iTunes offers downloadable lectures to students

by Stevie Smith - Jun 6 2008, 11:31

While it’s an educational service already freely available to students based in the United States, establishments of higher learning in the United Kingdom are now offering downloadable lectures to students via Apple’s popular iTunes Store.

Found in the newly integrated ‘iTunes U’ section of the sprawling online media store, educational video and audio content as provided by University College London, the Open University, and Trinity College Dublin is now available for those students keen to keep learning while on the go.

Compatible for playback with Apple’s iconic iPod music and media range (and also through iTunes-equipped computers), the free learning materials will include lectures, interviews, seminars and news features designed to further student knowledge.

In terms of specific content, University College London (UCL) has confirmed that it will offer up lectures and seminars given by its own academics and also various guest speakers. In addition, the respected university will also supply a virtual tour of its most recent fine art show, along with regular campus news bulletins and even an interview with its president and provost, Professor Malcolm Grant.

“UCL on iTunes U [will] enhance the university’s provision of information and extend its reach to new audiences around the world,” the university offered via an official statement. “It will also enhance learning and teaching, developing innovation through new technology and meeting the needs of today’s techno-literate students.”

A UCL spokesman has further confirmed that the university plans to implement a broader, more in-depth selection of material, which will include specific course and lecture notes for students. However, elements of this particular content will carry limited access.

The Open University has said it will supply iTunes with 300 audio and video files, which will include useful material related to current courses; while Trinity College Dublin has pledged the delivery of lectures given by the likes of renowned scientist and broadcaster Prof. Robert Winston, author Anita Desai, politician Alex Salmond and journalist Seymour Hersh.

The UK introduction of freely available study material supplied by prominent educational outlets adds to the wealth of content already distributed to iTunes users in the United States. The US version of iTunes U is presently stocked with lectures and seminars posted by the likes of Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and MIT.

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