTunes University files. You can downloaded it here from the Apple website. Browse the selections available in Education section and download those that you find interesting (or your professor requires!). The videos and podcasts can also be downloaded and watched on a computer or even a game console with internet access.

iTunes U is a free service to qualifying educational and learning institutions, and content can be password-protected or open to all iTunes visitors. Schools can also choose to deliver content in both ways, making certain lectures specific to students in a specific class and others open to the general public.

You can study for finals at MIT, catch the psych lecture you missed at Stanford, review a syllabus and course materials at the University of Oxford, or listen to PRI Public Radio International reports on foreign policy. On the Berkeley iTunes site, watch for free some anthropology lectures, discover sports opportunities, or review a talk on the French Revolution.

Learn a new language from a well-known professor or find out more about a college by watching or listening to their campus tour recruitment video and podcast. Even if you attend another university or are just interested in learning, iTunes U is always ready.

iTunes U is also a great learning portal for those with disabilities or unable to attend a traditional classroom. The iPod Touch and iPhone have apps for created specifically for students who have cognitive or other learning disabilities. Learn more about these apps on the Literacy and Learning page on the iTunes Education website.

Students walking across campus with headphones may not be listening to their favorite band - they may be doing their homework. iTunes University takes distance learning access to a whole new level by making learning happen anywhere.

©Cindy Wolfe, all rights reserved.

Learn more:

Apple Mobile Learning and iTunes
iTunes Education: Literacy and Learning page
Free iTunes software download
YouTube: Introduction to iTunes U
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on iTunes U
University of California, Berkeley, on iTunes U
Stanford University on iTunes U

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