Otago brings teaching, learning to iTunes

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Wednesday 4 June 2008

University of Otago brings teaching, learning to iTunes

The University of Otago today launches Otago on iTunes U, making it the first New Zealand university to deliver free education content through the iTunes Store.

iTunes U is a dedicated area of the iTunes Store featuring free lectures, lab demonstrations, campus tours, and more. Users can search, download and play content with the same ease-of-use with which they download music, exploring world-class materials from top universities around the globe.

University of Otago Director of Information Technology Services Mike Harte says Otago’s inclusion in iTunes U gives the University an international audience for which it can showcase its teaching and research.

“iTunes U provides us with a high-quality ‘front window’ for our offerings and, as people are familiar with iTunes, it allows us to concentrate on delivering the very best content we can, satisfying what we predict will be intense interest from the community – in this case, an audience of millions.

“We already have more than 100 audio and video files available and plan to add more. The clips are of a high standard and include highly-acclaimed wildlife documentaries produced by the Science Communication Master’s students in natural history filmmaking. There are also music clips from both our classical and contemporary rock programmes and the University’s professorial and other public lectures."

Mr Harte says that having a presence on such a high-profile service makes the University and its educational materials more accessible to the community at large. “People with specific interests will be able to subscribe to areas of Otago on iTunes U. I also suspect it will provide a touchstone for Alumni, and a sneak preview of life at Otago for prospective students."

iTunes U was created in collaboration with Universities and now includes hundreds of higher education institutions throughout the world. Material can be experienced on a Mac or PC, or downloaded onto an iPod or other MP3 player for viewing and listening anytime.

Some of the content included on Otago on iTunes U:

Wild Flicks – the documentaries of the Science Communications Master’s Students

Marama Hall Lunchtime Concert Series and special events – featuring performances from the Department of Music Contemporary Music items

Inaugural Professorial Lectures

Life at Otago – a short clip highlighting Otago’s diverse and vibrant student life

The God Boy – a 2004 Opera

Library tours

IT seminars and training

ENDS

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