Implementation of iTunes U
Brad Mitchell
New Media Producer
Missouri State University

Agenda
1. What is iTunes U?

2. Implementation Schedule

3. Organizational Structure

4. Content and Providers

5. iTunes Alternatives and RSS

6. Further reading


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 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 – present


Implementation Schedule
4. Official Launch of the public side of iTunes U –

available for anyone at the university to become a content
provider
April 29th, 2009

5. Launch private side of iTunes U for course content

August 1st, 2009


Organizational Structure
iTunes U sites can be set up as either

1. 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
2. an External site that is accessible by the entire public

content that is aimed at a more general audience

3. a Mixed site that combines the two

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 #1 – General Public Content
(Level 2)

Section #1 – General Public Content
(Level 3)

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 Affairs

Sponsored Research

Public Affairs Mission

Online / Distant Learning

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/H.264

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 only available on Mac and PC, so technically not

everyone can use it
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
Examples


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://education.apple.com/itunesu

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

blogs.missouristate.edu/web
