UP on iTunes U

iTunes U is an online education platform created by Apple, to create a virtual classroom experience. Teachers and instructors can upload their course materials, give assignments, and have online discussions and consultations with their students using Apple devices such as iPads, iPhones, and the iPod Touch. PCs can also access iTunes U via the iTunes App.

Last 2015, the University of the Philippines became the very first institute of higher learning to have content available on iTunes U. Materials suchs a PDFs, slides, videos, and course guides feature on the UP on iTunes U page. The first Beginners Training on iTunes U and iBooks Author (a tool for the development of multi-touch books) was also held July of 2015, with several attendees from units in UP Diliman (attendees included Sentro ng Wikang Pilipino and UP Press representatives, along with staff from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs), as well as UP Cebu and UP Manila.

The first batch of trainees for iTunes U and iBooks Author, held at the UP Information Technology Development Center last July 2015

National Development Executive for Apple Mr. Joe Sibayan conducts iTunes U and iBooks Author training for UP Faculty and Staff

The trainees present their iBooks for critique to their fellow workshop attendees

Creating iBooks for unique topics: each iBook is feature rich, with options to insert video, audio, and even interactive games, perfect for e-Learning and distance education.

Last April 4–5 2016, the first iTunes U Camp for UP Faculty and Staff was held at Estancia Hotel in Tagaytay City. The event was made possible by an initiative from the eUP Project, in partnership with Apple Philippines, to help professors and staff members understand iTunes U and incorporate its tools into their teaching and learning experiences. Representatives from UP Open University, UP Diliman, UP System offices, and UP Manila attended the workshop.

Aside from UP Faculty, staff from the UP Press also participated in experimenting with iBooks, in the hope that some, if not all, of the UP Press publications will be made available on the iBooks store — an avenue to purchase interactive books that is accessible to many countries around the world. This would make it easier for the international community to have access to Filipino-made content.

Representatives from the UP Press experimenting with creating courses on iTunes U

Participants from DZUP navigating the Course Manager of iTunes U

Along with the UP Press, representatives from DZUP were also in attendance. They gave feedback on how DZUP can use iTunes U to share many of their award-winning educational audio programs online to a wider audience.

Faculty and staff from UP Open University also attended the workshop, in the hopes that they can involve iTunes U and iBooks in their distance learning programs.

UP Open University faculty and staff during the iTunes U workshop session at Estancia Hotel, Tagaytay April 2016

originally published at http://e.up.edu.ph/up-on-itunes-u/

For inquiries about UP on iTunes U, send an email to itunesadmin@up.edu.ph, or go to itunes.up.edu.ph