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Back in 2012, Apple added the iTunes U app to iOS. This education app allows educators from leading universities, as well as other schools, the ability to add content for students to access from their iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. The free app makes it possible for people all over the world to take courses from such educational institutions as Stanford, Yale, MIT, Oxford, and more.
Today, Apple announced an update to the iTunes U app that makes it possible for teachers to create, edit, and manage entire courses directly on the iPad. Additionally, students have new ways to collaborate with others, including starting a class discussion and asking a question, right from their iPad.
The new tools integrate Apple’s other productivity apps, iWork, iBooks, and Author, as well as thousands of other education apps to help teachers create rich content. iTunes U now features access to the iPad’s camera so educators can add photos and videos for real-world subject matter for a more relevant experience for students.
“iTunes U is the most powerful destination for bringing the entire educational experience to life on iPad,” said Fraser Speirs, head of computing and IT at Cedars School of Excellence in Scotland. “By freeing teachers to create and organize courses right on iPad, educators can be better focused on enabling student participation both with the content and one another.”
Students now have more tools to collaborate with course mates and teachers. A new feature, “Discussions,” let students automatically follow classroom discussions, join conversations, and set up notifications for when new topics are started or replies are added.
“Discussions in iTunes U puts the potential for thoughtful exploration and collaboration into the hands of every one of our students,” said Larry Reiff, a teacher from Roslyn High School in New York. “iPad and iTunes U continue to provide students with the tools they need to build knowledge and demonstrate their learning.”
iTunes U is available on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch for free. The new educator creation tools are now available on the iPad. Download it in the App Store today.
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