iTunes for Education

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21368471/
iTunes is carrying more educational content. iTunes U is a free service of Apple. It has been broadcasting lectures and university videos, but now it will be adding other free videos as well. Under a new category called , “Beyond Campus” there will be recordings of the Supreme Court, interviews with important leaders and public radio broadcasts. The universities have the decision to allow only their students and alumni to view the videos or open them to the public. There is a great wealth of knowledge that can be shared by using the iTunes from college to college. “A larger learning catalog for anyone…” said Apple’s iTunes Vice president, Eddy Cue.
There are six partners that started the program this week. There are public radio stations and museums. Hopefully there will be more to come. This is a great resource that can be expanded to include all schools from elementary through college. Almost every household has an iPod or can access iTunes from their computer. However most of these iPods are being underutilized. Teachers can create podcast for their students and have them upload it onto their mp3 player and have the lesson to refer back to. Plus they can have a virtual field trip any time they want. This is not a new revelation, but one that is not being explored.
iTunes U is mostly for college students. As I went on to the site there are many colleges participating. But for high school seniors it would probably be a great introduction to what they might see in the following year. I checked out Yale University’s they had several podcasts that anyone can subscribe to.
However, Beyond Campus section is for almost all ages. There is a link that is called, Little Kids Rock. Because most students don’t have music education this is a great place ot go for music lessons. The Museum of Modern Art also has podcasts that are designed for younger students. There is also a section that take you to the Supreme Court hearings, probably for older students interested in Law.
This is a great resource that is untapped in schools.