More podcasting with the help of iTunes U
This is pretty cool. Apple has been working with a schools in the states and developed a customized iTunes music store for course content. This is brilliant. The Chronicle has the article Apple Releases Free ‘iTunes U’ Software to Colleges for Coursecasting—and when I read it I just though, geez, this makes it easy. Go check out iTunes U and let me know what you think. This makes that whole podcasting script a bit pointless for some uses 
I would have loved podcasts of classes when I was student… loved it.
Update (01/26/06): There is a thread going on the uwebd mail list that is bringing up some interesting points. The first thing to note is that Apple is really busy getting in contact with schools in the US. No word on Canadian schools.
The other thing is how does this function? Does the music store have the mp3’s or is the site and its content hosted on the Universities servers, just viewed through iTunes? I will update this post if more information is made available. (or I find some links). Some links of note:
- The Stanford FAQ on iTunes U – PDF suggests that the podcasts stay in AAC.
- Learning & Innovation Blog has a post that suggests iTunes U can handle any file format, and there is a comment that backs that up.
- iTunes U. Critiques – it’s not as simple as that from a University of Calgary tech geek speaks on the subject.
Then of course there are the ethical issues of driving students to the iTunes music store as the only place to get their courses podcast. I would say it should only be one of many places to get the XML feed… I mean you just need the XML feed, once you have that you don’t need much else but something to play it on (not if its AAC only).