Enhance Course Materals With iTunes U

Another product by Apple that recently announced after iBooks 2 and iBooks Author is iTunes U application. iTunes U is an application that allow teacher to manage the course material through iPad and distribute it to the students without attending class. The teacher upload materials, lessons, syllabi and even books from iBooks Author via iTunes U and the students can download it via iTunes U either.

iTunes U

Apple iTunes U offers integrated full course materials with interactive media. First time opening this application, you will be greeted by a typical mahogany bookshelf display similar to iBooks. The bookshelf consists of courses materials arranged in an individual book, much the same way in iBooks application. Simply touch the course materials you choose to see its contents. Once you open it, you will be greeted first by information page consists of course overview, course outline, instructor information, fundamental course and course credit info. Along the right side, there are tabs which provide access to posts, course notes and index of all course materials.

The main content of courses is provided in Posts section, just touch the Post tab on the right side to open it. Post section provides various course concepts and direct access to relevant textbooks or lecture materials. In addition, there are also list along with checkboxes that help the students manage their progress within the course materials. Course materials come with different media, not just a boring textbook. It can be video or audio lectures, interactive textbooks or external link to certain websites. To be able to access video or audio materials, you have to download it first and it will be stored in the media library. You can open it within the iTunes U applications or outside the applications. Some of additional features related to video materials include portrait view orientation as well as controls buttons.

Books including textbooks are downloaded into iBooks that display them similar to any other iBook or PDF files. While reading the textbook, you can directly take notes and highlight them. Note and highlight will automatically display under the Notes section for the course in iTunes U. You may also create free-form course notes and send them via email or print them directly within the application.

Come the material section, it consists of indexes of all course materials that are listed in the posts section as well as additional materials. Materials are arranged in type, for example videos, books, application, etc. There is also an Edit buttons to view or remove any course materials. On the top right corner, there is a setting button to enable or disable subscriptions as well as automatic download of course content.

One thing that should keep in mind, in order to fully experience those features of iTunes U application, the courses materials should also specifically designed supporting those features as well. Overall, it a great application to enhance the way students learn as well as bring ups interactive course materials. Along with iBooks 2 and iBooks Author, iTunes 2 can be considered as a major step in turning iPad and other Apple iOS devices into educational tools.