How iTunesU Online School Model Can Democratize University Education?

Today I have a guest post from blogger Marina Salsbury, who discusses how iTunesU is affecting education at the university level.  Guest posts are always welcome.  Please drop me a line if you are interested. 

iTunes University is an application available for Apple iPod touch, iPad, or iPhone. This application is designed to allow educators to put together distance courses that are accessible to everyone at a low cost or for free. The powerful iTunes University interface allows instructors to include videos of lectures and demonstrations, textual information, as well as audio and other multimedia content.

iTunes University puts education in the hands of the masses, because you do not need to be enrolled in a university to view the course content and follow along with the lectures. These online school courses are offered completely free of charge, either as a public service or in an effort to give potential students a taste of what an online education at their university or institution would be like. For example, Harvard University currently offers more than 150 online courses, and they make a handful of lectures available free of charge on iTunes to give students a sense of what distance education at Harvard is like.

iTunes University may become instrumental in driving down the cost of a university education, according to Sean Decatur, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Oberlin College. iTunes University and other digital resources provides students with interactive and textual content at a much lower cost than traditional textbooks and resources. While digital content can't reduce the cost of instruction, grading, university infrastructure and other key costs, it can reduce the cost of delivering the content, according to Decatur. This savings is directly passed along to the student.

One drawback to viewing college course content in this manner is that you will not receive course credit unless you enroll in the university program and pay for the credit hours. This means that while you may have gained the knowledge, you may not be able to demonstrate it to an employer or use the experience as proof that you have a college education. Many universities offer their online content on iTunes as the lecture part of an online course, and require that students use another interface, such as Blackboard or Web CT, to turn in assignments at regularly scheduled times. Additionally, the technology itself has limitations. You cannot gain practical experience in a laboratory setting or in a studio under the direct supervision of a qualified instructor, and for many hands-on courses, this experience is essential. 

However, iTunesU is an excellent resource for those who are considering a college education or continuing education at a particular university or in a particular subject but want to sample courses before they pay the fees at a university. Additionally, iTunes University is ideal for those who just wish to gain job skills, or enhance personal knowledge. For example, you can find free or low-cost courses on everything from woodworking to accounting or even literature. Instead of paying to audit classes, you can view them free on iTunes in many cases.

iTunes University will not change education entirely because the basis of most university programs is direct student-professor contact and guidance, either online or off. However, courses delivered on iTunesU can provide students and potential learners with a way to sample courses or learn a new skill on their own and at their own pace. For this reason, universities will continue to create course content designed to be viewed on iTunesU.

Pitfalls of Mobile Devices in Today's Classroom

Over the last year or so I have become an advocate for using mobile devices in the classroom.  Mobile devices like the smarthphone, iPad, & iPod touch have helped educational technology spread in classrooms due to their enormous popularity, lower prices, and size for mobility.

However, over the last few days I've become aware of some problems with mobile devices, that all teachers should be cognizant of and try to avoid.

Mobile devices were originally designed and created for 1 purpose...Content Consumption!  Although many of these devices are now acquiring more apps, like iMovie that allow for creation and productivity, the entire platform of mobile was built on consumption.  Let's go back to the Bloom's Taxonomy.  Where would you put digital consumption?  (Pretty hard question, wouldn't you say?)

While I will continue to be an advocate for mobile devices in the classroom, I am now making a more concerted effort to help teachers find ways in which students can do more creating.  Whether that creation happens with the mobile device or traditional computer doesn't matter, so long as the student gets the opportunity to learn how to use technology to create and be productive.

A quick example I have are QR codes.  They've infiltrated many schools in the last 2 years, and most teachers love the lessons they have done with them.  But lets ask this question..."If all your students do with a QR code is scan it with their phone, what have they learned to create?"  Lets be more open to students helping us create more elements of our lessons and consequently new skills that teach our youth the power of creation vs consumpiton.

A generation of consumers who don't know how to be producers is a dangerous imbalance in any economy.  Let's make it a goal to let students do more creating with technology.  Creating websites, blogs, documents, presentations, movies, music, art, newscasts, podcasts, timelines, web 2.0 things, etc.  Creation requires knowledge, ingenuity, creativity, and discipline.  Those are the higher order skills that we are striving for as 21st century educators.

Last Days as a Facilitator...

For those of you who don't know, this week is my last week as a Technology Integration Facilitator.  I will be heading to Plymouth, NC to take over as Director of Instructional Technology.  Although my title may be changing, I'm hoping to continue further my role in helping teachers innovate their use of technology in the classroom, and prepare students with 21st century skills.

As I leave FISD and my duties as a TIF, I'd like to share a few thoughts...

I have a loved being a TIF. It is has been a better fit for me than I ever could've imagined. I was blessed to have leadership that didn't care how young I was or how terribly presented my ideas were. Both my supervisors and my teams listened to my ideas and let me run with them, no matter how far they took me nor how short I fell. They allowed me the freedom to create, innovate, and share my ideas and passion. The success I've had while here in Frisco was due, in great part, to the wonderful individuals I was privileged to work with.

Some of my favorite projects and collaborations I've been a part of over the last 4 years...If you were a part of any of the projects below, I thank you and I will miss you.

• The Frisco Fab 5
• Geocaching Virtual Maps
• Digital Photo Frames
• UStream Debates
• The iPod Touch Audio lab
• Google Apps for students & teachers
• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
• ePub 
• Mythology books
• Cookbooks
• Children's books
• Morning Radio Show
• Library Gallery Walks
• Shakespeare Twitter/sms project

Finally, teachers are often times the most creative and innovative individuals in today's workplace.  The many lessons and projects that have been shared on this blog are a testament to that.  One thing that technology can do for educators is help us share our creativity, innovation, and drive to help students learn & grow.  We know that traditional media won't showcase our abilities or a fraction of the good that we do day in and day out.  There isn't any money in it.  So we need to share what we are doing. Technology lends itself to breaking down those walls and bringing the world inside our classroom. It's my hope that all teachers will see the need to share their ideas and lessons more often. Starting with your students and parents, to administrators, to colleagues, and eventually the world. You don't have to start big, emails, videos, blogs, podcasts... This age of 'New Media' can help you do it, and that in turn will help us improve education far more than any test or legislation.

Please stay tuned I will continue to post and share new ideas, projects and collaborations from NC in the next few weeks...