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Collaborative Podcasting: Introducing CTools' "iTunes U" Tool

CTools and iTunes U

CTools is the Learning Management System (LMS) at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor for creating course and project sites for online collaboration. It has traditionally given the campus a collaborative space for organizing classroom and project materials, sharing digital resources, scheduling and more. But what can be considered a breakthrough in many respects is the introduction of integration with Apple’s iTunes U1 tool, available on request starting Fall 2006.

Podcasting

Those who have tried their hand at podcasting (posting digital audio files online for download) have faced the clumsy reality of finding ways to manually record, post and create a wrapper XML file for their audio files, if they wish to create podcasts. Podcasting can have many definitions2, but the most common features are the ability of the audience to subscribe to the podcast via a RSS feed containing information about the audio files, obtain them automatically as they become available, and possibly sync with their digital audio players like iPods. iTunesU makes these steps possible, and more. For more information about the basics of podcasting, see the author’s podcasting workshop website.

iTunes U: Posting and Sharing

Apple defines iTunes U as a tools available free of charge to educational institutions who sign an agreement with Apple to be eligible to use the service. What is exciting is that this service takes things beyond a one-way broadcast that a podcast is. It allows not only the instructors to post audio files for subscription in iTunes (desktop software for playing music) but allows students to post assignments as audio files, organize and share them. I would recommend requesting a iTunes tool from the CTools team (refer to CTools help for simple instructions) and start playing around. iTunes U eliminates the need to worry about generating, posting and maintaining XML files that are subscribed to.

Another point to note is that an iTunes podcast may contain PDFs and iPod videos as well.

Software tools to get started

Audio Editing: Audacity is an open source and free to download audio editing tool which audio podcasters recommend for getting your podcasting project going. Its intuitive non-linear editing interface and a decent range of effects (Fade in, Fade out, Noise Removal, Reverb etc) and essential features (multiple tracks, wav/mp3 export) will get you close to a professional sounding audio track.

Video Editing: If video podcasting is your aim, you will need to edit your digital video. Windows Movie Maker is a free Windows XP accessory and quite popular amongst the video blogging community on YouTube. The stability of this program has increased over time. However, on the Windows platform you may want to consider starter editions of video editing suites by Pinnacle (Studio 10) later which cost close to $130. Exporting your edited movie as an AVI should prepare you for the next step before uploading: Video Compression.

Video Compression for iPod: Jodix and QuicktimePro are two programs that we extensively use for producing video podcasts. QuicktimePro, $29.99, provides fast and reliable compression. However batch programming compression jobs is not an easy task with QuicktimePro. Also, the input format is limited to Quicktime files (.mov) and AVI (.avi). Jodix, on the other hand, is a free tool on Windows (www.jodix.com). It is not as reliable, but it works great with a variety of file formats for input: Windows Media, Real Media etc. Its other strength is to create jobs with multiple file compression. Works great for a small production facility which needs to convert a dozen files at a time. Higher end options include Autodesk Cleaner XL (Windows & Mac): the suite costs more than $500.

Adding & Editing Metadata: iTunes, the desktop client for Win/Mac is a great tool for editing metadata associated with a iTunes compatible audio or video media file. It can even assign metadata to multiple files together. Just right click on a media file(s) in the iTunes library and fill in the metadata.

iTunes U and School of Public Health

iTunes / iPod compatible content will be made available to the students in the Executive Masters programs in Health Management & Policy and Environmental Health Sciences. 6-7 students out of 30 HMP Executive Masters students already own a video capable iPod. When asked how many were willing to purchase one, a dozen hands shot up. It will be interesting to see their consumption patterns. Podcasts have been made available on request basis for several classes since Fall 2005.

Podcasting is maturing and quietly becoming an established tool with a terrific potential for collaboration due to the introduction of iTunes U. Giving every individual on campus the ability to create a podcast or contribute to it opens new possibilities for the campus community. Instructional Designers and eLearning content producers on campus have started using iTunes U, but the possibilities are greater. Project managers, instructors or GSIs may find this tool useful for creative deployment in their regular projects or courses. Administrators and staff could podcast their meetings or instructors can increase learning by posting audio versions of academic journal articles, with permission to use in a classroom setting.

As an eLearning Specialist, I am hopeful that this tool will further evolve to accommodate tighter integration of desktop based recording software with the iTunes U service on Apple servers to eliminate manual steps of uploading files. Please see some additional podcasting resources on page 7.

For more information, contact Vic Divecha, eLearning Specialist, Public Health Library & Informatics
734-763-4355 / sph.informatics@umich.edu

Additional Podcasting Resources

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1Apple defines iTunes U as " … a free, hosted service for colleges and universities that provides easy access to their educational content, including lectures and interviews… Through iTunes U, students can download content to their Macs or PCs, regardless of their location. They can listen to and view that content on their Mac or PC, or transfer it to iPod for listening or viewing on the go. Instructors can easily post and change content on their own without impacting the IT department. And, of course, students can upload their own content to share with professors or with the class.” (http://www.apple.com/education/products/ipod/itunes_u.html Retrieved 19th November, 2006)

2An interesting FAQ about podcasting exists at http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcastsfaq.html

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