[access-uk] How to study for university courses with the iTunes U app | News | TechRadar

From: Gordon Keen <gordonkeen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2012 15:01:38 +0100

No student debt involved!
http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/how-to-study-for-university-courses-with-the-itunes-u-app-1082690

How to study for university courses with the iTunes U app

iTunes U courses cover a wide range of topics, from science and religion to art
and literature
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Don't be ashamed if you've never used or even heard of iTunes U. It's a rare
and acquired taste. While it might not be as flashy as app and music downloads,
iTunes U is nevertheless an important tool for universities and their students.

In its incarnation as an app, it's also far more appealing to everyday iTunes
users with inquiring minds.

iTunes U isn't a new service: it was announced in 2007 as a way for educational
institutions to share content to their students and the world at large.
Beginning with major universities such as Harvard and Yale, a wide range of
courses are made available through iTunes U as audio and video files on the
iTunes Store.

Many of these can be subscribed to so users receive the latest classes as they
are released. Courses available on iTunes U range from arts and literature to
science and technology, and are the exact same lectures given to enrolled
students at universities worldwide.

This means, despite the fact you won't end up with a BA, MA or any other form
of official educational certificate, you have the option to study an entire
university course of your choosing with just an iTunes Store account as your
gateway to entry. So, if you fancy yourself as a total swot or just want to
learn about a topic that interests you, iTunes has long been a great place to
head.

iTunes U has its own section on the iTunes Store and allows you to search by
university or a specific topic. And while there are plenty of deep and
challenging courses on offer, there are a number of foundation courses too, so
all education and experience levels are catered for.

Since the initial fanfare at the launch of iTunes U, little has been mentioned
of it in releases from Apple or in the press. But it has quietly continued
introducing new content and new universities over the past few years. iTunes U
now boasts a roster of more than a thousand universities and colleges, offering
more than 500,000 audio and video files. And according to Eddy Cue (Apple's
Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services), iTunes U has seen 700
million downloads in the four years it has been around.

Essentially a series of educational podcasts, any educational body can set up
an iTunes U page for free and share courses with anyone wishing to download the
content, which is also free.

Old dog, new tricks

You would be forgiven for missing the announcement regarding iTunes U at
Apple's January press event that (among other educational topics) primarily
concerned iBooks textbooks. The mention was brief and the launch not as
spectacular as the complete and free book-authoring platform, iBooks Author,
but the new, free iTunes U app is certainly worth investigating.

Rather than having to download and organise iTunes U courses through iTunes
(which you can still do if you prefer) the iTunes U app now does much of the
work for you - and more besides.

Its key difference, by comparison to accessing iTunes U via iTunes, is how the
information is sorted and delivered. Downloading a course through iTunes U is
now like downloading an app within an app. Whereas you once had to sync
lectures to your iPod, iPhone or iPad and search the web for related course
materials and further reading, you can now access courses and materials right
from your iOS device.

The app is designed, as with Apple's iBooks and Newsstand apps, around a wooden
bookshelf, and offers the same search and download experience as these apps,
but for educational content. Courses within the iTunes U app are broken up into
assignments such as passages to read, lectures to watch or tests to take, and
now follow a more structured path with the emphasis on learning.

As well as lectures, iTunes U gives access to additional course materials such
as books, links and apps. In effect, you get almost all the benefits of
university learning without the debt.

Accessing a course is now as simple as tapping on the Catalog button in the
iTunes U app and selecting a topic that interests you. The preview of a course
provides an overview of its key concepts, the option to subscribe for free as
well as a list of the materials that will be required.

Unfortunately, there are still a number of courses on the iTunes U catalog that
are yet to be optimised for the app and therefore only offer individual lecture
downloads and not materials or subscriptions. They can still be used with the
iTunes U app, however, and most will likely see updates as the new format
catches on.

Once you're subscribed, the course appears in your iTunes U library with a
badge on its cover to show how many posts are currently available within it.
The badge number changes as you complete stages or when new stages become
available.

Inside each course you download is a textbook-style layout that includes tabs
for different elements of the course. Tapping on the Info tab, for example,
will provide you with an overview of the course, information on the instructor
as well as a complete course outline. The university providing the content sets
the structure of the course and also links to the materials required to
complete it.

More often than not, these are simply audio or video files but, on occasion,
additional reading is required, so links to website and PDF files are also
included under the Posts and Materials tabs within the iTunes U app's interface.

These additional materials can also mean that a course isn't entirely free. For
example, on occasion you may be pointed toward a book download from iBooks or
even apps in some cases. Most of the time, however, the materials are free.

Course sections

The meat of a course is found under the Posts tab, with one post being an
individual section of the course. Each post focuses on a specific topic and
normally includes a video or audio lecture, additional reading, listening or
viewing and a test that recaps what you've learned.

Unlike using iTunes U through iTunes, materials such as lectures and PDF
documents aren't downloaded automatically, so you will need to add them as you
go by tapping the download button for each.

There is, however, an option on the Settings menu under the Materials tab that
enables you to turn automatic downloads on. It's also worth bearing in mind
that, with most courses offering several lecture video or audio files, an
iTunes U course will take up a lot of space on your iPad. If this is this case,
materials you no longer need can be deleted by tapping the trash can that
appears when you press the Info (i) button next to a material's description
under the Posts or Materials tabs.

You also have the option to stream audio and video lectures by tapping on them
rather than downloading them. Each element within a post has a checkbox next to
it, so you can mark the parts of the course you have completed before moving on
to the next to keep track of your progress. As you read through books for the
course in iBooks, you can also highlight and bookmark sections of interest that
then appear in the iTunes U Notes tab for future reference.

Within the Notes tab you can also add general notes or make additional notes on
the book sections you have highlighted. This feature not only makes it easier
to organise your learning but also helps you to study more efficiently by
bringing all of your notes and important highlights together in one location.

More to come

While only six universities (that had early access to the iTunes U app)
currently offer courses compatible with the new format, there are already
hundreds that users can choose from. And without doubt, there are plenty more
on the horizon. It's also likely that those institutions with standard iTunes U
content already available will update their materials to work better with the
iTunes U app.

This revamp of iTunes U is a testament to Apple's dedication to improving
education and provides benefit to both students and others by not only offering
access to world-class lectures but also the resources you need to completely
follow the course and learn the topic. Now that downloading iTunes U courses
isn't just about listening to or watching lectures, a new world of engagement
has been created for those who may have tried and failed to learn with iTunes U
before.

Those without the time or funds to attend university can now enjoy a great deal
of its benefits from the screen of their iPad. And while you can't put the
results of your iTunes U learning on your CV, the knowledge you gain is no less
important.

You also don't get support from tutors or receive graded feedback with iTunes U
but, for the amount of content available at no charge, the no-feedback-no-fees
education isn't something to be sniffed at.

While Apple is just as keen to promote the benefits of iTunes U to universities
and students, those who want to study to further their understanding of a given
topic will find it a remarkably handy resource. For prospective students and
school leavers, iTunes U can be a great help when selecting courses or
extending an existing education, as it allows a route to learn and research a
topic or prepare for a course without financial restraints.

iTunes U for all

So is iTunes U a hidden gem? While it was an impressive service already, the
upgraded iTunes U is a one-stop educational shop for not only students and
educators but the general public too.

Whether you want to top up your knowledge, learn a new skill or find out more
about a course you are interested in, iTunes U is the perfect place to do just
that, and its outlet through a dedicated app only enhances the experience.

[access-uk] How to study for university courses with the iTunes U app | News | TechRadar

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