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Over 750 podcasts are now available on Auburn’s iTunes U and all of these files can be downloaded and synced to an iPod. But this does not mean you must have an iPod to view iTunes U content. Any MP3 or MP4 player can play the podcasts (MP4 players are required for video). For example, if you recently purchased the new Zune HD (or have an older model Zune), the Zune software can automatically import all podcasts downloaded through iTunes.

If you don’t have a Zune or an iPod, the podcasts can still be added to your personal player. Copy the files from the iTunes U directory to wherever your MP3/MP4 files are saved. The iTunes U library is located at:

Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\iTunes U

Mac OS
HDD > Users > USERNAME > Music > iTunes > iTunes Music > iTunes U

And remember, you can always play a podcast on your computer directly through iTunes U.

As we near the end of the semester, we would like to mention a few Blackboard Best Practices to ensure a smooth transition from Spring/Summer to Fall.

Always download a copy of the Grade Book throughout the semester, but especially at the end. Since courses are removed from Blackboard after one year, having a local copy will be useful for grade challenges.

Copy your course content to a development course or to your Fall course. You have control over the creation and deletion of development courses, so they are the perfect area to store your course materials.

Fall courses are available in Blackboard for you to add content, but students will not have access to the course material until two weeks before class begins (August 1st).

If you would like to use Authenticated iTunes, now’s a good time to send in your request.

IMG offers online help in Flash, PDF, and HTML formats, and now there is another format available: Podcasts. Throughout the upcoming semester, IMG will convert the help for Blackboard into podcasts and add them to AU iTunes. Anyone will be able to download and view the podcasts on their computer or portable media player. The podcasts are also optimized with bigger callouts for smaller displays.

To download an IMG podcast, go to http://itunes.auburn.edu/ and click “Open AU iTunes” to open Auburn’s iTunes store. Click “Instructional Multimedia Group” then on the next page click “Help Files.” Click “Get Movie” next to the podcast you wish to download.

Engaging students is a crucial component to teaching and podcasts offer an effective way to engage students outside of the classroom. These podcasts can be audio only or include video, such as a PowerPoint or video clips. Once the podcast is completed and uploaded, students download the podcast to their computer or mobile media player through iTunes.

Auburn University has recently been included in the iTunes U collection. Through AU iTunes, Auburn offers faculty two places to uploaded their podcasts: Authenticated AU iTunes and Public AU iTunes. Only students enrolled in your course can view the podcasts in Authenticated iTunes, while anyone in the world can download from Public AU iTunes.

To discuss AU iTunes or for help on creating a podcast, please contact IMG at 844-5181 or at img@auburn.edu. Also check out the available workshops on podcasting and IMG’s Best Practice information on podcasting!

On Monday, Sept. 15, the second component of Auburn’s iTunes U project will be put into service. Authenticated AU iTunes adds a secure, course-specific, registration driven section to Public Access AU iTunes which has been available for the past year. Access to Authenticated AU iTunes will be available only from the AU iTunes link on the My Courses channel on both the Tiger i and Faculty Services tabs in AU Access. Faculty will be able to develop and post podcasts for students enrolled in a specific course section. Students will have access to the podcasts their teachers post for them through the end of the term.

Podcasting training workshops are available to faculty through the Instructional Multimedia Group. Dates, times and registration information is available on the IMG Workshops tab at the IMG homepage: www.auburn.edu/img. Faculty will receive more information and instructions for getting started in Authenticated AU iTunes in an e-mail from Notify@auburn.edu to be sent on Monday, Sept. 15.

The Instructional Multimedia Group, the instructional technology division of OIT, will provide all support for Authenticated AU iTunes. Kathy McClelland, Manager of IMG, serves as the AU iTunes Site Administrator. Please contact IMG with any questions: IMG@auburn.edu or 844-5181.