Implementation Of iTunes U

Implementation of iTunes U Brad Mitchell New Media Producer Office of Web and New Media

Agenda 1. Why Online Video? Why Now? 2. What is iTunes U? 3. Implementation Schedule 4. Organizational Structure 5. Content and Providers 6. iTunes Alternatives and RSS 7. Further Reading

Why Online Video? Online video is the fastest-growing medium… in the history… OF THE WORLD!!!

Why Online Video? • With 72% of U.S. Web users watching clips online, Web video outstrips both blogging and social networking, and is now the leading social-media platform. – Gavin O’Malley, Online Media Daily, May 29, 2009

Why Online Video? • In January 2009, 39% of respondents shared a clip online. • The broadcast mode is dead. Now is the time for co-creation, user distribution and a true democratization of video content. – Gavin O’Malley, Online Media Daily, May 29, 2009

Why Now? • Managing online video content isn't simple, easy, or cheap. – Paul Rismandel, Streamingmedia.com, Feb. 15, 2008 • Balderdash! – Brad Mitchell, Missouri State University, July 28, 2009

Why Now? • Managing online video content is (fairly) simple! • A simple system can be set in place to help you manage your content – anything from a single instruction sheet pinned to your cubicle wall, to implementing a small CMS to stay organized

Why Now? • Managing online video content is easy! • If this guy can manage a YouTube channel with 250,000 subscribers and 20 million+ views, you can too.

Why Now? • Managing online video content is cheap! • Actually, it can be free. • With tools like iTunes U, YouTube and Vimeo you can create multiple content areas to house your videos (and never have to ask for a budget increase). #WIN

What is iTunes U? • A quick comparison: iTunes U vs. YouTube/Vimeo • YouTube and Vimeo compress your video (with no input from you), and can have limitations on the length of a video as well as it's file size. • iTunes U allows you to have total control over the compression/ quality of your videos. • YouTube and Vimeo will overlay your video w/ their branding, as well as ads. #FAIL

What is iTunes U? • iTunes name variations = confusion • iTunes is a free application for Mac and PC that plays digital audio and video files. It is also the most common app that people use to put audio and video on their iPods and iPhones. • The iTunes Store is Apple’s online digital media store where music, videos, and podcasts can be purchased and downloaded. • iTunes U is a subcategory within the iTunes Store that houses educational digital media content from Universities, K-12 schools, and select non-profits.

What is iTunes U? • Details on copyright and content • Each content provider in iTunes U owns the copyright to their content • Unlike most some content in the iTunes Store, all content within iTunes U has no DRM (digital rights management) in place, and all content is available for free • Apple may use any of your public content for their marketing and promotional purposes

Implementation Schedule • Missouri State on iTunes U as an example 1. Apply and be accepted for an iTunes U account August – September 2008 2. Build infrastructure, attend training sessions, populate with existing media content October – December 2008 3. Soft rollout of system, enlist select users to test drive system and be guinea pigs/content providers December 2008 – April 2008

Implementation Schedule 4. Official Launch of the public side of iTunes U – available for anyone at the university to become a content provider April 29, 2009 5. Launch private side of iTunes U for course content August 2009

Organizational Structure • iTunes U sites can be set up as: • an Internal site that is only accessible by users at your institution – example: course content that only students in a particular class should be able to access, via a username and password • an External site that is accessible by the entire public – example: content that is aimed at a more general audience • a Mixed site that combines the two – example: create two access points - one for the general public and one for students/faculty/staff at your institution

Organizational Structure 1. Launch Page 2. iTunes U Institution Top-Level Page 3. Different Sections within iTunes U • Three hierarchical levels available for organizing your content

Organizational Structure • Launch Page • A launch page on your website is recommended • This launch page will provide a link that will open the iTunes application and navigate directly to your iTunes U site • Saves a user from having to navigate through the iTunes Store to access your iTunes U site • iTunes URLs are long strings of characters and are insignificant. Your launch page URL will be much shorter more memorable to your users

Organizational Structure • Launch Page: http://itunesu.missouristate.edu

Organizational Structure • iTunes U Institution Top-Level Page • Two types: Welcome Page and Public Features Page • Which page you’d like to use depends on the amount of content you have available • Missouri State uses the Welcome Page

Organizational Structure

Section #1 – General Public Content (Level 1)

Section #2 – Course Content (Level 1)

Section #2 – Course Content (Level 2)

Content and Providers • Current content providers to Missouri State on iTunes U • University Communications • Athletics • Student Engagement • Public Affairs Mission • Missouri State Foundation • Online / Distant Learning Courses • Various other departments, as well as our test faculty members

Content and Providers Key points to keep in mind when allowing others to contribute content 1. A workflow needs to be in place • Recording of the content • Ensuring media files are saved and uploaded in the correct format – Audio = MP3 or AAC – Video = MPEG4 w/ H.264 encoding • Checking to make sure the person providing the content holds copyright on all material that is being uploaded, or they have a release form stating they can legally distribute the material

Content and Providers 2. Training is essential • Make sure users understand: • What a podcast is • How to record audio and/or video • How to save their content in the correct format • The differences between the public and private areas of iTunes U • The importance of copyright clearance and Fair Use policies 3. Have support staff ready • Missouri State has two different levels of support: • One support area for the overall design and maintenance of the system, as well as assisting users uploading to the Public area of iTunes U • Another support area for assisting faculty with their Private course content in iTunes U

iTunes Alternatives and RSS • There are alternatives to using the iTunes software application • It is available on Mac and PC, and is common but not omnipresent • Not everyone subscribes to podcasts with iTunes – Users can subscribe to your podcast either internally in iTunes, or to a separate external RSS feed • Anyone with an internet connection and some kind of software that plays audio or video files can access the content

iTunes Alternatives and RSS • Examples

iTunes Alternatives and RSS • RSS is the bread and butter of iTunes U • Content can be fed into iTunes U from via RSS • Example: – Users upload content to a local server – You create an RSS feed to index that content – Content is fed into and viewable in a section of iTunes U, but the content is actually being downloaded from your local server (and not Apple’s servers) • Content can be pulled from iTunes U into different areas via RSS or direct links • Examples: – Embed audio or video on a web page – Create an automatically-generated list of content on a web page (sourced from iTunes U)

iTunes Alternatives and RSS • Example of content being fed into iTunes U via RSS

iTunes Alternatives and RSS • Example of a list of content being fed from iTunes U to a web page via RSS

iTunes Alternatives and RSS • Example of content being fed from iTunes U to a web page via a direct link (audio embedded in player)

iTunes Alternatives and RSS • Example of content being fed from iTunes U to a web page via a direct link (video embedded in player)

Further Reading • Apple Education - Mobile Learning • http://www.apple.com/education/mobile-learning/ • Apply for iTunes U site • http://www.apple.com/itunesu/apply/ • Support • Administrator’s and User’s Guides (PDFs) • Introduction Videos to iTunes U • http://www.apple.com/support/itunes_u

Contact • Brad Mitchell • bradmitchell@missouristate.edu • twitter.com/emarg0ed • http://www.missouristate.edu/web

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Implementation Of iTunes U

by Brad Mitchell on Jul 29, 2009

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