Ryan ChartrandCal Poly may soon join a growing number of CSUs that are utilizing iTunes U, an innovative software that allows professors to produce podcasts of items such as lectures, campus news, and class notes that students can readily download to their iPods.
By utilizing the iTunes software, developed and hosted by Apple Computer, Inc., students will be able to download audio, graphic and video images onto their PC or Macintosh computers, then copy them to their iPods. Students may also upload content to share with professors or the class. By using this free service they are also linked to university news and information related to academic and student events, according to a press release.
“It’s very simple to use, and professors who have a digital camera and a recorder can easily provide content. It’s very user friendly,” said Paul Browning, the media relations specialist for the office of the chancellor.
Of the 23 CSU campuses, Fresno State, Cal State East Bay, San Jose State, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and Sacramento State have already adopted iTunes U.
It is not specifically clear, however, when Cal Poly will begin to support the software. The Information Technology Services department is looking into it, yet they haven’t come to a decision of whether to adopt the software or not.
“We haven’t yet looked at iTunes U in full detail,” said Mary Shaffer, the policy assurance officer for ITS. “We’re a little skeptical of how we can use the software to benefit every student on campus, but we haven’t ruled it out.”
For many of the CSU professors using the software, the utilization of iTunes U is a welcome addition and a useful tool for providing class content to students that cannot always make it to class.
“One of the challenges I’m continually confronted with is how to make myself available to my students outside of class. There isn’t time to accommodate all of the students’ different needs and schedules,” said Peter Beyersdorf, an associate professor of physics at San Jose State University. “But offering short tutorials via podcasts has really helped. I’m able to provide the resources I want my students to have access to, and they control when and how they access those resources.”
Other professors using iTunes U also feel that it is a beneficial tool that will greatly enhance lectures by providing new and innovative ways to disseminate information.
“As in many other distance and distributed methods, the University (Sacramento State) continues to seek other modalities for learning in an attempt to more effectively serve its population of learners,” said Dr. Rosemary Papa, the director for the center of teaching and learning at Sacramento State University.
Cal Poly professors who have heard about the iTunes software also said that it is an advantageous source for delivering information in a fresh and invigorating way, but there are concerns about student abuse of the software.
“In terms of access to lectures, it is a great concept, but I hope that it would not become a fall back for students skipping class already,” said Brady Teufel, a journalism professor at Cal Poly who teaches classes about the use of convergent media, namely podcasts. “In addition, if the information can be viewed by anyone for free it might put universities in jeopardy. Who would want to spend thousands of dollars to go to college when they can download course lectures for free?” he said.
However, it seems Apple has already had the foresight to predict such abuses and professors can actually control who has privileges to lectures and podcasts. All content, which is stored in Apple’s hosted repository, can be configured to provide either open or secure access. Therefore, a specific university page can be tailored to provide access only to students of that university.