Posted in: iOS, Mobile software

iTunes U gets a major overhaul

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We heard about iTunes U a while back as part of Apple’s foray into the educational market. Right now the app doesn’t have that much functionality; it’s primarily reserved for reading textbooks.

However, the Cupertino-based tech giant has been hard at work adding some new features to iTunes U that’ll give it more depth: professors will now be able to create courses and take questions from students.

This has big implications for the application. By adding the ability for students to directly interact with their professors, and with each other, within the app itself, iTunes U becomes a more comprehensive educational hub; students can have all of their coursework in one place. Professors will be able to not only create courses in the app, but manage them and even grab class materials from other applications on their iPad. Camera support is integrated as well. Let’s say you’re a geology professor and you went on an interesting dig over spring break. You’ll be able to snap photos with your iDevice and share them with your students in iTunes U.

The update comes fast on the heels of Samsung’s improved School Suite, which allows teachers to deliver content to their students simultaneously, and students can even be involved in group projects. Samsung has a bit of a leg up in this area, and it’ll be interesting to see whether or not Apple will be able to make a splash with iTunes U.

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