AppleInsider Staff
As expected, Apple on tuesday released a major update to its iTunes U comprehensive educational software, bringing new discussion options for students and iPad creation tools for teachers.
Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue announced today's iTunes U update in June, saying at the time that version 2.0 would bring a new level of integration and personalization to the company's iPad in education.
"Education is at the core of Apple's DNA and iTunes U is an incredibly valuable resource for teachers and students," Cue said."iTunes U features an amazing selection of academic materials for everyone around the world. Now, with the ability to better manage and discuss educational content, learning becomes even more personalized on iPad."
With the new app version, students participating in private courses can ask questions, answer queries posed by other students and jump into ongoing discussions. Push notifications keep both students and teachers up to date with the latest posts.
Teachers can now create and update courses, send out course outlines, upload materials and distribute assignments directly from their iPad.
In addition, teachers can not tap into the iPad's camera to take photos or video for inclusion in course assignments. Support for Apple's productivity suite comes built-in with a new iTunes U share sheet option that sends over content from Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Content from third-party apps can also be shared with iTunes U if supported.
Finally, teachers affiliated with "qualified institutions" can publish their created courses to the iTunes U Catalog, a free resource for educators.
iTunes U version 2.0 is available as a free 22.4MB download from the iOS App Store.
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14 Comments
Wasn't Coca-Cola the company that aimed their marketing at people upto 18 years old? And in doing so, once hooked, they'd have them 'for life'? Seems to me Apple is doing just that; creating an incentive for youngsters to appreciate Apple products and services so they will continue to use them once out of college.
[quote name="PhilBoogie" url="/t/181273/apples-itunes-u-update-brings-new-discussion-features-for-students-course-creation-tools-for-teachers#post_2561240"]Wasn't Coca-Cola the company that aimed their marketing at people upto 18 years old? And in doing so, once hooked, they'd have them 'for life'? Seems to me Apple is doing just that; creating an incentive for youngsters to appreciate Apple products and services so they will continue to use them once out of college.[/quote] Yea something like that. http://www.forbes.com/sites/avidan/2013/10/07/just-how-does-coca-cola-reinvent-itself-in-a-changed-world/ This paragraph stood out in particular. [quote] Part of Coke’s engagement strategy, he explains, is to move away from being a brand that promotes happiness, to a brand that provokes happiness.[/quote]
[quote name="dasanman69" url="/t/181273/apples-itunes-u-update-brings-new-discussion-features-for-students-course-creation-tools-for-teachers#post_2561256"]^ post[/quote] Wow, insightful article! Thanks much.
"In addition, teachers can not tap into the iPad's camera%u2026" Did you mean "can now tap"?
Wasn't Coca-Cola the company that aimed their marketing at people upto 18 years old? And in doing so, once hooked, they'd have them 'for life'?
Seems to me Apple is doing just that; creating an incentive for youngsters to appreciate Apple products and services so they will continue to use them once out of college.
I remember the bad old days when parents stormed into school board meetings demanding that their children be taught to use ‘REAL’ computers instead of Apple products. If the board was even considering Apple this was the response they heard. I also remember one particular father in our group on parent orientation day at the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana (where Andreessen invented Mosaic) We walked into the freshman computer science lab and there were Macs all over the place, wall-to-wall Macs. The look of befuddlement on that guy’s face was priceless. He could not believe his eyes. Why would a university famous for its National Center for Supercomputing Applications and its computer engineering program (which his son was entering) not have ‘REAL’ computers instead of Apple? His son wound up demanding a Mac laptop.