Kim, J. (2012) How big a deal is Apple’s iTunes U Course Manager? Inside Higher Education, August 23
iTunes U Course Manager is a web-based tool that allows instructors to create and distribute courses on iTunes U. Joshua Kim provides a useful review.
What you need to know is that currently, iTunes U Course Manager is available ONLY on an iOS device, namely an iPad or iPhone.
My view is that no educator should lock themselves into only one means of distribution through one commercial supplier, even if you are a dedicated Apple user, as I am. Even if you are willing to drive all your students to use Apple devices, iPads or iPhones don’t allow you to do all the things you need to do when teaching or learning online.
Apple’s marketing strategy these days is quite clear: drive all content into Apple devices. Well, sorry, that’s not acceptable to me. That way lies totalitarianism. When iTunes U course manager becomes cross-platform, I might consider it.
Dr. Tony Bates is the author of eleven books in the field of online learning and distance education. He has provided consulting services specializing in training in the planning and management of online learning and distance education, working with over 40 organizations in 25 countries. Tony is a Research Associate with Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network.
