iTunes U at UNT and You

By Patrick Pluscht, Director, Center for Learning Enhancement, Assessment and Redesign (CLEAR)

The University is getting a little cooler and not just because fall weather has arrived. iTunes U at UNT was launched at the end of September 2009 after a year and half effort by a campus-wide team of 20 faculty, staff and students appointed by President Bataille.  The result is itunes.unt.edu and the related iTunes U at UNT site where UNT content is hosted by Apple.   To launch iTunes U at UNT, please be sure to have iTunes software installed (free download).

Though many people are familiar with iTunes U as it has grabbed headlines over the past two years since being formally announced in May 2007, let’s review some of the basics.  At no charge, Apple has provided 500 GB of storage to UNT which can be used to share both private and public content via the Apple iTunes Store using UNT branding. Content can include audio, video and print files.   

The most common private content is faculty-developed lectures and podcasts created exclusively for students enrolled in UNT courses. This content is available via the EUID and password of students enrolled in a section and only a token is passed to Apple to provide the appropriate access. 

Public content includes content that UNT wishes to share with the world and no password is required to access it. Currently, public content on iTunes U includes a variety of guest speakers, music performances, international projects and special features. This content will grow as our UNT community recognizes the value of iTunes U for telling their stories and showcasing what they do best in their areas. Recent hot content, or should I say cool content, includes a video featuring a musical performance by Dave Brubeck Quartet with the One O’Clock Lab Band. Short movies from the 2009 Homecoming Bonfire and Parade have just been added.

Both public and private content is downloadable and does not have Digital Rights Management associated with it. There is no charge to individuals for downloading the content. Although the content can be accessed on Mac and PC computers running iTunes software, it can also easily be made portable by syncing it with an iPod or an iPhone or copying it to another mobile device capable of playing media.

Making iTunes at UNT work

University Relations, Communications and Marketing (URCM) has had a major role in this project since its beginning to assure that the material UNT shares with the world is both accessible and of high quality. In response to demand on campus for improving departmental web sites and assisting departments with better communicating their public messages, URCM has created a Web Development Center lead by Darren Petersen. Darren was instrumental in the development of UNT’s iTunes presence and will continue to play a key role in growing the success of our public presence on iTunes U. Darren and his team are working with the deans to identify their highest priority areas for improving digital communications and iTunes U is one of multiple strategies available to departments. In the meantime, departments interested in posting public content on iTunes U should visit the “Post Your Content” link.  Once sufficient content is posted on the public side of iTunes U at UNT, Apple will add UNT to its list of Universities & Colleges on its official iTunes U page.

The Center for Learning Enhancement, Assessment and Redesign (CLEAR) has also been heavily involved in the development of iTunes U at UNT. CLEAR will be assisting faculty in the creation of media for iTunes U and offering training courses for individuals who would like to develop their own podcasts using the Wimba Podcaster tool in Blackboard.  Other free and low cost equipment and software options for production are recommended on the iTunes U launch site under the Training Resources link. Faculty interested in posting their content should contact their instructional consultant in CLEAR or use the iTunes Course Request Form available on the launch site.

UNT on iTunes U - Discover. Grow. Succeed…Anywhere.  

Please contact Patrick Pluscht, Director, CLEAR, with questions or comments about this article.